Page 110 of The Forever After Bet

I hug Jack and congratulate him. Ford’s mom offers to take a picture. My family, Ty, Leah, and Ford get in the picture. I glance across the court and see Bree, Melissa, and Missy sitting in the front row watching Ford. It pisses me off. I tell myself to stay cool, but I’m anything but.

“Hey.” I grab Ford’s arm and spin him around.

“What is it?” Ford smiles.

I give him a sly smile, then pull him down to me, crashing my lips over his. He wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me up, and I thread my fingers through his sweaty hair and wrap an arm around his neck. I sweep my tongue into his mouth, and he sucks on it. I kiss him and kiss him, until my lungs are burning. I either have to breathe or pass out.

“What was that for?” Ford’s asks kissing the corner of my mouth.

“That was me telling the world you’re mine.” I kiss him several more times before our parents cough behind us. When I glance back over to the front row of bleachers, Bree is gone. Good riddance.

Bree is MIA at school on Friday. Ty has history with her, and she wasn’t in class. I make Ford unblock her number, and two messages pop up. The first one says: Good luck with your game tonight. I’ll be in the stands cheering for you. The second says: I’m looking forward to Monday and talking about our future.

Ford and I spend the day acting like nothing is wrong. We’re getting together with our friends tonight to talk about everything.

Friday night, Jack and I pull up to Leah’s at the same time as Ford. He parks behind us, then approaches my side of the car and helps me out. He’s shaved and smells good. I lean in, nuzzling his neck and kissing him. We’re the last to get to Leah’s. All our friends are already downstairs in her large gaming and theater room. Nobody looks happy.

“Did Ty fill everyone in on what’s going on?” Ford asks.

“Bree has lost her mind,” Cameron says, shaking his head.

“I hate the chick.” Aubrey scowls.

June gets up and comes over, hugging me. “How are you?” she asks.

“I’m okay. How was rehearsal today?”

“It was long. I’m glad it’s over, and I can spend some time with my friends.” She gives me one more hug, then goes over and sits down next to Ty.

Ford leads me over to the end of the sofa and sits down, pulling me down on his lap.

“So, what’s the plan?” Cameron asks.

“We don’t have one, yet,” Ford says. “We need your help.”

“I have an idea,” I say. “I want to talk to Alison. If Bree has anything on me, that’s where she would’ve gotten her information from.”

“Do you think she’ll tell you?” June asks. “Alison can hold a grudge. I have Spanish with her, and I’ve tried to talk to her several times, but she glares and ignores me.”

“I don’t know if she will, but I need to try.” I sigh.

Ford glides his hand down my arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Do you think Bree has information that can actually hurt you?” Aubrey asks.

“If she does, I don’t know what it is. I’ve never knowingly done something bad or illegal. She’s saying what she has will cause me to be out of the running for valedictorian. I looked up the qualifications and read through them. Whatever she thinks she has is academic based. I’ve racked my brain, and I can’t think of anything.”

“We need more time,” Jack says. “I want to talk to Mason Bergeson again.”

“I’ve figured out a way for us to get more time,” Ford says.

“How?” I ask.

Ford purses his lips. “I’m going to tell Bree I accept her proposal.”

42. I Accept

The room erupts into an uproar of protests. Hannah stares at me with wide eyes, like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. I lean close to her. “Please, let me explain. It’s not what you think.” I kiss the corner of her mouth.

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