“Oh, jeez.” I roll my eyes and laugh. “Fine, it’s a bet.”
“Yes.” Ford pumps his arm. He shuffles and deals our cards, so I get to go first.
“Do you have any dolphins?”
“What? Did you see my cards?”
“Are you accusing me of cheating, Cross?”
“Never.” He pulls three cards from his hand and gives them to me.
“Thank you.” I set my match down next to me.
“Do you have any jellyfish?”
I twist my mouth up, thinking. “Nope, go fish.”
Ford draws a card from the deck but then glances around the room. Jack and Leah are still playing chess, but Aubrey and Cameron are making out. We glance back at Ty and June, who have abandoned their game. She’s sitting on the edge of the pool table, and they’re kissing.
Ford looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
I shrug. “Oh, what the hell.” I drop my cards and wrap my arms around Ford’s neck, pulling him close.
“Hi, Baby,” Ford whispers over my lips, giving me a soft kiss.
“Hey, Stud.”
“We don’t have to kiss if it makes you uncomfortable. I just wanted to hold you.” His words melt my heart.
“Okay.” I lay my head on Ford’s shoulder, and he untucks my shirt, rubbing my back.
“Hannah.” Ford’s voice is a string of sound.
“Hmm?” I sit up and rest my forehead against his. I know how much he likes it.
“You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?” He trails his hand down my side to my hip, rubbing my thigh, and lets his thumb skim between my bare legs.
My eyes flutter closed, and I let out a shaky breath. “You’d be the first person I told.”
“You can talk to me, about us, about when we’re together.” Ford kisses my jaw and then trails kisses down my neck. His teeth scrape across the hollow of my neck, and I bite my lip to keep from making any noise.
“If you keep doing that, we’re going to cause a scene.” I breathe over his lips. I kiss the corner of his mouth and then bite his bottom lip, giving it a little tug before I let go. “I know. I can tell you anything.”
Ford kisses the shell of my ear and whispers, “Then why the girl talk?”
I smile into Ford’s neck and then dip my head down, kissing his Adam’s apple. I kiss a path up his neck and chin to his lips. He rests his head against mine again. “Sometimes girls just need to know they’re not alone.” I pull back so I can look him in the eye. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he says, placing his lips over mine. He rubs his hand along my thigh again. “Everything’s good?”
“It’s great. Is everything good with you?” I ask, tapping my thumb on his chin.
“It’s perfect.” Ford tightens his arm around me, kissing my cheek.
“Do you want to go back to my house and study for our chemistry test?”
“I love it when you talk dirty to me.” Ford laughs. “Yes, I’d love to study with you.”
“I knew you would.” I wink at him. Ford helps me pick up the scattered cards, and I put the deck away. Cam and Aubrey, and June and Ty are still making out, but Leah and Jack have disappeared. Ford and I glance at each other, but neither of us says anything.
