Page 65 of The Forever After Bet

“What are we going to do?” Hannah mouths.

I shrug. I don’t want to answer the door, but what choice do I have? “I’ll get rid of her.”

“Okay. Give me your phone.” Hannah holds out her hand, and I toss it to her. She runs into the family room, picking up her shoes and socks. “Tell her the guys are coming over.”

“Okay.” I nod.

Hannah disappears upstairs. I twist the deadbolt, unlock the door, and open it.

“It’s about time.” Bree huffs, shoving the door open with her shoulder and storming inside. “It’s freezing out there.”

“Most people start conversations with hello, and how are you. They also don’t push their way into someone’s house.” I shut the door and lean against it, crossing my arms. I’ve had enough of Bree Chandler. I’m at my breaking point.

She shimmies up to me, plastering a smile on her face. “I’m really, really, sorry. I get irritable when I’m cold. I need to move to a warmer climate, like California or Hawaii. Please forgive me for being so rude.” She sticks her bottom lip out, pouting. Bree looks like she’s ready to go to some fancy party. Crystal earrings dangle from each ear. Her hair is in some fancy updo, and she has on tons of makeup. How she is cold wearing a long black fur coat?

“What are you doing here, Bree? Jack and Ty are on their way over.”

“Call them and tell them you’re busy. I promise it will be worth it.”

“Yeah, I’m not doing that.” I push off the door and grab the doorknob. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bre throw off her coat, but I still open the door. “You need to…” I turn. She’s standing in my entryway in black lingerie that shows more than it covers. “Holy—.” I slam the door shut, grab her coat, and wrap it backward around her shoulders.

Jack opens the front door. “Yo, why’d you slam the…” But his sentence trails off as he lays eyes on Bree.

“Leave, Fitzgerald! Ford and I are busy.” Bree hisses, holding her coat to her so it covers everything.

I scrub my hands over my face. I just wanted to hang out with my girl tonight.

“Quit making demands you have no right to make. If Ford wants me to leave, he’ll tell me,” Jack says .

I envy how well he handles situations under pressure. I’m ready to scream obscenities and throw Bree out into the snow, but Jack is calm and collected.

There’s another knock, and Ty comes in, holding the takeout bags. “There better be Lo Mein in one of these…” He glances from me to Bree to Jack and back to Bree. “I definitely missed out on some serious drama.”

Bree scowls and stomps her foot. “Ford, please make them leave.”

“Why don’t you use the bathroom to fix your coat?” I point to the bathroom off the family room.

“Fine.” Bree click clacks across the entry in her sky-high heels.

I scrub my hands through my hair and down my face again. “Seriously, you are lifesavers,” I whisper, glancing at the bathroom.

“Where’s Hannah?” Jack asks, keeping his voice low.

A hand appears from the stairs. “Right here,” she whispers, peeking her head around the wall. “Are June and Leah in my parent’s bedroom?”

“Yeah, I walked June around and made sure she got inside. Leah was already there,” Ty says.

“Sweet.” Hannah jumps down the last two stairs, spins around the marble floor, and then runs through the entryway and around the corner. Her hand suddenly reappears. It’s holding the kissy face Mickey. She peeks her head around the corner. “Mine,” she says in a baby voice.

I can’t help myself and laugh.

Hannah disappears down the hall. I hear my parent’s bedroom door open and click closed.

“Do we want to know?” Jack asks.

“Nope.” I laugh again.

“So—uh—does she have on anything under her coat?” Ty asks, scratching his head.

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