“Yeah, count to three!”
Ford got to his knees, then gave me a stern look. “I need your help.”
I nodded, knowing we couldn’t argue about it. “How?”
“Put your hands over mine, and then we pull together.”
I waited for him to get his hands in place, and then moved, so mine covered his. It placed us directly next to each other, so close I could feel his breath on my neck. We didn’t move, or do anything, so I turned my face to see what he was waiting on.
“Should I count?”
Ford just stared at me, his mouth parted, like he’d been struck dumb. If I wasn’t holding the latch with him, I’d wave my hand in front of his face to make sure he was awake.
“Ford, should I count?”
Those hazel eyes searched my face again, and I wished so badly that I knew what he was looking for, just so I could make it stop. Because his look made me feel something warm in my chest, like a hot coal from a fire had been placed there, but it didn’t burn, it was just warm and safe.
“Ford?”
He finally blinked then nodded.
I turned my face back toward the door and started counting.
“One.”
Ford moved so his face was practically next to mine.
“Two.”
I tightened my hand over his to get ready, and I could hear Ford intake a sharp breath.
“Three!” I yelled, heaving my arms up, right as Ford did, but as our arms raised, Ford’s mouth was next to my face, and suddenly I felt his lips press into my cheek.
I froze, then heard him whisper, “I wish I could really hate you. It would be easier.”
I let go of the handle, mostly out of shock, but Ford took my place, and with another heavy pull, the hatch lifted and Connor’s face appeared.
“You’re alive!” I smiled at my friends, trying to ignore what had just happened with Ford.
Ford moved back and pulled on my elbow, so they had more space to crawl through. Both Rook and him had dirt smudges on their faces and in their hair.
“So, find anything crazy?” Ford asked, as they both climbed through the tunnel.
Rook let out a heavy sigh as he fell to the floor and stared up at the ceiling.
“Yeah.”
I waited for him to finish, but he just kept breathing.
Ford asked, “So, what was down there?”
Connor finally replied, glancing over at Rook like he wasn’t sure he should say anything.
“More tunnels.”