“Yeah, we were always good,” I say.
“Thanks for understanding. I do have something I want to ask you.” Jack glances around my room again, rubbing his neck.
Whatever he wants to ask me makes him nervous, which makes me nervous. “Okay, what is it?”
“I was wondering what you’d think if I asked Leah Hunt to homecoming?”
“I think that’s awesome. Leah’s going to freak out.”
“Really? Do you think she likes me?”
“No. I know she likes you. She always gets this dreamy look in her eyes and sighs too much whenever your name is brought up.”
“So you’d be okay if I wanted to date her?”
“Jack, you don’t have to get my permission to date her.”
“After what happened with Alison, yes, I do. I love our family, Hannah, and I don’t want things to go back to the way they were.”
“Me either.” And we give each other an awkward side hug.
“Don’t say anything to Leah. I want it to be a surprise.”
“I won’t, I promise. Did you know Tyler asked June to homecoming?”
“Yeah, he told me. How do you feel about him and June?”
“I’m happy for June and Tyler as long as he doesn’t break my friend's heart.”
“He’s completely smitten with her. T. will be good to her.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
Jack leaves, and I change into my swimsuit and put my white sundress over it. When I come downstairs, Ford is watching cartoons with the little boys in the theater room. “Hey, there you are,” Ford says, pulling me down onto his lap. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yep. Are you? Or did you want to finish watching Rescue Bots with the boys?”
“That’s a tough decision.”
I slap his arm and stand up, pulling him up with me. “Come on, let’s go.”
Ford gets on his jet ski and then helps me on the front. Tingles run down my body, and all the wonderful memories of the summer come rushing back. I lean back into Ford, and we make our way around the lake to Tyler’s house. His home is older, but still big and impressive. Only a small strip of sand makes up the beach behind his house. The rest is grass. My heart sinks when I see all the kids at Ty’s house. Cameron, Beckett, and Dave are all here. Both Aubrey and Leah are here. Melissa is here, but thankfully I don’t see Bree or Alison. My heart drops to my toes when I see the new girl Chanel sitting on the dock, laughing with June. It shouldn’t bother me. I’m sure if I got to know her, Chanel’s a lovely person. Does it make me a bad person if I don’t want to know her or be her friend?
“I don’t want to be here.”
Ford rubs a hand up and down my arm. “Are you sure?”
Dammit! I said that out loud. When Ford mentioned jet skiing, the image of us riding up to Scenic beach and swimming and doing our own thing came to my mind. It doesn’t matter how hard I try to hold on to the summer, it’s gone. Ford pulls up onto the beach, jumping off. “Let me talk to T., and then we’ll go.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. Let’s stay.”
Ford steps closer to me, leaning down. “Are you sure? We can drive up to Scenic beach or the meadow.”
“I’m sure. I didn’t mean to say what I did out loud. I’m just feeling self-conscious.”
“We’ll stay. Just promise me you’ll tell me when you want to leave.”
“I promise.” Ford helps me off the jet ski and grabs our bag. We walk up the backyard to the beautiful porch, with lots of chairs and loungers.
