Page 76 of The Forever After Bet

Oh, my gosh! June deserves an Oscar for this performance. I owe her big.

“That’s great. That’s such a mature decision on your part. I wish Hannah and Ford could learn to be friends, but she’ll always harbor feelings for him.” Beth pats my cheek.

I want to smack her hand away, but I hold still. When she treats me like a child, especially in front of my friends, I want to scream that I love Ford and we’re together just to see the reaction on her face.

“I’m starving! Come on, Hannah, let’s eat.” June grabs my hand, dragging me back to the kitchen.

The guys have gotten their food, but there is plenty left. June and I fill our plates. We sit down on the bench next to Aubrey and Leah. Jack sits at the head of the table with Leah on his right. Ford is across from me, and Ty is across from June.

I was hungry, but now I can’t get Beth’s mean words out of my head. I It’s made my stomach sour. To make matters worse, she’s perched herself against the kitchen counter to eat and listen to our conversation. I push the refried beans around my plate with a corn chip. Ford bumps his foot against mine, but I don’t look at him.

“So Clark, the last time we all ate together, you told us a joke. Do you have another one for us? One that’s actually funny.” Ty asks, laughing.

I put my chip down and wipe my hands with a napkin. “What’s the shortest month of the year?”

Ty scrunches his forehead, then shrugs. “February.”

“Nope.” I glance at Ford. “What about you, Crawford? Can your puny brain answer my question? What’s the shortest month of the year?”

“Hannah!” Beth exclaims. “That was rude. Apologize right now.”

The room goes quiet, and I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. I look at Ford. He opens his mouth, but I shake my head. I don’t know why Beth is treating me this way but it’s got to stop.

I stand up. “I’m so sorry for what I said, Crawford. Your brain is far from puny. I’m just insecure because I still harbor feelings for you. I know I need to get over them and move on with my life the way you have. I’m the weak and pathetic one.” I walk around the kitchen and grab my car keys from the bowl.

“Hannah! Don’t you dare leave,” Beth yells at me, but I’m done with her. I hear her scream my full name, making my lip curl.

When I walk out of the house, I groan, pulling at my hair. Ford’s Range Rover is parked behind mine. I’m not going back in there, so I guess I’ll sit in my car.

When I walk past Ford’s car, his lights flash. I look up, and he’s walking down the front step. I don’t say anything. I walk around his car and get in the passenger side. He gets in and starts the car. I wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t. We drive to the road our meadow is on, but it’s all covered in snow. Ford keeps going straight and parks next to the bridge.

I glance at him, then open my door and get out. I climb into the backseat. Ford follows me. He takes my hand, holding it in both of his. I feel foolish for the scene I made back at the house, but Beth made me feel small. Everyone there knows how my and Ford’s frenemy relationship works. I can’t take it anymore. I climb onto Ford’s lap, so I’m straddling him. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight. I try to hold the tears back, but it’s no good. They fall like rivers down my face.

“I’ve got you,” Ford whispers, tightening his hold.

“I miss my mom so much,” I cry. “Jack says Beth loves me, but that didn’t feel like love. It felt like spite and hate.” I sit back, and Ford helps me wipe the tears off my face. “What did you say when you left?”

“Nothing.” Ford chuckles. “Beth went downstairs to get your dad. I nodded to Jack. He nodded back, and I left. I knew you wouldn’t be able to leave. Do you have your phone with you?”

“No. I left it charging up in my room. My white phone is in my backpack. I have a wireless charger for it.”

Ford’s phone rings, and he scrunches his forehead. “I don’t recognize the number.” He turns it around so I can see.

“It’s my dad.”

Ford nods, then answers the phone on speaker. “Hello.”

“Ford, It’s Jim Clark.”

“Hey, Mr. Clark.”

“Is Hannah with you?”

“Yes, sir, she is.”

“Oh, good. Jack thought she was, but I wanted to make sure she wasn’t walking around in this weather without a coat.”

“She’s safe,” Ford says, smiling at me.

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