My stomach folds at the memory alone.Seriously, being sick sucks.But being sick and having a hot guy like Ford take care of you?Not so sucky.I do feel bad I ruined our activity, though.“Oh, yeah.”I grimace.“I guess I owe you, huh?”
“Yeah, I mean, faking sick to get out of a date?”He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.“Not cool, Bug.”
I roll my eyes.“And however will I make it up to you?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”He winks.“But in the meantime, I came up with an alternative.”
An alternative?Color me intrigued.There’s something seriously sexy about a guy who’s willing to plan out a surprise for someone he cares about, and being on the receiving end of said surprise when the man to create it is Ford?
Swoon.
“And?”I prod, unable to help myself.
Ford stands, opens the bi-fold doors to the closet, and reveals a duffle bag.It’s not just any duffle bag.It’s my duffle bag.And it isn’t a pancake, either.Nope.That thing is chock-full.Of what, I’m not sure, but it definitely isn’t empty.
Pushing to my feet, I march closer to inspect it.“What the heck?”
“I had Violet pack your bag.”
“Why?”I look over my shoulder at him.Thanks to his puffed-out chest and wide stance, the man looks so proud of himself he might very well reach over and pat himself on the back.“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“Ford,” I push.
“It’s a surprise.”
“I’m not sure I like surprises,” I muse, no matter how false the statement is.Now, I don’t usually like surprises, but if they come from the man I’m most definitely falling for?Yeah, I’m not complaining.However, if he continues keeping me in the dark, we might have a problem.
“Bet you like them more than Hawke,” he replies.“Hawke hates surprises.”
“I’m thinking he might be on to something.What about my work?”
“Lexie already called in for you.”
Wait, what?
I scratch my hairline, convinced I’m still dreaming.“Lexie?”I ask.
“Her June impression was better than Vi’s,” Ford explains.“Honestly, it was a little scary.It’s a good thing she isn’t an evil villain."
Evil villain?Lexie?Yeah, that tracks.
“Guess it depends on how you look at it since you’re basically kidnapping me,” I remind him.
“You think I’d let you fake sick to get out of this twice?”Scoffing, he picks up the full duffle bag and tosses it over his shoulder.“Come on, June.You should know better.”
“So you had me fake sick?”I ask.
“Yeah.”
“And my boss was okay with it?”
“None the wiser,” he confirms before drawing an X over his chest.“Cross my heart, and hope to die.”
Well, okay then.Guess he’s got everything figured out.I’d be annoyed, if I wasn’t so curious.It’s like he’s really thought of everything.“Can you at least tell me how long we’ll be gone?”
“Well, since I didn’t know how much sick time you have, and it felt like Lexie would ruin your credibility at work if she asked this morning, we played it safe and only asked for the day.We’ll be home by Sunday evening.”
