Page 37 of Puck Block

My smile fades because he’s right. When I think back on the other examples I was going to list, I shut them down one by one because with every plan Ford has ever had that hasn’t gone right, there was another plan brewing so he could protect me from getting in trouble.

He finally lets my wrist go, and I sigh.

“Fine. What’s the plan?”

Ford starts to make his way over to my ballet bag, and I follow him reluctantly. “First, take care of this.” He has my insulin pen in his hand and shoots me a sideways glance. “And then I’ll fill you in, lil’ lady.”

I stare at him as he backs away toward the end of the stage. “Lil’ lady?”

He winks. “It’s all part of the plan. Now giddy up.”

I try to figure out what he’s up to, but he gracefully jumps off the stage and seemingly tips an invisible hat in my direction before taking his seat to watch the rest of our practice.

[ 16 ]

FORD

I sendTaytum a reassuring smile when we enter her room. She’s looking at me with little hints of skepticism, and when I reach forward to pull her hair out of her bun, she quickly jolts backward and tries to stop me.

“What are you doing?” she rushes out.

“Will you stop?” I ask through a chuckle. “Don’t you trust me?”

I flick her bottom lip the second it pops out with her pout. She’s used to my endless flirting, just like I’m used to her attitude.

Her voice follows me as I walk into her closet and scan the overflowing racks of clothes. I have no idea how one person can have so many articles of clothing, but toward the end of the rack, I find exactly what I’m looking for. I toss out the outfit along with her cowgirl boots and try my hardest to shove away the memory of the last time she wore them.

Taytum + slutty cowgirl Halloween costume = hell.

I clear my head and throat as I walk out of her closet. She’s holding up her best pair of skinny jeans–the pair that puts any peach to shame–and the little top that I know looks good on her.

“Your outfit for tonight.” I take a seat on her bed. “Now get dressed.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to hide my smile. I know my tone will irritate her because Taytumhatesbeing bossed around, especially by me.

“What does this have to do with me and dating? I thought you said you had a plan to help me.” My mouth opens to explain, but Taytum squeezes her eyes shut and stops me by holding her hand up. “I swear, if you say something like you’re ‘showing me theropes’ or ‘teaching me how toridea horse,’ I will throw one of these boots at your head. I am not dressing up in a cowgirl outfit just for a pun, Ford.”

I laugh out loud and kind of hate that I didn’t think of using those jokes myself. “I’m taking you out. So, get dressed, and I’ll fill you in on the rest of the plan when we get there.”

She stares at me, and I stare right back. I know how stubborn she can be, so instead of wasting any more time, I pop up from her bed with her girly scent following my every movement, and I rip her shirt off in a single whoosh.

“Ford!”

I move back when Taytum tries to slap my chest. I quickly bend down and grab the shirt I threw at her moments ago off the floor prepared to pull it down over her head before I fumble at the sight.

Pretend it’s a bathing suit, Ford. It’s just a bathing suit.

Taytum’s light-pink bra has suddenly grown hands, and they’re wrapping around my throat. I choke at the sight of her perfect creamy mounds and the way they spill over the thin lace to the point that I can’t breathe. I discreetly clear my throat, and with some well-honed self-restraint, I pull myself togetherenough and shove the top over her head to hide her perfect body from my untrustworthy thoughts.

I start to button the first few buttons of the little cropped shirt but stop when I notice that she’s gone eerily silent. Her eyes dart to her left arm, and anger fills me when I realize her focus.

“Knock it off,” I demand.

Her blue eyes flare with anger when she peers at me, but I’m angrier than she is for acting self-conscious in front of me. My hands fall to her hips, and I spin her quickly to walk us up to her mirror. “Never do that again.”

I’m surprised at how gruff my voice is and even more surprised when Taytum doesn’t snap back with some kind of rebuttal at my tone. I snag her stare in the mirror before I shift my attention and look at our reflection.

She’s half-dressed, and her long, messy hair is hanging over her shoulders, hiding those perky breasts that I couldn’t stop staring at a second ago. I’m towering behind her with my hands on her hips, and Ihatethat, for a split second, I picture her as mine instead of my best friend’s little sister who I’m forced to keep in a tightly tied little box that has the worddangerprinted on the front.

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