Page 98 of The Forever After Bet

Ford tilts his head. “Last time we were playing video games.”

I tip my head back, laughing.

“If we want to be well-rounded normal teenagers, we need the total experience.” Ford lowers himself onto his elbows, letting some of his weight settle over me.

“The total experience, huh?” I scrub my hand through his messy hair, scratching his scalp.

“Mm-hmm.” Ford purrs.

“Your parents are upstairs.” I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him on top of me.

He groans. “Oh, yeah.”

“So, get off me!” I pound at his shoulders, laughing.

He laughs, and we both sit up.

I pull a little box out of my pocket.

“What’s that?” Ford asks.

“I bought this present for you for Christmas at the craft fair, but I chickened out when it came time to give it to you.”

Ford wraps his arm around my neck, pulling me close. “Hannah, I will love anything you give me.”

“It’s not that I thought you wouldn’t like it. Just—here.” I hand him the box.

He opens it and pulls out a sterling silver ring. He’s silent as he examines it. There’s nothing unique about the ring. It has pine trees engraved in black all around it. Ford puts it on his middle finger, but it’s a little big, so he tries his pointer, which fits perfectly. “Thank you.” Ford’s voice is rough, and he won’t look at me.

“Hey, if…” But I trail off when I see Ford hastily wipe away a tear. I crawl over him, sitting on his lap. “What’s going through your head?” I ask, rubbing the back of his neck.

“How much I love you, and how lucky I am that you’re in my life. Thank you for this.” He spins the movable metal piece of the ring with his thumb.

“It’s only a ring.”

Ford looks up at me. “Is it, though?”

I shake my head. “No. It’s the equivalent of this.” I fidget with my promise ring.

“I see my future with you, Hannah Clark.” Ford kisses my temple.

“Ditto.” We sit together for a while, enjoying just being with each other. “Ford, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“What are you going to do with your life?” I turn, looking at him. “I know you’re private about what you see yourself doing in the future. I’m with you every step of the way, no matter what you want to do. I want you to be happy. If that means you want to spend your life as an accountant or a plumber, then I’ll support you.”

A smile lights his face, and he chuckles. “A plumber, really?”

I shrug. “It’s an honest profession. Probably a little smelly, but I don’t think you want to be a plumber.”

“I didn’t think you did.” Ford sighs and leans his forehead against mine. “I’m going to major in Bioengineering.”

“You do like math.” I smile, kissing his cheek.

“I’m not hanging my hopes on professional football career. I love playing, and I’ll give my all to Sutherland; but I want to be a doctor. I have ever since I was a little kid. In the fourth grade, I dressed up as a bloody surgeon for Halloween. I had scrubs, a surgical cap, and a mask. The whole nine yards. I’ve always been fascinated by how the body works.”

“What if the NFL is a viable option?” I ask.

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