“Then you’ve got to open up and confide in me, Ford. You need to tell me what’s going on with you.”
He comes over and sits down next to me, taking my hand. “I’m not sure I know how.”
“Why don’t you start by telling me why you were at the meadow?”
“I came home to my parents arguing.”
“What was the argument about?” I ask.
“Me.”
I take a breath to keep my frustration at bay. At least Ford is trying. “I’m sorry. That must have been rough. I’ve overheard my parents talking about me, and it’s never easy to hear.”
“They’re getting a divorce,” Ford says in a rush.
I wrap my arm around his back, laying my head on his shoulder. “I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling,” I whisper.
Ford turns, pulling me over him, so I’m lying on the sofa. He kneels between my legs, leaning over me, resting his elbows on either side of my head. “At first, I told myself I didn’t care. They argue and fight all the time. They haven’t been happy for over a year. But I do care. My family is falling apart, and I’m a helpless bystander.”
I push Ford’s hair off his forehead. “Baby, it will all work out. Not today, and maybe not tomorrow. Give it time, things will get better.”
Ford lowers himself onto me, letting his weight settle over me. I let out a little moan. He knows how much I like the feel of him on top of me. “What are you doing?”
“Hannah,” Ford breathes, trailing kisses up my neck. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted. I’ve never been more scared than when I saw you fall, and I lost sight of you.”
“I’m sorry too. I didn’t want to leave that way. I’m sorry for overreacting. Where’s your mom?”
Ford sighs. “In her room, she wanted to give us some privacy to talk.”
“Oh,” I say, disappointed. “That was nice of her.”
“It would have been nicer if she left.”
“Ford,” I laugh, slapping his arm. “That’s not nice.”
He leans down, trailing his nose along my jaw. “It’s still true.”
I kiss his cheek. “I know how you feel.”
He sits up, helping me sit up. “Come on, we better go get your car.”
“Okay, I left my phone in it. I’m sure one of my parents have texted me.”
“Let’s take the Range Rover. I’ve had enough of the jet ski for today.” Ford takes my hand, leading me out to the garage and helping me in his car.
6. Great Football Expectations
We’re quiet as we drive out to the cabin. I’ve been dying to talk to Hannah all day, and now words feel hard. I take her hand, resting it on my thigh. This isn’t how I wanted this day to end. Now I understand Hannah’s reluctance to get back together. She’s right; I need to be more open with her. Part of me is so used to holding onto everything that letting the bad things out seems wrong. The other part of me doesn’t want to burden Hannah with my problems. I don’t want to bring her down or make her sad. But if I’d opened up to her about my parents, maybe I wouldn’t have freaked out on her the way I did, and we would’ve never broken up.
I pull up next to her car but don’t get out. I hold Hannah’s hand in both of mine. I don’t want to let her go, but I don’t know what to say to get her to stay. “I love you,” she exhales. “With all my heart. I’m not giving up on us.”
Maybe you should.The words stick in my throat. I can’t say them. Maybe she should give up on us, but I don’t want her to. “Thank you for saying that. Today has been so crazy.”
“That’s my doing.” Hannah sighs, running a hand through her hair. “I’m the one who made the bet. Part of me regrets it.”
“And the other part?” I ask.
Hannah sighs, her eyes fluttering closed. “That kiss.”
