Page 84 of The Forever After Bet

“So?” June asks, wrapping her arm around my neck.

“We’re going to go for pictures and a dance; a half-hour tops,” I say.

“Hooray.” June leans over, kissing my cheek. “I love school dances.”

June’s comment makes me excited to go to the dance and be with Ford and hang out with my friends, but by the time we pull into the school parking lot, I’m having second thoughts.

Ford takes my hand. “We don’t have to go in.”

“I want to, and I don’t want to.”

“I understand where you’re coming from. I’m having the same mixed feelings. At the first sign of trouble, we will leave, I promise. We can use a safe word. If either of us says the word, we’ll find the nearest exit and leave like a tree.”

I bend over, laughing. “Really?”

“Hey, I got you to laugh. It was a total success. Even if it made me look like an idiot, it was worth it.” He leans over, kissing my cheek.

“What’s our safe word?” I ask.

Ford twists his mouth up, thinking. “Toyota.”

“I—” I shake my head and laugh. “I like it.” I look at Ford tilting my head.

“What is it?” he asks.

“I had a random thought pop into my head.”

“This I’ve got to hear.”

“I was wondering why your parents named you Crawford?”

“It’s Gigi’s maiden name. Gigi said my mom always talked about naming her son Crawford. My mom says it’s distinguished.”

“It is. I’ve always liked your name.” I lean in giving him a quick kiss.”

“Are you ready to go in?”

I tilt my head back and forth. “Yes.”

We walk in with Leah, Jack, Ty, and June. Everyone in school knows they are a couple. There are tons of people here. It seems a lot came without dates to this dance. We find the photo line, and it’s a mile long. It wraps around the edge of the gym. It’s an hour wait, at least. I look at Ford and cringe.

He leans close so I can hear him over the music. “Just say the word.”

From clear across the gym, I see Bree with Melissa and Missy. She’s spotted Ford and is on a mission to piss off as many people as she can as she crosses the dance floor.

“Bree. Bree,” I hiss behind my hand.

He turns to look, but June grabs his arm.

“Don’t look the dragon in the eyes,” June warns.

“Let’s go, lover boy,” Leah says, pulling Ford onto the dance floor. That doesn’t stop Bree. She walks right up to them. I hide behind Cameron and Ty, watching the confrontation. It looks like Bree is trying to pretend Leah isn’t even there, but Leah isn’t going to let her get away with that. While Bree and Leah are arguing, Violet Richland comes up behind Ford, tapping him on the shoulder.

This is a nightmare. We should’ve never tried to come to the dance. He says something to her, and she smiles and walks away. Ford grabs Leah’s hand and drags her off the dance floor. Thankfully, Bree doesn’t follow.

Ford pushes into the middle of our group, ducking down and out of sight. We look at each other. “Toyota.” We both blurt at the same time. He hands me his car fob.

“Pull around to the side door next to the weight room. The one we used during football season.”

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