“Tell me about it,” I say, and we both laugh.
The Coaches are always strict about the cheerleaders, the band, and the football players, all riding separately on the way to the game, but Aubrey says they don’t care on the way back. Everyone’s tired and just wants to get home. Ford and Jack come walking out of the school together. When Leah sees Jack, she runs through the parking lot dodging cars. Jack drops his football gear and runs toward her. When they reach each other, Leah jumps into his arms. It’s romantic but a little overkill. They saw each other twenty minutes ago. You can definitely tell they just started dating, but it’s nice to see my brother and my friend so happy.
Ford stops walking and holds his arms out, his mouth dropping open. I just shake my head, no. His smile gets bigger, and he shrugs and keeps walking. When he reaches me, he leans down, kissing my cheek. “Hey, Baby.”
“Hi, Stud.” I lean in, running my nose along his jaw and neck, taking in his scent. “You smell good enough—” I break off and glance around the parking lot, suddenly self-conscious that someone will overhear me, and it will end up on the website.
Ford pulls me close. “So do you,” he whispers in my ear. “Let’s get on the bus.” The guys stow their bags in the luggage compartment under the bus, and we get on. My stuff was already toward the back, so I didn’t worry about moving it. Ford waits for me to scoot in first, but I don’t move.
“I want you to sit on the inside.” He opens his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. “Please,” I say, clasping my hands together and bouncing on my tiptoes.
He trails a hand down my arm. “Anything for you.” And he slides in, sitting next to the window.
I scoot in to sit down, but he grips my hips, and I fall back on his lap. “I knew that was too easy.” I pout, crossing my arms with a humph.
“This way, we both get what we want,” Ford says, skimming his lips across the edge of my jaw.
Jack and Leah sit in front of us, and then Cameron and Aubrey get on the bus and sit across from us. Piper and Beckett sit behind us. “Where’s Tyler?” I ask.
“He opted to ride home with his parents.” Ford shrugs. “I don’t blame him.”
“June was bummed she couldn’t come to the game.”
“T. said that her parents are letting her hang out tonight.”
“I knew that.” I bop his nose.
“Did you also know we’re hanging out at Tyler’s instead of your house because Hank and Scotty are sick?”
“Yep, but June’s parents don’t know that.” I give Ford a tight smile.
His forehead scrunches. “You won’t get into trouble for that, will you?”
“No, I don’t think so. I mean, I didn’t lie to her parents.” I shrug. The bus starts, and the lights dim and flicker off. It’s like that was the signal for everyone to make out. I glance around the bus and then look at Ford wide-eyed.
“Welcome to Make Out City, Clark.” Ford laughs.
“It’s been a lifelong dream to visit,” I whisper and lean, brushing my lips against his. I lay my head on his shoulder, and he slides his hand under my cheer skirt, his thumb drawing lazy circles on my upper thigh. “Three games, three wins. How does it feel?”
“Right now, it feels amazing because I get to hold you.”
I scrub a hand through his clean, damp hair. “You’re pretty great yourself.”
“I don’t look that far ahead when it comes to football. If I do, the pressure gets to me.”
“That’s understandable. Do you think you’ve played your hardest game?”
“No. That will be against Central Valley in two weeks. We should’ve lost to them last year, but we had some lucky plays, and they made some big mistakes. It’ll be harder this year because it’s an away game. Why do I feel like I’m being interviewed for the school newspaper? We’re wandering the streets of Make Out City?” Ford nuzzles his nose into the crook of my neck.
“We have plenty of time to see the sights, I promise. We never talk about football, and since the season started, I spend every Friday night with my stomach in knots.” I hold out my hand. “I was so nervous on the ride up here I bit my nails.”
“Hanny,” Ford croons, grasping my hand and kissing the stubby fingernails. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, but tonight’s game seemed like a piece of cake.”
“It was a piece of cake.”
“See, if I’d known it was one of the easier teams to beat, I wouldn’t have chewed my nails.”
