Bet on Me

Bet on Me Copyright © 2023, Jenny Cole All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Bet on Me is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, schools, and events used in this novel are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any similarity to real persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author. Kiss and Tell Publishing, LLC Copyright © 2023 ASIN: B0BGBPSTB3 Editing: Rose Maxwell Cover: KiWi Cover Design www.jennycole.org Prologue. Wanna Make a Bet? 1.The Wager 2. Alternate Forms of Communications 3. Best Summer of My Life 4. Hot Pink 5. Craziest Day of My Life 6. Great Football Expectations 7. Make This Moment Matter 8. The Holy Trinity of LHS Football 9. Like A Stroke 10. 24 Days and Counting 11. Shirtless 12. I’m Coming for Ya Baby 13. The Janitor’s Closet 14. My Girl 15. World on Fire 16. The Perfect Date 17. Stalker Website 18. Are You Just Going to Stand There? 19. Stupid Calculus 20. Old Flame 21. Batman, Maybe? 22. Attitude, Effort, Hustle 23. Quarterback Sneak 24. Awkward 25. Midnight Pancakes 26. Stinky Sneakers 27. Page 8 28. Unknown Number 29. Who’s Made it to Third Base? 30. Paired Off 31. We Have Forever 32. I Don’t Want Forever 33. Worn Photograph 34. Cameron’s Mom 35. Check Yes 36. Welcome to the Club 37. Miss Hannah 38. Play-by-Play 39. Go Fish 40. Make Your Team Proud 41. Make Out City 42. Zombie Cheerleader 43. French Lesson 44. Let’s Make a Bet 45. Bluebird Special 46. Balloon Arch 47. Superpower 48. 32 Red Blast 49. A Night to Remember 50. A Movie star And A Princess 51. Wildflowers 52. My Hobbies Include 53. Time After Time 54. Spoons and Soulmates 55. Forced Separation 56. My Soul Sings to Your Soul 57. Siblings For my mom, Cindy. Prologue. Wanna Make a Bet? (Last half of the last chapter of The Summer Bet.) I wake up early for the first day of school, but I’m so nervous about today that I take twice as long to get ready. Jack and the little boys are already sitting at the table eating breakfast when I come downstairs. “Good morning, happy first day of school.” Beth singsongs, handing me a cinnamon roll and a glass of milk. “Thank you.” I sit down across from Jack, Hank, and Scotty. “Where’s Ford?” “He went running this morning, and then was going home to get ready for school,” Jack says. I just nod. I want to ask Jack more, but I don’t. After breakfast, Beth insists on taking the first day of school pictures. After we’re done. Jack and I give the boys hugs and watch them leave with our parents for school. “Are you ready for senior year?” I glance at Jack. “I’m ready to win football games.” He smiles. “What about you?” “I’m worried about the social aspect of school.” “Why? You’re a cheerleader. You’re golden.” “Not from Bree and Alison,” I say. Jack shrugs. “I’m not sure what to tell you. Whatever happens, I have your back, and so does Ford.” “Thanks, Jack.” “No problem. Come on, I’ll race you to school. Loser gets to buy me lunch.” He gives me a cheesy smile and takes off running to his car. “How is that fair? You drive a Mustang.” “Stop complaining and get in your mom car.” “Hey! It’s not a mom car.” I jump in the Hyundai and do up my seatbelt. I lose the race by almost ten minutes. I got stuck at two stoplights, and Jack made it through both of them. He’s leaning against his car with a smirk on his face when I pull into a parking spot. He holds up his fingers in the shape of an L and mouths loser. “Really. You’re so mature,” I say, getting out of the car. “Thank you.” Jack smirks. I glance around the mostly empty parking lot. “I need to come early more often. It’s worth the front row parking.” “Why did you have to come early?” “Cheerleader stuff.” “What about you?” “Football stuff. I’ll see you at lunch. Don’t be late. You’re buying.” Jack winks. “I’ll see you before that. We have two classes together.” “Oh, yeah,” Jack says, with a stupid smile on his face. “See ya later, Slick.” I roll my eyes at him. “Hey Hannah, you’re just in time.” Leah hands me a bag of glitter covered construction paper numbers, and cards with sappy quotes that say: go team, and #1 player. We are decorating the football players’ lockers this morning. “Where are we headed?” I ask Aubrey and Leah. “We are decorating the lockers at the end of A hall and the middle of B hall.” Leah smiles. “What classes do you have this year, Hannah?” Aubrey asks as we decorate lockers. “The usual, I guess. I’m taking an Art design class I’m excited about, and I had to take a P.E. class. I’m taking the self-care class, where you can set your own pace and workout at your own speed. Mrs. Warren helped me sign up for it at the end of last year, because it fills up so fast. I’m not too worried about it anymore, though.” “I wanted to take that class,” Aubrey states. “It’s the last hour of the day, right?” “Yeah, it is, thank goodness. I hate PE classes in the middle of the day.” We are quiet after that while we decorate. Aubrey gives me the side eye several times and then finally opens her mouth. “So, you and Ford Cross, huh?” “Aubrey!” Leah hisses. “What? The entire school saw them—” she turns to me. “I mean, saw you and Ford making out on the football field last night after the pep rally.” I glance at Leah. “Yeah, I swear the stadium went quiet for five