Page 172 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Yeah, I just needed a breath.”

He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my sweaty head. “Yeah, I get it.”

I step back. “First, eww, I am gross, and second, you get what?”

He smiles softer than usual. “I get that you and I have something I’ve never had, and sometimes you just…” He shakes his head and smiles the normal Tommy smile and continues. “Want to know if you’re dreaming.” He laughs uncomfortably when I am lost in thought. “Or maybe it’s just me.”

I shake my head. “It’s definitely not just you, Tommy Lane.”

He grabs my hip and pulls me closer. “Good, then get your pretty lips over here and⁠—”

I hear a whistle and turn to see Becca. “Maggie’s taking Tessa to the ER. We’re headed out.”

“What?” I gasp, taking Tommy’s hand and heading that way.

***

When Dad picked me up at school, he didn’t say much. He just looked at me, opened the passenger door, and said, “Let’s go see if they need anything.”

So, we drove up to the farm.

The second we walked through the door, I could see Kendall and Jake were both trying way too hard to act like everything was normal. Kendall was sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, and Jake was standing in front of the television, pretending he was actually watching it. Neither one of them looked at me.

“Hey,” I announce myself.

Kendall looks up first. “How is she?”

“She’s okay.”

Jake finally turns around. “Really?”

“Really. She got hurt, but she’s okay. She was tougher than most. She’s a Ross.”

Kendall’s shoulders drop a little, and I sit beside her.

“She did really good,” I add. “She even walked off the field.”

Jake frowns. “Ryan told us you were the MVP.”

I laugh. “He did? He wasn’t even there, was he?”

“Becca probably told him,” she says.

Jake looks genuinely confused. “I didn’t know girls could be MVP.”

“Of course they can,” Kendall snaps.

Jake turns toward her. “I didn’t know!”

“Well, now you do.” She sticks her tongue out at him.

“I just said I didn’t know.”

Kendall scowls. “And I just said now you do.”

He looks at me. “Does she always do this?”

“Yes,” I say.