Page 183 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

He nods once. “No, but you’ve driven ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes,” he chuckles. “You weren’t really good on that, but the others, you didn’t even flinch. You can drive Jade, and you do it well. You’re just in your head.”

“Just in my head?” I wave my hand and the keys; Tommy’s keys go flying right into his bumper. “Shit, see.” I squat down and grab the keys, and gasp when I see a giant scratch. “Oh my God, I damaged it. I cannot.” I stop when he freaking spits on it. “Eww, Ryan, that is nasty. Why would you?” I stop again when he wipes it with his sweatshirt. The scratch is completely gone.

“It was just dirt.” He stands up and holds out his hand, the key dangling from his finger. “You can drive. But get out of your head before you put that key in the ignition.”

“That’s the whole point, Ry. I don’t know how to even start this.”

He rolls his eyes, grabs the keys from my hand, walks around to the driver’s side, and opens the door. “Get in.”

“Why don’t you?” I snap as I stomp toward the damn door, push past him, and get in. “The seat's too far back,” I grumble, reaching down to adjust it. “Oh my God, this doesn't go up?” Ryan squats down. “I’m not stupid; there is no lever.”

I feel the seat move forward and look at Ryan, who sighs, “Country Club's car has automatic seats. Just too much effort to use a manual lever.”

“Good.” I grip the steering wheel with both hands firmly on ten and two. “Maybe it can drive itself to my house.”

“Gonna guess it still requires keys.” He points toward the ignition. “It’s just like the truck. Just smaller and lower to the ground. Buckle up, put the key in the ignition, foot on the brake, and turn it over.”

I do just that, and yeah, it starts just like the truck but quieter.

I look up at Ryan and try not to smile too big, and he rolls his eyes and walks away, saying. “You’re a Ross Jade, don’t be a pussy.”

I call after him. “Thanks Ryan.”

He throws his hand up in a wave as he walks to his truck.

Tommy comes out of the locker room a minute later and slides into the passenger seat.

“Look at you.”

“Don't.”

He laughs as he shuts the door and buckles his seat belt.

I glance over at him. “You ready?”

“Take me home, pretty girl.”

I roll my eyes and laugh a little as I put it in drive. “It’s gonna take me a bit to get used to driving this.”

“Take all the time you need,” he says, opening the glove box.

“You have insurance, right?” I ask, easing forward, happy most of the cars have left.

He laughs, “Yeah of course.”

For the first few minutes, I'm too focused on driving to say much. Tommy doesn't seem worried at all, which makes me a little less worried too.

At the stop sign, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cassette.

I glance over. “What's that?”

He holds it up, then leans forward and pushes it into the tape deck. “This was my favorite song on the countdown last week.”

The opening notes of “When I Look Into Your Eyes” by FireHouse fill the car.

I look at him, then back at the road. “You listened.”

“I told you I would.” He reaches over and takes my hand. “Are you listening, Jade?