After my conversation with Summer, I’ve decided that tonight I’ll tell Ford how I feel. He’s been so open with me about his feelings and again, that’s another thing I’m just not used to. I guess now, knowing his story, making his intentions and his feelings crystal clear makes sense. Usually, I’ll text Ford after the game and let him know I’ll meet him at his house or at the players exit, but today when the game was over, I blew past everyone in the stadium as fast as I could to get my plan for the night started.
Summer
Don’t forget heels.
Already packed them!
I know Ford doesn’t need a grand gesture from me, but I still want to give him one. From day one, he’s given me nothing but reassurance, confidence and honesty, and that’s exactly what I plan to give him in return. I decided to pick up churros and ice cream from the food trucks that we went to on our first date. Even though I’m not sure he looks at our unplanned walk around downtown as a date, it’s how I look at the timeline of our relationship starting.
Before I met Ford, I made a promise to myself that I’d work hard to regain all of the parts of me I lost over the last few years. When Ford and I agreed to our friends with benefits arrangement, I wasn’t looking for love and sure as hell didn’t think I’d be finding it with him. I’m finally feeling like myself again and these last few months with him played a part in that.
As I wait in my car in Ford’s driveway, the anticipation of what tonight means has my heart fluttering. I pull down the visor mirror to check myself for probably the twentieth time, even though I know for Ford, it doesn’t matter what I look like.
My long brown hair is down and curled in soft beachy waves and I kept my makeup to a minimum except for the red lip I decided to sport tonight. I pull the coat I’m wearing slightly open at the collar and peek down at my undressed skin. Nothing but a pair of black lace underwear and heels. This is so unlike me, but feels so right at the same time. It’s one of those things I’ve always heard about women doing, and I always wondered if I’d ever be confident enough to try something like that. Turns out, when Ford is the other party, hell yeah, I’m confident enough.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I see headlights slowing down behind me and Ford’s truck turns into the driveway and pulls into the garage. I thought about seeing if Mia had a key to his house so I could be waiting inside, but I didn’t want anyone to know about this. I wanted it to be an intimate moment for just the two of us. Well, and Summer I guess, since it was technically her idea that I do something like this.
I get out of my car and walk up the driveway in my heels and coat, with a small overnight bag over my shoulder. It is pretty cold out, so I don’t think he’ll question the coat to be honest.
He smiles when he sees me walking towards him and reaches out to grab my bag as he kisses the top of my head.
“I didn’t hear from you after the game and you didn’t answer when I texted you…” He looks at his phone. “Seven minutes ago.”
“Sorry.” I blush.“I just wanted to talk to you in person.”
He takes my hand and pulls it to his mouth, placing a kiss on my knuckles and leads me inside.
He puts my bag down along with his own and I quickly grab the churros and ice cream out when he walks into the bathroom. Placing the ice cream in the freezer, I fluff my hair one more time for good measure. Once he begins to walk out of the room and I hurry to the center of the living room. Pulling my hair over my shoulders on either side so it falls down over my chest and then positioning one hand on my hip, while keeping the other close to the tie on the coat.
“You want to eat something?” Ford says as he walks out with his phone in his hand looking down. When he brings his eyes up and sees me standing there, I consider this a homerun of an idea, or should I say touchdown.
“Abby.” His eyes light up as he drops his phone on the couch and slowly makes his way over to me. His dark hair looks a little grown out and he has the extra scruff on his face that he knows I love running my fingers over. His black t-shirt and denim jeans bring me right back to the first night we met. I’m absolutely swept off my feet by this man.
My smile grows as he gets closer and brings his lips to mine. His tongue swipes over my bottom lip and I open to give us both the deeper kiss we’re craving. When he pulls away, I wipe a bit of red lipstick that got on the corner of his mouth,
“So, I thought it was about time I shared some feelings tonight.” I stand up straighter and press my fingers into the corners of my lips to clean up any lipstick there on myself too.
Ford places both hands on my hips as he moves me closer to him,
“Are you going to make me wait to see what’s under this coat or can I have a peek now?” His fingers press into my hips, giving me goosebumps.
Lightly pushing his chest, I look up at him.
“Oh, you’ll have to wait,” I say with a pout, causing a loud groan to leave his lips as he throws his head back dramatically and takes a step backwards.
“You know, I wasn’t looking for anything when I moved here.” I slowly pace the living room, toying with the tie on the coat as I do. “I wasn’t planning on falling for someone so soon after everything I’d been through.” My voice stays steady and soft, I talk slowly, wanting to make sure I’m perfectly clear in my confession. Ford's body is leaning against the frame of the sliding glass door. He doesn’t take his eyes off of mine while I’m speaking.
“But then along came you.” I stare into his eyes, a soft smile on my lips. “I slowly found myself wanting to spend time with you, wanting to talk to you all the time, and tell you about my past. It was simple, it was easy. It was also consuming and intense.” Ford’s chest moves up and down as I look over his body, standing so tall and still against the glass.
“I wasn’t looking for anything, and then suddenly… I realized I found something. With you, I’m safe, I feel seen, I’ve never been more myself than I am when I’m with you.” My body moves towards him, beginning to close the distance between us and he does the same.
Ford takes my cheek in his hand and I lean into it, the feel of his rough hand against my skin is everything I’m craving. Our bodies are inches from one another and my heartbeat has started to pick up as I’m nearing the end of what I planned on saying to him.
“You took me by surprise in every way imaginable. I can’t wait another second, I don’t want to wait anymore. I love you, Ford. I’m so ridiculously in love with you, it’s insane.” My eyes begin to fill with tears as a sob comes from my chest louder than I intended.
Without another second passing his lips are on mine. His kiss is possessive and greedy, and I pull him towards my body in the same needy way.
“You have no idea how much I fucking love you, Abby.” His hands cup my face and his thumb swipes my cheek to catch a single tear. “But I plan on showing you, every day, just how much that is.”
