Page 26 of Exes and Oh Hell No

Pap used to say seventeen was his lucky number.

Gram’s words echo in my ears as I head upstairs.“You’re unstoppable when you want something.”

She’s right.

And what I want now is the same thing I’ve always wanted.

Harper.

Now I just need to figure out how to get her.

I joltawake to the shrill ringing of the landline.

My brain fogs.

Who the hell still has a landline?

I blink rapidly, trying to clear my vision.

Oh, right. Gram.

Her voice floats down the hall, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.

I rub my eyes and lean over, checking my phone.

Who the hell is calling at 2:08 in the morning?

I swing my legs over the bed just as Gram throws open my door. “Ford.” Her voice is tense. “It’s Harper. She sounds upset.”

Ice floods my veins.

I grab the phone from her hands.

“Harper. What’s wrong?”

A shaky breath fills the line. “S-Someone threw a rock through my window.”

Every hair on my body stands on end.

“What?” My voice is deadly.

Dangerous.

“T-There’s a note. It’s threatening.”

I’m already moving, grabbing my cell phone as I head to my closet.

“I’m coming over.” I pull up my contacts. “Give me your number. I’ll call you on my cell and talk to you until I get there.”

She releases a shaky exhale. “O-Okay.”

It’s not okay.

Not even close to fucking okay.

She rattles it off, her voice trembling.

I punch it into my phone. “I’ll call you right back.”

---