Being able to feel the rhythm of Tycho's chest rising and falling was stabilizing, but it didn't last nearly long enough for Ford to feel he'd regained his balance. "No," he said, though this turn of events certainly wasn't going to do his unmarried sisters any favors either. "Something's happened to me."

He didn't know where to start. He hadn't told Tycho about anything that had happened at the party on Wednesday, and he didn't know whether or not he'd heard. Partly he had been too mortified to want to talk to anyone about it, but partly he had been thinking of the argument he and Ty had after Ford had been caught mooning over Miss Chang. Ty knew how Ford felt about him, but that might not prevent him from being annoyed about rumors, and Ford hadn't had the energy yesterday to fight about it. But in the light of what had happened since, he obviously couldn't avoid bringing it up any longer.

He should have taken a step back, to extricate himself from Tycho's arms before he delivered the news, but his legs still felt shaky. He wanted to bury himself against Ty's chest again and soak in whatever comfort Ty was willing to offer him before he had to explain what had happened, but he knew that would be selfish and cowardly. He managed a middle ground, still clinging to Ty but at least meeting his eyes as he spoke. His voice wavered. "I'm getting married."

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