Page 115 of The Forever After Bet

“If you want the week, you have to break up with Clark at school, so everyone sees. It has to be public.”

I’m shaking my head before she’s even done talking.

“It’s fair, Ford. Then everyone knows the two of you are over before you start dating me.”

I need this conversation to be over. I know arguing over this is pointless. Bree likes drama, and she hates Hannah. She wants to see her suffer. “Fine.” I grit out between my teeth. “Monday morning, you give me all your information against Clark. The moment we walk into school together, you don’t have any leverage over me or her.”

“How do I know you won’t break up with me at the end of the day?”

“Because you have my word. We’ll date for a month. At the end of the month, we will sit down and talk about things.” My gut is tied in knots.

“Fine. We have a deal.”

“Okay,” I say.

I try to take my hand back, but she tightens her hold and steps closer. Shit! Don’t react and don’t back up.

“I’ll be counting down the days.” She leans in, her eyes closing at the last second.

I swallow, letting her lips touch mine for the briefest of seconds before I pull back.

“You’ll see Ford,” she whispers, still in my personal space. “You’ll fall madly in love with me and forget about Hannah Clark.” She lets go of my hand and steps back, making a dramatic exit, with her friends trailing behind her.

I watch out the window until I see her get in her car, then make a beeline for the bathroom.

I stand over the toilet, dry heaving. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, so there’s nothing to puke up. When I come out of the stall, Jack and Ty are waiting for me. I rinse my mouth several times and wash my hands.

“Are you okay?” Ty asks.

“No,” I say, gripping the sides of the sink so tightly my fingers turn white. “What time is it?”

“Almost seven,” Jack says.

“Dang it!” I shake my head. “Hannah doesn’t get done until almost nine.”

“Let’s go talk in the car.” Ty pats my back.

“Yeah, okay.”

When we get out to the car, I pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and play the conversation I just recorded with Bree for my friends.

“Holy—” Jack breaks off, running his hands through his hair when the recording ends.

“We have to do something before next Monday,” Ty says.

“Yeah, or I’m screwed.” I huff.

“Just for the record. You were seriously badass, talking to her.” Ty laughs.

“I agree. You were cool and convincing the whole time.” Jack shakes his head.

“That’s good. I didn’t feel that way. I’m not sure how I stood still when she leaned in to kiss me. I know it’s early, but I’m going to wait for Hannah at the dance studio. I need to see her and hold her. And—shit—tell her what happened.”

“I’ll come with you. I can drive the Venue home so you guys can have some time to talk,” Jack says.

“I’m meeting up with June to study at her house. I’ll fill her in.” Ty clasps his hand on my arm. “If you need anything, call.”

I swallow before I answer him. My emotions are all over the place. “I will, T. I promise.”

---