"Don't know yet," Tom replied to Adam. "Let's get home and open it up there in case it's something that'll jump out," he teases Ashley.
Ashley made a face and said, "Eww. I hope not."
"Great. Race ya," called Adam as he started off, and Tom instantly followed.
"Hey! No fair. Wait for me," Ashley pleaded as she ran after them.
Tom only took a few more strides before he slowed and looked back at Ashley. As much as he wanted to beat Adam, he didn't want to upset Ashley and leave her way behind like he and Adam used to do. His crush on her was definitely showing as he held his hand back waving her to catch up.
"Come on Ashley. Hurry up," he called with a smile.
Ashley smiled back and quickened her pace. In five steps she was almost up to Tom then surprised him by reaching out and grabbing his hand. Together they ran towards Tom's house with Tom holding the mysterious box in one hand and Ashley's hand in the other as she clutched her school books with her other hand.
"I win!" bragged Adam as he jumped onto the porch and watched his friends come up the walk. "Well, well, well. Looks like the two of you finally got hitched," he chuckled at the sight of his two friends holding hands running up to him.
It was hard to tell whether Ashley or Tom turned a deeper red as they blushed while jerking their hands apart and walking onto the porch.
"No, I, er, she was, I mean, not nice to run off, so I, ah, er, ah, um ..." Tom sputtered making Adam grin with delight.
"You watch yourself Adam Hartford or I'll tell Cassie what I know," Ashley chastised Adam who instantly lost his smile and held up his hands, palms out, waving them to beg she keep quiet. Adam has a huge crush on Cassie but has never told her because he's scared she may not like him and it would ruin their friendship that they have had for so many years.
"OK. Let's see what's in the box," Tom offered to change the subject of crush kidding.
When they opened the hinged box, they found ...