Page 15 of Exes and Oh Hell No

Jesus Christ. Get a grip.

I clutch my wallet so tightly it’s a miracle it doesn’t snap in half as Ford tells the cashier my order will be for here and he’ll be paying for it.

He orders the same thing he always did—a bacon double cheeseburger with extra mayo and curly fries.

The only difference? A beer instead of a soda.

Proof that although things stayed the same, they’ve also changed.

His eyes flick to mine. “How about the table in the back corner?”

I nod, needing desperately to put space between us. “Sounds good.”

“Go grab a seat. I’ll bring our drinks.”

I whisper my thanks and scurry to the table like I’m beingchased.

Sagging into the chair, I suck in a breath, my brain short-circuiting.

Don’t make a fool of yourself.

Don’t do anything stupid.

Don’t—

Ford slides into the seatbesideme.

Not across from me.

Besideme.

Well, shit.

He’s so close, I feelhim.

The warmth of his body.

The slight shift of the air.

I look over at him, catching the way his biceps strain against his damn T-shirt.

How does he look better than he did ten years ago?

Why do I want to climb him like a tree?

Or drop to my knees again in front of the entire bar.

Ford slides my drink toward me.

I grab it like a lifeline, needing something to cool the heat spreading through my chest.

But then his gaze locks with mine, pinning me in place, and I forget how to drink.

Liquid goes down the wrong pipe, and I immediately start choking.

Coughing, spluttering, wheezing—the whole pathetic show.

Ford’s hand is on my back in an instant, rubbing slow, soothing circles that sear through my clothes.

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