Page 83 of The Forever After Bet

I open the bathroom door and gasp. Leah and Aubrey are wearing the same dress as June and me, only in different colors. Leah’s dress is a deep fuchsia, and Aubrey’s is a forest green. My dress is midnight blue, and the tulle portion is covered in little silver moons and stars. “I—how—I’m speechless.” I turn to June. “Did you know?”

June twists her mouth up into a smile. “Kind of. I sent them a picture of our dresses and said we should all match. I didn’t know if they did it, though.”

“We loved the dress. When we saw all the colors they had, we decided it would be fun to all match but in different colors,” Leah says.

“This is awesome. I absolutely love it.” I smile.

“Are we all ready?” Leah asks, looking around the disaster that used to be her room.

“Should we clean up?” I ask.

“Nah, we’ll worry about it later. We better go. We’re going to be late as it is.” We all shuffle out of Leah’s room and downstairs.

“Oh, my gosh!” June exclaims, then breaks into giggles.

“What’s going on?” I jump, trying to see around the corner. Everyone shuffles into Leah’s living room, and I realize all the fuss. All the guys are here looking handsome in their suits. Ford is wearing his dark gray suit with his vest and a black tie.

Ty is the first guy to realize we’re all wearing the same dress. He scrunches his forehead and points to all of us. “Am I seeing things? Or is this the same dress only in assorted colors?”

We all glance at each other and then down at our dresses, looking confused, then look at the guys.

“Yep.” We say together.

Ford walks up to me, kissing my cheek. “You look beautiful.” He holds a corsage with a beautiful red rose and a small white calla lily and slips it on my wrist.

“It’s beautiful.” I run my fingers over the velvety rose. I reach into my bag and pull out a corsage for him. “I got you one too.” I smile.

He helps me open it. My hand shakes as I pin the red rose to his lapel.

“This is turning less and less into a group date.” Ford smiles, glancing around the room.

“It was a good try.” I laugh.

He leans down, kissing my cheek. “I like your dress the best,” he whispers in my ear, then kisses the shell.

“My mom is expecting us,” Ty says. “We should get going.”

I toss Jack my Venue keys. “Thank you.”

He nods.

Ty’s house is fun. His mom ordered a big hoagie sandwich, and Cameron’s mom made a couple of salads. It’s a light dinner, and everyone enjoys it. We play several minute-to-win-it games. The guys are hilarious to watch competing against each other. Around nine-thirty, everyone is ready to head to the dance, except for Ford and me.

“Will you two come for a while? A half-hour max.” June asks.

“Just come and get pictures with us,” Aubrey suggests.

“We didn’t buy tickets. It cost twenty dollars at the door for a couple. It’s not worth it if we’re not going to stay,” I say.

Ford pulls me aside. “Do you want to go? Ty snagged me a couple of tickets since he’s on the student council.”

I pick at a button on his vest. “I feel bad that we don’t get to hang out with our friends. What about you?”

“I’ll do whatever you want, Hannah.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. “Fine, I wouldn’t mind stopping by the dance for a few minutes. Get a picture with our friends and dance with you.”

“Sounds like we have our answer.” I smile.

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