Page 145 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

I help her out, grab her bag, close the door, and walk beside her toward the porch, still taking in the place.

The house isn't huge. It's just... home. A lot of land, a long driveway, fields stretching out beyond it.

When we reach the porch, I glance toward the door.

“Your parents’ home?”

Jade pulls her keys from her bag.

“Dad's on his way, I'm sure. He's probably at the farm with Uncle John.” She pauses, looking down at the keys. “And, um... they're divorced.”

I look at her. “Oh.”

She shrugs, like it's nothing worth explaining. “It's been a while.”

I nod. “Gotcha.”

She unlocks the door, then looks back at me. “I’d ask you in, but I need to call Tess, and you need to check on Lucas.” She takes her bag, pushes up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “Thanks, Tommy.”

“Anytime, pretty girl.”

“Call me when you get home, so I know you made it.”

“Of course.”

The whole way home, I keep thinking about the way Jade kissed my cheek before she went inside. Just a peck. A quick little kiss, nothing more. Except it didn't feel like nothing. I tap my fingers against the steering wheel, glancing out at the road.

Something's changed. I don't know exactly what it is yet, but I can feel it. Maybe I did something wrong, maybe she changed her mind?

I pass the farm and slow down when I see a vehicle parked near Tessa's house. Or maybe it’s the Lucas and Tessa situation.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

When I walk in, I see it’s just Mom. Dad’s always the buffer, and he’s not here.

I know I can’t just ignore her, especially when I have a date tomorrow night. I don’t want her to find some reason to think she can ground me, and for tomorrow to be the day I have finally had enough and say fuck you and walk out the door.

So, I smile and ask, “Dad’s not home?”

She sets a plate on the table. Pasta with red sauce, Brussel sprouts, which I fucking hate and she knows it, and chicken.

Whatever. It is what it is.

“Nope. Your father got called in on an emergency. One of the registers went down. The Danby location. He won’t be home for a while.”

I know she’s trying to make me feel guilty for not being here, not going with him. But the reality is, she could have gone with him.

“Well, that sucks. Thanks for dinner.”

“Is there any time that you can carve out to learn something from your father in case this football thing doesn’t work out?” she asks.

I hate when she says this football thing. I also hate that I know if this football thing in fact doesn’t work out, she’s going to have a smug look on her face and look down on me from the perch she sits on.

“You free tomorrow? Since your game was tonight?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Got a date tomorrow.”

“Oh, God. Please tell me it’s not⁠—”