Page 167 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

A whistle shrieks. Madison gets carded and yells, “So worth it!”

Lucas goes completely still. “That fucking bitch.”

“I know.”

“I swear to God, Tommy⁠—”

“Not here.”

His eyes stay locked on Tessa. “I'll kill her.”

“No, you won't. We don’t kill girls, remember?” I say, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

He looks at me. “I’m supposed to just stand here and let that shit happen?”

“We’re riding the sidelines, brother. So yeah, you have to stand here and let that shot happen. And I'm going to stand here and make sure you don't do something stupid that gets you suspended or pisses off an athlete on the field when her boyfriend tears ass out there.”

He glares at me, and I still don't let go.

On the field, Jade reaches Tessa, bends down, helping her up. Tessa tries to put weight on her foot and winces.

Lucas sees it. “She's hurt.”

“Yeah,” I say, trying to hide how fucking annoyed I am so I don’t get him riled up even more.

Coach V calls Tessa over. She shakes her head.

Even from here, I can see the argument.

Lucas exhales. “She needs to get off the field.”

“I know.”

“She can't even walk.”

“I know.”

He looks at me. “You keep saying that.”

“Because I don't know what else to say.”

That gets the smallest laugh out of him, then Tessa steps back onto the field.

Lucas shakes his head. “She's fucking insane.”

“But a different flavor than your usual,” I wink. “Vanilla.”

“Exactly.”

I finally let go of him. He crosses his arms and keeps watching.

The game starts again, and I glance toward Jade.

She's back in the goal, watching everything. Her eyes find mine. She gives me the smallest nod. I nod back, and she shakes her head, then nods to Lucas. I lift my chin, knowing she’s telling me to keep him off the damn field.

Lucas is still wound tight beside me, and I keep one eye on him while the game moves downfield.

Then I see Jack standing near the fence, watching Jade. Of course he's here. Jade is his baby girl. He actually calls her that when he answered the phone Sunday night.