Page 97 of The Forever After Bet

Hannah takes my hand. “We don’t talk about this night anymore, but I think about this night all the time. Sometimes, the things that happened that night help get me through the day. We don’t have to talk about it until you’re ready, but I want you to know that I’ll be at the meadow.”

I cup my hands around Hannah’s face and crush my lips to hers. I lean my head against hers. “I will be there. I’ll keep my promise.” I kiss her again. “I know we need to talk about our future, but I also want us to have fun and be carefree for a little while longer.”

“I’m okay with that,” Hannah smiles, kissing me. We sit by the fire for a bit longer, enjoying being close to one another.

37. Merry Christmas

“Merry Christmas, Hanny!” Hank and Scottie jump up on my bed, waking me up.

“Merry Christmas, Rugrats.” I grab both of them, kissing their cheeks and squeezing their sides. We all laugh and fall back onto the bed. “Have you woken Jack up yet?”

“No, you were closer,” Scottie says.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Make sure you yell extra loud at him.” I give them both a little shove, laughing. I get up and put on a sports bra, leaving my pajamas on. Beth got the entire family matching ones. We look silly, but it’s fun to be all dressed up together. When I get downstairs. Jack is coming up from the basement, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Merry Christmas, Jack-ass.”

Jack stops walking, looks at me, smirks, and says, “Merry Christmas, Hannibal.”

We both laugh. “It’s been a tradition for the last six years. We can’t stop now,” I say.

“We can’t have that.” Jack rolls his eyes.

I’ve always loved Christmas. I especially like watching Hank and Scottie open presents and hanging out in my pajamas all day; and, of course, getting new things is always nice.

My little brothers get electric motorcycles for Christmas and all the necessary safety gear. They’re so excited when Jack and my dad roll them into the living room. Watching how their faces light up over their gifts is the best part of Christmas.

Jack gets a new laptop. I can tell he wasn’t expecting such a fancy, expensive gift because he gets emotional when he opens it. I’ve rarely seen him show his sentimental side.

My dad and Beth give me an iPad. I’ve been eyeing them since the end of school last year, but I couldn’t justify buying one since I had a laptop. I’m so excited about it.

Jack and I pitched in together and got my dad a golf package to the country club where Jack works and a spa day for Beth.

It’s a good Christmas, but it’s also bittersweet. Everything will be different next year. There will be a new family member, and Jack and I will be in college. I spend the day putting aside my differences with Beth and helping her make dinner. We hang out together as a family, play several games Hank and Scottie got as presents, and watch a Christmas movie. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas.

Ford decides to throw a New Year’s Eve party at his mother’s urging. So, the night before, we get together at his house, just the two of us. He takes me out to dinner, then we make popcorn, lay downstairs in his theater room, and watch a movie.

“Are you even watching the movie?” Ford asks, threading his fingers through my hair.

I sit up, and he pauses the movie. A few lights come on along the room’s corners, so I can see his face.

“What’s going on?” He asks softly.

“I know we talked about keeping our relationship private until Bree’s website was taken down, but the last post was clear back in October. I don’t want to hide anymore. Our friends know, our families know. The only place we don’t act like a couple is at school. It’s a new year and time for a new start.”

“I agree with you,” Ford says, entwining his hand with mine. “I’m tired of not being able to drive you to school or hold your hand in the halls.” He glides his lips along my jaw, kissing my cheek. “Of not being able to show my public displays of affection for you.”

I duck my head, smiling. “I miss all those things, too. Especially the last.”

“I think there’s always going to be some stupid rumor spreading around the school, and dumb people doing dumb things that affect us, but that’s high school.”

“And we did say we wanted to be normal teenagers.” I laugh.

“So true.” Ford nods.

I lay back on the sofa, and Ford shifts, so he’s kneeling over me. He leans down, brushing his lips against mine.

“Do normal teenager things include doing it in their parent’s basement, while watching a movie?” Ford’s mouth twists up into a smile, making his eyes crinkle at the sides.

I trace my finger around his mouth, then lift my head, giving his bottom lip a little nip. “Been there, done that.”

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