Page 99 of The Forever After Bet

Ford shrugs. “I’d be an idiot not to play. Even a few years would set us up financially. It would pay for all our schooling, a house, and cars. I’d love to be a quarterback in the NFL, but I also have other dreams. I guess I don’t talk about wanting to be a doctor because there are so many guys who want the dream of playing pro ball. They will work hard and play their best, and still most won’t make it. It feels wrong to want anything else. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, it does. Thank you for telling me.”

“What about you?” Ford asks. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“I love dancing, and I think I’m good at it; but I don’t see myself trying to dance professionally or working in the industry after college. The night June had her allergic reaction, and you told me how calm and collected I was and called me Dr. Clark, I started thinking if I might be a good nurse or physician’s assistant”

“You know what that means, right?” Ford squeezes me.

“No, what?”

“It means you and I will have more classes together.”

I laugh. “I can’t wait. I still owe you a smoke bomb in your backpack.”

38. New Year’s Eve Party

My mom has been bored this holiday season. She used to plan my dad’s company’s holiday party every year and sponsor a fundraiser, but his business has grown to the point where they can’t have a big party anymore, only department parties. It saves money that they can use for Christmas bonuses instead.

To occupy her time, she’s been planning a New Year’s Eve party for me and my friends on the down low all month. She’d drop occasional hints, but I didn’t broach the subject with her until after Christmas. If I’d done it any sooner, she would’ve tried to send out invites, and that’s too over the top. I don’t want the entire school at my house. I just want to hang out and have a good time with my friends.

Still, my mom goes entirely overboard. She orders a black, white, and gold balloon arch with giant numbers. She makes a photo backdrop with props. She orders fifty gourmet cupcakes and gets the drink fountain out of storage. Then, she spends all day making food.

I have a feeling there will be a lot more people showing up than those I invited. My mom went to all this work, and she won’t even be there to enjoy it. She and my dad are going to a party in Spokane with my sister Libby and her fiancée Silas.

“Holy…” Jack trails off as he walks into my house.

“Your mom knows how to throw a party.” Ty whistles, turning in a circle.

“She doesn’t know what the word low key means,” I say.

“How many people are coming?” Jack asks.

I shrug. “I invited our group of friends, Beckett and Piper, Dave, Asher Armstrong, and a couple of guys from football.”

“Should we take bets on how many people will crash this party?” Ty laughs.

“Hopefully, not too many,” I say.

By ten o’clock, my house is jampacked with people. There’s a random bowl of alcoholic punch on my counter that I’ve dumped out twice now. It somehow magically refills. Hannah, Leah, June, and Aubrey are in the family room dancing. Most of the guys are hanging out, drinking, and talking about sports. The living room has been designated as make-out central. Everyone is a little tipsy because someone poured rum into the drink fountain before Hannah noticed and emptied it too.

“Nice party, Ford,” Ella Garcia says, walking up to me with Lydia Michaels.

“Uh, thanks. How did you hear about it?” I ask.

“Dave put it on his insta-stories.” Ella smiles.

“Nice.” I nod, but I’m mentally cursing Dave’s name.

“Hey, Ford, I have a question for you,” Lydia says.

“Shoot.” I nod, shoving a mini quiche into my mouth.

“I heard a rumor that you and Hannah Clark are dating again. Is that true?” Lydia asks.

I swallow my food and wipe my mouth. I glance over at Hannah, smiling. “Yeah, it’s true. We’ve kept it on the down low, trying to avoid drama.”

“I don’t blame you; Bree’s website is brutal.” Lydia gives me a sympathetic smile.

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