Maybe it never will come up again.
But that would be a real shame since all I can think about is when the next kiss will be.
As the week ramps toward the end, Ford gets busier preparing for his matchup against the Titans this Sunday. He travels with the team, and I watch from his condo while I keep busy checking tasks off my to-do list.
I talk with my financial people and get the money ready for my half of Winston Manor. Ford’s lawyer calls me to work out some of the details related to that, and I get in touch with my own lawyer to look over the contracts.
I book my flight back to Vegas for the day after Thanksgiving. I invite my family to Ford’s place for the holiday.
I shop for a turkey and all the traditional sides. My brother’s going to stop at a store on the way to bring the pies, and my mom’s bringing her sweet potato casserole since they’re driving up for the weekend. I’ll be doing the rest, which will be…interesting.
And a week and two days before Thanksgiving, on Ford’s day off, we head to an office downtown to meet with Ms. Winston and her lawyer. We sign the paperwork, my hand trembling as excitement courses through me.
When it’s all done, we’re co-owners of a manor. A freakingmanor.
“Want to go see it?” Ford asks after we leave the office. Ms. Winston stayed with her lawyer to finish up additional paperwork, but she let us know she didn’t move a single thing since she was selling the manor as-is.
“Abso-friggin-lutely!” I practically yell, and he laughs as he picks me up and swings me around in a circle.
He sets me back down, and a heated moment passes between us.
He turns away first without a kiss this time, and I climb into the Range Rover as a jittery feeling settles over me.
I clutch the keys the entire way there, and once we pull in front of the gorgeous building, we walk up the sidewalk together toward the front door. I unlock it, and we walk inside.
I let out a breath, and I rush through toward the windows to take in the view.
“This is ours,” Ford says, stepping into place beside me. “Can you believe it?”
I glance over at him, and maybe it’s the way the light from outside is lighting his handsome face, or maybe I’m just nuts…but it feels like I’m seeing him in a whole new light.
This isours. We own somethingtogether. We have this place that will tie us together for as long as we decide it will.
And it leaves me with a surprisingly giddy feeling.
I move away, breaking the spell holding our eyes together because I’m a little scared of what might happen if I don’t.
I do a twirl across the large ballroom, and I imagine the beautiful weddings that will take place here. In a dream, maybe my own someday. In reality, likely not.
I push out the punch of sadness that presses in my stomach, and instead, I set off to explore my new property with my new business partner.
CHAPTER 14: Ford Bradley
Fake it for the Day
“Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, a salad…what am I missing?” Tatum asks me on Thursday morning. I had a short, early practice, and I’m already home with extra homework to review film ahead of Sunday’s matchup.
“Green bean casserole?” I suggest. When she wrinkles her nose, I laugh. “You don’t like it?”
She shakes her head vehemently as she feigns barfing.
“You’ve just never triedmyGBC,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her.
“They’re all the same. Follow the directions on the can. Dump green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and the crispy onion things, add some milk, and pop it in the oven. Who the hell eats that garbage? The soup.” She makes a face, and she actually does look a little green at the thought of it.
I shake my head with a laugh. “That’s not howI make mine.”
“Oh? Well, then. How, pray tell, do you make yours?”
