Page 109 of The Forever After Bet

I nod.

We stay like that for a while, but I don’t want to press our luck. I sit back in my seat. Ford puts his arm around me, and I lean against him, looking out the window. We don’t talk; we don’t need to. Being close like this are all the words we need.

My brain is all over the place. What does Bree have on me? Did I do something I didn’t realize was wrong or illegal? I thought I was the most boring person alive. Well, I was, before this year. All I cared about was getting good grades, dance, and my brothers. Bree had to have gotten her blackmail information from Alison. Alison likes to talk, and I’m sure she didn’t have anything nice to say about me to Bree.

Ford rubs his hand along my arm, kissing the top of my head. “You’re all tense. Stop thinking so hard. I promise everything will be okay.”

“It’s just—what could she possibly have that could hurt me like that?”

“Nothing. She wants something and is willing to do anything possible to get it.”

She doesn’t want something. She wants someone. You can’t make someone love you.

About an hour into the bus ride, I get a text message from Leah on my white phone. I continue to use it because Beth still has access to all my phone data, and I don’t want her to know everything that goes on with me. Even though she knows Ford and I are dating again.

Holy shit girl! Jack just filled me in.

Ford glances at my text. “Is that from Leah?”

“Yeah.” Yep. That about sums it up. I message back.

We’ll meet at my house tomorrow night to figure everything out.

I glance up at Ford, and he nods.

Sounds good.

We’ll talk later.

I send her a smiley face and thumbs-up emoji.

When we get to Coeur d’Alene High School, I give Ford a good luck kiss on the bus. “Think about all the good things that happened today and focus on the game.”

Ford nods. “I love you today.”

“I love you tomorrow.”

Ford kisses my forehead. “I love you next week.”

I reach up, kiss his cheek, then whisper in his ear. “I’ll love you in ten years.”

Ford leans in so his lips touch mine. “I’ll love you forever.”

“I’ll love you forever.” I echo and press my mouth against his. “Make this moment matter.”

I’m not surprised to see Bree show up at the game. She’s been to every other game. She’s wearing a different shirt tonight. I’ve never felt anger for another person the way I do for Bree. Her shirt says: #23’s Good Luck Charm.

“Boy, does she have a lot of nerve?” Leah shakes her head, looking disgusted.

Melissa catches us staring at them and flips us off. We both raise our pom-poms, smile, and wave to them. Bree pretends like I don’t exist. I’m sure she wishes I didn’t.

“I don’t like this. Should I be scared?” I look at Leah.

She shrugs. “Maybe.”

I won’t let this, whatever this is, blackmail, coercion , go on. What Bree is doing is wrong. She’s messing with our lives.

The basketball game is fantastic. The lead switches back and forth the entire night. It comes down to the last three seconds of the game. Jack gets the ball and shoots a three pointer. Lake City wins by two. Everyone from Lake City screams and hollers. I run onto the court and jump into Ford’s arms. Everyone is congratulating Jack. He made an awesome shot. Beth and my dad and the little boys come down onto the court smiling and shouting. Beth’s so beside herself she’s crying.

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