Page 155 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Fine, but only if you promise to dance with me now.”

“Oh, my good Lord, fine.”

Jade twirls her once, but Tessa immediately grabs her stomach.

“No more twirling, either.”

They dance, sing, and laugh without any more spinning. A few minutes later, Lucas comes up behind them.

“Can I have this dance?”

“Yeah, but watch your toes.” Jade jokes.

“Hey, I’m a good dancer.”

She laughs. “Best in the world.”

Lucas slides an arm around Tessa.

“I’m a good dancer,” Tessa says.

He smiles down at her, softly, affectionately. “Yeah, baby, you are.”

She points toward Jade. “Also, I called Jade, Links. You should feel her guns. Jade, come here. Let Lucas feel your guns.”

Jade laughs. “Piss off.”

I grin, but then I notice someone standing nearby. You have got to be fucking kidding me.

Tessa notices her too. “Hey, Sadi! How are you?” she calls, waving at her.

Lucas turns Tessa around to face him. “I think we should get back to the car.”

“No way. I want to dance. Look, Lucas, my friend Sadi’s here.”

“Tessa, you’re drunk. We should go,” Lucas says, his voice more serious this time.

“Buzzkill.”

He rolls his eyes.

“Please dance with me, Lucas.” She jumps into his arms.

“One dance, and then we leave, okay?”

The band starts Tesla's “Love Song,” and Lucas pulls her in closer. Jade and I move between them and Sadi, and before long at least one of us has forgotten about the bitch behind us.

When the chorus comes around, Tessa throws both arms into the air and sings with the band. Lucas laughs, and I can't help joining in.

“Love is all around you...”

I start playing air guitar, and Jade catches me doing it. She laughs.

“What?”

“You're actually good at that.”

“I've got skills.”