NED

Jason parked his car at an abandoned grocery store, the parking lot a sea of nothingness. Ned paced the length of the car back and forth until he worked up the courage to open his phone and call.

If Ned treated this leg of the race like a video game, he still needed to defeat the remaining mini bosses before he got a chance to battle the big boss at the end.

Taking a deep breath, Ned opened Margaret Hayes's profile. His heart was going wild, begging him not to do it, jumping up and down to get Ned's attention to warn him of the in-coming danger. He persevered and with his friends watching with bated breath, Ned dialed Margaret Hayes.

The phone rang.

And rang. 

And rang.

And rang.

Inspiring droplets of sweat to form at Ned's hairline. This was as close to putting his hand on a hot stove on purpose as he's ever gotten. Just asking to get hurt. He took a deep breath and looked to his friends for support. Lena offered a positive thumbs up that he mirrored when hell froze over, and Margaret finally answered his call.

"You're an idiot and a coward, Ned Flowers," Margaret greeted him. In the background, Ned heard his own brother snort.

Steadying himself, Ned said, "I agree."

"This must be good. I can't believe you actually called me."

"It is."

"I've always thought you were selfish, but I never thought you'd treat Sam like that."

Ned didn't reply at first. He didn't want to argue a losing cause. Dipping his head, Ned tried pushing out the words because he was crushed under the weight of them. He promised, "I'm going to make it up to him."

She guffawed.

"Margaret, I don't know what will happen in the future. I don't who we'll be or what we're doing, but I know that I'm never breaking up with Sam. If he's ever tired of me, I'll let him go. Not before then."

She wasn't saying anything, so Ned just let himself go off, standing a little taller. "I love Sam, but I can't promise to you that I'll never bother him or make him angry, but you have to believe me when I say I'll never make him think he's unwanted again, Margaret. I think he's the greatest person in the world."

Another beat.

Another moment where Ned was sure he failed. You'd think he'd be used to it by now, but it still cut just as deep. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do if this didn't work. If this didn't happen. He looked at the dark horizon, feeling time moving. Today couldn't end until he was ready.

"Well?" Margaret asked.

"Well, what?"

Exasperated, she huffed and shouted at him, "Why did you call me?!"

"Oh!" Ned smiled, giving Lena an excited thumbs up and they all quietly celebrated, jumping up and down and high fiving each other. Indie hopped up and down to Ned, hanging off of him. "Uh, I need your help!"

"You need Chad's number?"

"Um, no. Griffin gave it to me. This is what I need you and John to do—"

"But why did you call me and not John? He's the one driving."

"Right but... but I didn't want you involved if it made you uncomfortable."

Maybe she would hear it in the subtext, but Ned wanted her approval. He wanted to pursue Sam again with Margaret's blessing. Not with her fighting him every step of the way.

"What are we doing then? You're on speaker by the way."

"Hi, Ned!" His brother called out.

"Hey, John, so this is where I'm going to meet Chad..."

#

DECEMBER 24th

12:00PM

SAM

It was officially Christmas Eve.

And Sam found himself eating an ice-cream cone in the back of the quarterback's van. He was quietly surrendering himself to being kidnapped finally, after Ned gave Chad the call to make negotiations. Both boys agreed upon a spot and an exchange: Sam for The Gregor.

Sam was surprised by how quickly Ned called.

They'd meet in downtown where there was a long stretch of restaurants and boutiques. Just on the edge, there was a park where they'd make the switch.

One of the jocks, Rex noticed it, giving him the eyes. "Looks like someone didn't have to think about what's more important."

"Yeah, yeah," Sam grumbled and just ate more ice-cream.

"I'm rooting for you guys," Toby said with more ice-cream on his clothes and around his mouth than his stomach. He noticed a big glob on his chest and lifted the fabric to suck it out.

Sam smiled. "You know, no matter what happens. I've really enjoyed hanging out with you guys. I'm sorry if I acted like a dick earlier tonight."

Chad waved his hand. "No worries, dude. If you did, I didn't even notice. We're tight..." Chad's voice drifted as he leaned further into his seat, over the wheel. "What the hell is this...?"

Sam tapped Rex, telling him to switch as he wanted to get closer to the action as he realized what was going on. They were lining up in a huge line at the end of the Christmas Parade downtown. People were dispersing, walking through the road without care, lugging behind their chairs and their goodies. Dozens of floats were lined up ahead of them as snow fell like celebratory confetti onto the ground to join the actual confetti and trash from the event.

The corner of Sam's mouth quirked. He handed Toby the rest of his ice-cream, which the man didn't fight. He rolled down the window, looking back and forth for Jason's car when he saw him. Just as Rex pointed out. "Oh, hey, Flower's is walking up to the car. Well, uh hobbling I guess."

The moment Ned's dark brown eyes hit Sam, his whole demeanor changed. The tightness in his face and shoulders slackened and a small smile appeared all over. His joy at catching Sam in the crowd shined bright in his eyes. The butterflies in Sam's stomach were screaming.

He hated Ned Flowers with all his heart.

"Sam!" Ned called and he hobbled faster. He struggled to keep up with fighting through the moving crowds, the moving car, and his own limp. "Sam, are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay!" Sam snapped, working himself up for this conversation. It couldn't be like always when he forgave Ned easily and without a second of thought. If Sam and Ned did what they always did, nothing between them was ever going to change.

He rehearsed this conversation during the McDonald's drive through. "Of course, I'm not okay. I can't believe you did that. Tried to sell me out to my mom. It's not up to you where I go and what I do."

"You're right."

"After everything we've been through tonight, after all that talk, you just let my mom bulldoze you like that? When she's mad at your mom and not you. What happened to the guy at the beginning of the night?"

"Do you think I'm happy that I did that? You don't think I regret every second of that conversation? I wish I stood up for myself. I wish I told her that I love you and I'd never do anything to purposely hurt you."

"No." Sam nodded. "You just hurt me instead."

"Hey guys," Chad spoke up. "Why don't we make some room for Ned here? Or maybe we should all get out?"

"No." Sam shook his head. "Not yet."

"Sam," Ned said his name like the period at the end of a sentence, like there was nothing else he needed to say as if his name had all the weight Ned needed to get his point across. Sam. Ned Flowers was a man constructed from a series of parts made to jellify Sam's knees and weaken all his resolve. Just his voice ate up all of Sam's attention.

He said, "I can't promise that I'm never going to mess up ever again because I probably will." He let out a long-tired sigh, finally matching his battered appearance as he continued shuffling alongside the car. "But when I do, I can promise to come back to you to apologize and tell you you're right—Sorry!" He bumped into someone random and nearly stumbled in the ground, but he smacked the side of the car instead. "I know I shouldn't let your mom says get to me because in the end of the day the only opinion I care about is yours."

Every word truly felt like a promise, like a beautiful string wrapping around both their fingers so they never forget it. "And yours too I hope," Sam said, his tone soften around the edges. Leaning farther out the window, Sam cupped Ned's cheek and the boy in his hands leaned towards his palm. "I don't wanna be in this relationship alone. I wanna know what you think."

Ned held Sam's wrist, his thumb sneakily gliding back and forth. "I think we don't deserve an unhappy ending for stuff we didn't even do. I think we deserve a happy one."

"You think? You don't wanna just stay friends?"

"The only friend I wanna be is your boyfriend."

Sam grabbed the other side of Ned's face and kissed him as if they haven't kissed in years as if this was a home coming. And it felt so good. He was smiling against Ned's lips as Ned stumbled and clung to the window edge.

The other guys in the car clapped.

Breaking apart, Sam still held Ned's face. "Don't you ever forget that you're my favorite person in the world, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'm so glad you guys are cool," Chad said from the driver's seat. "But like. We're here to make a deal, right?"

"Oh, yeah," Ned said and hobbled closer to Chad's window. He had The Gregor in his arm. No tricks. No bait and switches. Just the little lawn gnome. Ned hesitated. "Do you mind if I say goodbye?"

"Um... no." Chad glanced at Sam in the rearview mirror to make sure Ned was serious. Sam was still smiling. He wasn't sure if he'd remember how to frown ever again. He nodded at Chad. This was so Ned.

Taking a deep breath, Ned looked at The Gregor. "I'm sorry, Gregor. It's the end of the line for us. Thank you for everything you've given me tonight and I'm just sorry." Ned grimaced, fighting back his obvious misery. "I couldn't bring you home. I hope you understand. Between you and Sam, it's Sam."

Sighing, Ned raised The Gregor to Chad, offering it up and Sam sat up. A thousand thoughts were running through his head. Maybe he could reach around and nab The Gregor. Maybe there was still time for them to make a run for it. He could jump out of a moving car going negative five miles an hour.

"Flowers, what were you planning to do before this?" Chad asked.

""I was going to bring him back to his creator. Gregory Hanes. He lives like less than two miles from here."

"Why do you care where it goes? It's just a lawn gnome?"

"But..." Ned smiled. "But it'd be pretty amazing if it was more, wouldn't it? It's nice to think about there's something out there helping us. A little lawn gnome willing to give us a little extra luck."

"He thinks that way because he's Ned," Sam explained. It was just the way Ned's brain worked.

"Do you have the directions?" Chad asked,

'Uh, yeah."

"Text it to me." Chad fell back into his seat. "And get in. We'll take you there."

"You will?" Ned nearly flew off his forehead. He snapped his wide eyes at Sam and stumbled over his surprise. "Really?"

"As long as it's not going back to the Chipmunks, that's fine by me."

"Th-thanks!"

Quickly, Sam opened the door and Ned hopped inside. They all switched around again until Sam was in the back with Ned in the middle seat and The Gregor on his other side. Sam threaded their hands together, bringing Ned's hand to his lap. He played with Ned's knuckles like they were piano keys and he could hear the beautiful song in his heart.

"You did come," Sam stated as if telling himself so he could believe it was real.

"I already told you." Ned smiled. "I'll always come to get you."

Cheesing, Sam nudged his shoulder into Ned's and said, "I know."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

We're back baby! And we have the footballers on our side!! Time to go to Gregory's house and then, everyone can finally go to sleep. These ferals kids need it. Lol. AND GUYS!! There's only two chapters left after this. I can't believe. 

But first! Let me know what you think! Was that apology good enough for you? Do you think Ned will be able to stand up to the moms? And are you surprised Chad decided to help the guys out? And looks like Margaret and John didn't need to scheme?? What was the plan??? 

If you like this book, check out my other romcom 30 DAY TRIAL PERIOD! It's super good. Take it from my mom, it's her favorite.