Page 47 of The Forever After Bet

Ford laughs, covering it up with a cough.

“Are you okay, Mr. Cross?” Our teacher asks.

I put my head down on my desk to hide my laughter.

“Sorry, Mrs. Hammond, I have a scratchy throat. May I use the hall pass to get a drink of water?”

“It’s on the windowsill next to my desk. Please hurry.” Mrs. Hammond tuts.

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” Ford stands up, dropping the note in my open backpack.

I open it, then glance back at him as he walks out of the classroom. He smiles and winks at me. I should’ve known he’d pick dare.

After class, Ford waits for me as I pack up my stuff, and we walk to our lockers together.

“So what’s the dare?” he asks, a silly smirk on his face.

I glance around the hallway, trying to think of something I can dare him to do, but everything that comes to my mind is stupid. I notice that someone has left the student workroom open. It’s a small room students use to take make up tests or take exams verbally. I look at Ford and then nod toward the room. I walk across the hall and go inside, leaving the lights off. Ford glances up and down the hall and slips into the room behind me, shutting the door and flipping on the lights.

“We don’t have much time,” he whispers.

“I dare you—”I don’t get a chance to finish. Ford’s lips crash into mine, and he backs me up against the wall.

“Dare accepted,” he mutters as he kisses along my jaw.

I arch my neck, and he scrapes his teeth along my favorite spot. I let out a whimper as a shiver rushes down my spine. Ford grabs my hips, and I lift my legs, wrapping them around his waist. He grinds his pelvis into mine, and I groan into his mouth.

“More, I want more.” I thread my fingers into his hair, giving it a slight tug. Ford growls, nipping my bottom lip. His hand slips underneath my warmup jacket.

“You’re wearing too many layers.” He laments, pulling at my cheer top until he feels my skin. He tugs at my sports bra until he exposes my breast. His movements slow as he squeezes and swipes his thumb across my nipple, causing it to stiffen. I arch my hips into his. Ford hisses with pleasure, and I do it again. The timer on his phone beeps, and he breaks our kiss, leaning his forehead against mine. “I’ve been dying to touch you all morning.”

“Me too. I miss holding your hand in the halls.”

Ford gives me a quick kiss. “Let’s get to Christmas break, and then we’ll figure out our next step.”

“That’s only a few weeks away. I can handle that,” I say.

“Me too. I think.” Ford chuckles. “We’ve got to go. We’re—” The tardy bell rings, cutting him off.

“Whoops.” I shrug. “I’ll leave first. I need to use the bathroom, and then I’ll see you in class.”

Ford leans in, giving me another soft kiss. “Just so you know, I still want to spend lunch in the janitor’s closet.”

I glide my hand along his cheek, laughing. “Me too.”

I use the bathroom and put concealer and foundation around my mouth, nose, and chin because it’s bright red. My hair looks about the same with its crazy curls.

When I walk into class, Mr. Metcalf has already started his lecture. He glances at me and then behind me at Ford. “Nice of you to make it to class, Miss Clark. We were just talking about the expansion and addition of new states to the United States. As a result, the debate over slavery raged on. Tell me, Miss Clark, who was it that eased the tensions of both the North and South? What was the document he crafted called, and how long did it ease tensions? If you can answer all three questions. I won’t mark you tarty.”

“Three questions. That’s steep, Mr. M,” I say.

“It is. I’ll give some more incentive. Mr. Cross was also late. If you answer all the questions correctly. I won’t mark either of you tardy.”

I nod my head. “Okay.”

“You’ve got this.” Ford leans in, whispering.

“Ah, no helping her, Mr. Cross.”

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