Page 152 of Wild Love

I hold him tight… and pull him straight into the water with me.

Dear Diary,

Tonight, I had a bunch of girlfriends over. We were at Ford’s parents’ place because they’re away tonight, which meant we could have the entire house to ourselves. I’m sure half of them only showed up because they’re secretly obsessed with West.

Anyway, Tarah brought her Ouija board, and I was convinced it was super stupid. Obviously, ghosts aren’t real. But then the five of us started playing, and I swear the piece moved. Of course, Ford had to walk in and see us playing it.

Just the easiest ammo for him to shit on me with.

So, I invited him to play with us, right? Thinking that if he were in on the game, it would neutralize his evil plans.

Except Tarah looked just a little too excited about having him join us. She moved over immediately to make room for him and smiled all stupid-like at him.

Which meant I was stuck kneeling, facing Ford and his annoying, condescending smirk while she stared over and made moon eyes at him.

As if Ford would ever be into a girl who likes Ouija.

Next thing you know, this bitch will be trying to read his tea leaves or his palms or the veins on his ballsack.

I didn’t miss the way she got her fingers all over his, either.

Kinda made me hope that we *could* actually conjure a ghost. One that would break her fingers for me.

Anyway, we asked the spirits if one of us was going to die young (if I were a worse person, I’d wish for it to be Tarah) and then it slowly landed on YES.

Which would have been stupid except the lights cut out right then, and I lost my shit.

I played it off after, like I was cool. And I’d never admit it anywhere but here, but I was shit-scared.

I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud in my life, but it was SO dark and SO sudden. I turned to run, but Ford was there. He must have stepped straight over the board, straight through the chaos of screaming girls, to get to me.

He reached for me, and I went. I clung to him.

He’s a lot less scrawny than he used to be. I’m not sure when that happened, but his arms have muscles now. And he even smells good.

Okay, really good.

I should probably be mad because I’m sure West cut the electricity as a prank.

But instead, I… I don’t know. It sounds crazy, but I’m almost glad he did it?

Ford held me until the lights came back on. He whispered, “I’ve got you,” against my hair and I believed him.

I’d never admit it anywhere except on these pages, but I felt safe in his arms.

And I was disappointed when the lights came back on.