“Now that is uncalled for.” Mom huffed.
“Mom.” I stopped her. “Peyton has earned the right to speak her mind, even if it makes us uncomfortable. Ford would be dead right now if it weren’t for her.Dead. None of us should ever forget that.”
Mom sucked in a sob and covered her mouth. But she nodded for Peyton to continue.
“Needing medication isn’t something to be ashamed of,” Peyton said. “I’m not afraid to let my freak flag fly.” She raised her hand in the air. “Proud taker of a safe dose of legally prescribed ADHD meds right here. Those meds changed my life.” She shrugged. “And I go to therapy every week. Frankly,it’s what keeps me from killing Braxton, and other people who may or may not remain nameless.” She said the last part under her breath. “AndI think therapy could benefit every person in this room.” She looked right at Mom and Dad as she held her hands up. “I know y’all think I’m an airhead whose only redeeming quality is her pretty face, and that I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut. And maybe that’s true?—”
“No one thinks that,” I said. I definitely didn’t. Yes, on the pretty face. No, on the rest.
She gave me a small smile. “But at least Ford can be real with me. He can open up and I won’t judge him. He can text or call and tell me that he’s had a crap day and he’s struggling and I won’t tell him tocowboy up.” I winced at the term commonly used by all of us. “I let him talk and cry if he needs to.”
My head tilted and I looked at her and Ford, just realizing that their friendship was a lot deeper than I ever gave it credit for. How many times before tonight had she talked him off a ledgesuccessfullyand single handedly? What did we owe Peyton?
She chewed her lip, the room pin drop silent and heavy with tension. “I’m going to be real with you. I love me some Duprees. Love y’all more than I love my own dysfunctional family. But Ford needs meds, therapy,andrehab. And you shouldn’t get in his way. Or tease him. You should support him. I know I’m going to.” She hopped off the bed, apparently done. Then she kissed Ford on the top of the head. “I’ll get out of your hair now.” Her blue eyes were bright and bold with a touch of sympathy. “I really do love all of you. I just don’t want something like this to…” She sucked in a stuttering breath. “Ever happen again.”
Ford reached for her hand, holding her in place, clearly not wanting her to go.
Her expression warmed, and she bent over and pressed ahand against his cheek. “I’ll come see you tomorrow. I promise.”
He laid his hand over hers, pulled it to his lips, and kissed her palm. Then he let go.
She half walked—half skipped out of the room, only stopping when Lemon pulled her into a quick hug.
“Bye, Peyton!” Christy called before she disappeared through the door.
“Dang,” said the doctor once she was gone. “I like her.”
Ford grinned. “Me too.A lot.” He enunciated the T.
Me three. She’d saved my brother’s life today. And maybe a lot of other days too.
“Come on in.” The doctor waved everyone closer as if we were a football team about to huddle. Once Ford was surrounded, she looked at Mom and Dad. “Are you on board with Peyton’s plan? Because she hit every nail on the head. Meds, therapy, and rehab. It’s going to be hard, but if he has this crew…” She chuckled and flipped her thumb backward to the door. “And that woman, he has the best chance possible.”
Mom looked at Dad. Then they looked at the doctor. “Yes,” Mom said. “We’re on board.”
The doctor shook Ford’s foot under the blanket. “And what about you? You’re the one that’s going to have to put in the hard work.”
His eyes were huge and he seemed overwhelmed.
I glanced at the spot on his arm where they’d removed the IV. I reached over and squeezed his hand—something I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing yesterday. We made eye contact.
I smiled and nodded encouragingly. “We’ll help. All of us.”
“Yes,” said Anna. “I can fly home. Blue is already looking for a ticket.” “Found one!” Blue yelled in the background.
“I’m in,” Silas said.
“All the way,” said Holden.
Christy and Lemon cupped their hands around their mouths and hollered in unison like two cheerleaders. “We love you, Fo-shiz!”
Ford chuckled. Then he looked at the doctor with a solemn yet determined expression. “Yeah. I’m in.”
licensed to swoon—chapter thirty two
JACK
The rain whips across my face as I stand on the cliffs of Dover. Raven loved it here. Said it felt like we were in one of those old spy movies she adored.
