Page 64 of The Forever After Bet

“They want to go as a big group, with Aubrey, Cameron.” I play with a button on Ford’s shirt, not looking at him.

“And you don’t want to?” He puts a finger under my chin, tilting it so I’m looking at him.

“No, I do.”

“What’s your hesitation?”

“I will want to hold your hand and dance with you, kiss you. All the things couples do at dances.” I sigh.

“We’ll have fun with our friends. I’ll dress up in my new suit and you’ll wear a gorgeous drees and I’ll get to fawn over you. I’ll do whatever you want to do? While our friends went to the dance for a while, we could do something else, and then we’d meet up with them later.”

“You’d do that?” I ask.

“I’d do almost anything for you, Hannah Clark. Jack told me he’s never said anything to Beth about Ty and June getting back together, so if we tell your parents we’re getting a big group together for the dance, I don’t think Beth will make a big deal.”

“I don’t think she will either. Okay, let’s go.” I smile.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Thank you.” Ford leans in, kissing me.

“So how was it with Bree this afternoon?” I glance at him but look away, biting my lower lip. I slip my hand up under his shirt, rubbing my fingers along the indentations of his muscles.

Ford slips his hand up my shirt, scratching my back. “She talked a lot about you.”

“What?”

“She claimed she saw you and Ryker making out yesterday after school.”

“Uh—yeah, no. I was with Leah the entire time. We made two posters for last night’s game.”

“I know. You don’t need to defend yourself to me.” Ford pats my back.

“Ryker must be her neighbor because she swears your car was parked outside his house all Wednesday night and most of Thursday morning.”

“How does a person straight up lie like that?” I shake my head.

“I laughed at that one because we were together that night. Bree thought I was laughing at the situation, so she laughed too. I walked out of the booth to hand out the flyers after that, but it didn’t do any good. She came and sat on the table. She kept dropping hints that she didn’t have a date to the dance yet, and how we should go together. Honestly, I stopped listening. I was worried about my gramps, and people kept stopping to talk to me about donations or football.”

The doorbell rings. “Ooh, our food’s here. I’m starving. They were fast,” I say, sitting up.

“Yeah, really fast.” Ford grabs his phone clicking on the food app. “It’s not our food. They haven’t picked it up yet.”

“So, who’s here?”

26. Chinese Takeout

Hannah and I get up and walk to the door. I try to look through the peephole, but it’s blocked by a Christmas wreath hung on the door. I pull up the security system app on my phone and look at the front door camera. When I see who it is, I groan with frustration.

Hannah peeks over my shoulder. “Bree! Are you serious? She’ll go away if you don’t answer the door, right?”

“My car’s in the driveway. Remember, I told her I had to pick up Libby from the airport because my parents were out of town?”

She pounds on the door. It startles Hannah, and she jumps, letting out a squeak.

“Ford, are you there? It’s Bree.” She yells from the other side.

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