“We will.” Hannah hugs her dad, but I back up, feeling awkward.
Mr. Clark glances at me. “You had a great game tonight, Ford. You should be proud of yourself. I’ve enjoyed watching you turn into the player you are today.”
A lump forms in my throat. I’ve wanted my dad to say those exact words to me ever since I started playing football, but all he’s ever done is tell me all the negative things I did in a game. “Thank you, Mr. Clark. That means a lot coming from you.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t stay up all night.” Hannah’s dad squeezes her shoulder, and then he heads upstairs.
Hannah turns around, giving me a big smile and shrugging. We walk downstairs, and everyone is gone except Ty and Jack. “Everyone left fast,” I say.
“Jim came down at 12:30 and told everyone it was time to go home. That’s when he noticed you and Clark were M.I.A,” Jack says as he inflates an air mattress.
“June left?” Hannah asks, pulling out a bag of starbursts and opening it.
“Yeah, she had a midnight curfew. She left right after you guys did. She told me to tell you she’d call you tomorrow.” Ty is trying to find a movie to watch.
“Let’s watchCaptain Americaor an Avengers movie,” Hannah says.
I turn, narrowing my eyes at her, but I’m smiling.
“What?” She shrugs, looking all innocent.
“You know what,” I grumble.
“I know that Captain America is hot.” She laughs.
I prowl toward her, and she laughs harder. I squeeze her side, and she shrieks. “Okay, not a Marvel movie.”
“I was thinking something scary.” Ty smirks at Hannah.
“I’m good with scary,” I say.
Hannah groans, letting her head fall onto my shoulder. “I’d rather watchMike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.” She tries to stand up, but I pull her against me.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to use the bathroom. Do you want to come with me?” Clark tilts her head, giving me a lopsided smile.
I tap my finger against my chin, thinking.
“Oh, good grief.” She pushes away from me, standing up and walking down the hall. Tyler flits through the movie app until he findsMike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
“She was joking when she said that,” I say, taking my sneakers off.
“I know, but this is a great movie, it will serve her right for suggesting it.”
“Let her watch,Captain America. She’s had a rough night,” Jack says, lying on his air mattress.
Ty glances at me. I shrug. “Let’s at least watch the second or third one. I don’t think he runs around without his shirt in either of those.”
“Sounds good. I’ll probably be asleep ten minutes into the thing, anyway.”
“Hey, Jack!” Hannah yells from the bathroom. “Where is your shoe deodorizer?”
We all turn and look down the hall.
“In my room,” Jack hollers back.
“What’s it doing there? You’re supposed to keep it in the bathroom,” Hannah huffs.
