The Handoff (Big Play #3)

by Jordan Ford

  When my girlfriend called to propose the idea to Kaija, I was sitting on the other side of the room and I could hear her ecstatic scream through the phone line. Kiwi Girl can be loud when she’s excited.

  By the end of the call, Layla was laughing and crying, wiping at her tears as she promised to call Kaija with more details. She couldn’t tell Kaija what she’d started with her drunken mouth, and we still had no idea who drew that ugly comic strip, but if Kiwi Girl was ready to come back to Nelson High to take Mack to prom, then maybe it didn’t even matter anymore.

  Mack must have told Kaija what happened with Layla, and I think it’s given her the courage to accept Layla’s invitation…or maybe she’s just missing Mack real bad and can’t pass up the opportunity to see him again.

  I glance at the quarterback as he chats with Will. He doesn’t smile as readily as he used to, and he’s definitely lost that playboy charm. Now that he’s got Kaija, he doesn’t need to use it anymore. He barely checks out other girls when they pass him by, much to Roxy’s annoyance.

  I snicker and throw the ball to Tyler so my hands are free to pick my girl off the ground when she stands to greet me. She’s pretty light, and swinging her off her feet always makes her giggle, so I pick her up and give her a quick twirl.

  Her smile is sweet as she kisses my lips.

  “Should we get out of here?”

  “Yeah.” She rubs her nose against mine before I set her back down. “Where are we going?”

  “I brought a picnic blanket and thought we could hang out at the lake for a while.”

  Layla makes a face. “The lake? Are you sure you want to go back there?”

  I brush my thumb across her bottom lip. “I’m not letting those guys taint one of my favorite places. We’re going back there to make some new, sweet memories.”

  Her lips rise into a stunning smile. “I’m sure I can help you create a few of those.”

  “I know you can.” I chuckle, leaning down to kiss her.

  She glides her hand around my bare shoulders and I lift her off her feet again, carrying her against my side with one arm securely locked around her waist. Her giggle in my ear is nothing but perfect, and I’m once again swamped by an overwhelming gratitude that Mack asked me to watch out for his little sister, and that I happened to spot her that day outside the gym, and that she threw up at my feet. It’s funny how sometimes the thing you resist the most can be the one that makes you open your eyes and see the world the way you were meant to.

  #39:

  A Lovely Truth

  Layla

  I nestle my head on Finn’s chest, running my hand over his T-shirt before resting it against his stomach. My lips curl as I lightly press the hard muscles beneath the fabric. I’m stolen, once again, by the thought that this boy is mine.

  It’s hard to wrap my head around it sometimes. I know we’ve only been together for about five weeks, but I’m gone. I’ve never felt this way before, and from the look in his eyes every time Finn gazes at me, I know I’m not alone. He doesn’t just want me for my body—he’s seen my soul, and he likes it. That’s a guy worth keeping.

  Looking up at the trees above us, I breathe in the fresh forest scent, focusing on the vibrant color of the blue sky between the branches. The sunlight is painting pretty pictures around us, transporting me to a place of fairytales. It’s easy to imagine a prince and princess riding past on beautiful white horses. If I listen hard enough, I’m sure I can hear the sound of hoof beats.

  I keep the fanciful thoughts to myself, snuggling a little closer to Finn as my daydream is stolen by an old nightmare. It’s hard to escape the horror of three weeks ago. About a mile east is the spot where Derek carried me off… I don’t know what he planned to do with me, but it wouldn’t have been pretty.

  I shudder and Finn tightens his grip.

  “You okay?” he murmurs. “Do you want to go?”

  “No,” I whisper, not wanting to be the weak one. Finn’s right; we need to make new memories in this place.

  “I love how quiet it is here.” His husky voice makes tendrils of pleasure twirl in my stomach. “It’s like we’re the only two people on Earth.”

  I grin. “Our little haven.” Shifting up, I lay my hand on his chest and rest my chin on top of it.

  He’s so gorgeous. I love the strong lines of his face and soon can’t resist perching up even higher so I can run my finger along his jawline.

  His eyes tell me I’m beautiful while his hand lightly runs up and down my spine.

  I tip my head with a sad smile. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “We’re not doing this again.” His voice is soft but firm.

  I lick my bottom lip then bite the corner, looking away from him. “But the look in your eyes right now… How can it be there?”

  “Because it’s the truth.”

  “What if those photos come back to haunt me? I don’t want people thinking less of you for dating a girl like me.”

  Finn tightens his grip around me so I’m suctioned to his side. “Derek’s on probation. He’s doesn’t have access to any of that stuff anymore. You’re in the clear.”

  “Those photos are still out there somewhere.” I can’t look him in the eye as I trace the line of his collarbone. “Whoever the party paparazzo is, he has them…and unless we find him, we’ll have no chance of wiping my shame off this Earth.”

  “You know what?” Finn captures my wrist and pushes me onto my back. I raise my knee so he can tuck his leg between mine. He’s half lying on me now, supporting his weight on his arm while he hovers over me and runs his finger down the edge of my hairline. “No matter what happens, you need to hold your head high. So you made a drunken mistake. That’s not who you are. You’re beautiful.” He kisses my right cheek. “You’re lovely.” He kisses my left cheek. “You just keep being my sundar and it won’t matter what shit surfaces about you, because all they’ll see is my lovely Layla.”

  I’m sure my eyes are glowing as I smile up at him.

  Cupping his cheek, I brush my thumb down the edge of his nose and mouth. “I love you.”

  His smile is electrifying, lighting up the forest with a warm radiance. He doesn’t even need to say those three little words back to me; I can see it all over his face. With a soft giggle, I crane my neck to reach his lips. He meets me halfway then presses me back down to the blanket, cupping the back of my head with his large hand and making me forget about the world.

  I run my fingers over his short, fuzzy curls, twirling my tongue around his and creating a perfect memory to bless our woods with. So much has happened in this place, but only one lovely truth can stand out among it all.

  I fell in love with Finn Jones here…and he fell in love with me.

  *****

  Thank you so much for reading The Handoff. I hope you enjoyed it. It was an absolute pleasure to write. If you’d like to show me some support, I’d love for you to leave a review. This is a great way to validate the book and to let other people know what you thought of Finn and Layla.

  Incriminating photos are still lurking in cyber space and the party paparazzo has yet to be found.

  Who is Derek’s connection at Nelson High?

  Find out in the action-packed conclusion to the Big Play Novels series.

  Keep reading to find out a little more about Shoot The Gap!

  Shoot The Gap

  Tyler Schumann has always been known as Nelson High’s goofy clown, the guy with the big mouth. But there’s something people don’t know: he’s tired of being in the shadows of his Raiders’ buddies, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to get the one girl in school he wants to finally notice him: Roxanne Carmichael.

  Sammy Carmichael is just one of the guys, known for her mad boarding skills and her razor-sharp wit. But she has a secret, too—a crush on her best friend. It’s a relationship she’s not willing to risk damaging by getting all romantic about it.

  When Tyler asks for Sammy’s help, she’s stoked to be able t
o spend a little one-on-one time with him. Their secret mission will bring them closer together…until she realizes what he’s really after—her sister. Tired of being in the shadows herself, Sammy sets out on a mission of her own to prove that she’s the Carmichael girl he really wants.

  But the secrets and lies she discovers as she embarks on her quest could tear her relationship with Tyler to shreds, and Sammy must decide which lies are worth exposing and how much damage the truth will cause.

  Releasing in July 2016

  If you’d like to be the first to find out about this release, please feel free to sign up today. You’ll also be gifted an exclusive copy of the Nelson High Playbook—an inside guide to the characters in this series.

  JORDAN FORD NEWSLETTER

  Note from the Author

  This story made me cry. I don’t know about you, but I love it when a book can do that. Poor Layla touched my heart, and being able to pair her with Finn was nothing but a pleasure. I’ve always loved reading stories about protective guys, and Finn is the perfect character to help Layla through this storm. I loved what they awakened in each other, and watching them slowly unfurl like flowers in the springtime was a treat.

  I hope you have enjoyed their story. I hope it’s made you smile, cry a little bit…maybe even swoon. My goal with every single book is that I can transport my reader (you) into another reality. A place with big feels. A chance for you to live another life for a little while. When writing Layla and Finn’s story, I found myself right next to them, feeling everything they felt about themselves…and for each other. I hope I’ve been able to grant you that same gift.

  If you’d like to learn how to play the card game Up and Down The River, here are the rules. My family used to play it all the time when I was a kid, and I can’t wait for my boys to be old enough to share it with them. I’m going to force them to play it, because it’s such a fun game. Haha. I’m such a mean mum! Actually, I’m kind of hoping they’ll fall in love with the game like I did. Fingers crossed!

  You’re meant to play the game with four people, but I bent those rules in order to make the scene with Layla and Finn work.

  As always, this book is a group effort. I want to thank my usual crew — Rae, Cassie & Beth. Thank you for helping me craft and mold this story with your tips and advice. Thanks also to Matt for the amazing cover. This whole series is gorgeous and looks so beautiful on my bookshelf.

  Thank you to my proofreaders and my advanced reader team. I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you all.

  To everyone who has read this book, thank you for your faith in me. I really hope you enjoyed Layla and Finn’s story. I can’t wait to share the final book with you very soon!

  I can never write a book without giving tribute to my Maker. I am so grateful to Him for all of life’s blessings and His unwavering, unconditional love.

  I’ll be back in July with Tyler and Sammy’s story. I go into this last book with mixed emotions. It’s going to be a real combination of excitement, heartache, romance, tension…and then of course that bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to characters I’ve come to adore.

  Until next time…happy reading!

  xx

  Jordan

  Books by Jordan Ford

  BIG PLAY NOVELS

  The Playmaker

  The Red Zone

  The Handoff

  Shoot The Gap - due for release July 2016

  About the Author

  Jordan Ford is a New Zealand author who has spent her life traveling with her family, attending international schools, and growing up in a variety of cultures. Although it was sometimes hard shifting between schools and lifestyles, she doesn’t regret it for a moment. Her experiences have enriched her life and given her amazing insights into the human race.

  She believes that everyone has a back story…and that story is fundamental in how people cope and react to life around them. Telling stories that are filled with heartfelt emotion and realistic characters is an absolute passion of Jordan’s. Since her earliest memories, she has been making up tales to entertain herself. It wasn’t until she reached her teen years that she first considered writing one. A computer failure and lost files put a major glitch in her journey, and it took until she graduated university with a teaching degree before she took up the dream once more. Since then, she hasn’t been able to stop.

  “Writing high school romances brings me the greatest joy. My heart bubbles, my insides zing, and I am at my happiest when immersed in a great scene with characters who have become real to me.”

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