Page 41 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“We’re going this year,” he snarls.

Last year, my parents wouldn’t let me go. “Turned eighteen March 12th, she fucked up last year’s spring break. I won’t let her do it this year”

He smirks. “Pick somewhere good; I have no intentions of fucking a Ross.”

“Heard good things about farm girls.” I joke.

He nods to the school and points to the driveway. “Let’s pick our parking spots.”

I put the vehicle in park, facing the football field.

“Saville has lost his fucking mind,” Lucas growls as he throws his seat belt off, opens his door, and gets out.

I do the same, walk around the front of the car, and lean against the hood.

“There aren’t even lights, and there’s no way there are enough bleachers here for spectators to watch the games, let alone scouts.” I know he’s stressed because, if he doesn’t go D1, he’s said he wouldn’t bother with college; he’d just end up working for his father and being miserable for the rest of his life.

“You’ll.” I snap my mouth shut when he glares at me and rephrase. “We’re not going to fail.”

“You’ll have them eating out of your hand day one; they’ll hate my ass.”

“I have zero issue playing bad cop; actually, I prefer it- good practice for when I have to put Mom in her place when it comes to college.”

“Money can’t be an issue.” He tells me for the hundredth time in the past year.

“Won’t be,” I assure him.

It’s not a lie. I’ll walk away from college being paid for, owning one of the ten gas station chains they own, and the car they hold over my head. I’ll walk away from all their promises based on principle alone.

“I’ll have it covered.”

“Or I’ll sell the house,” he says, acting as if it’s no big deal to sell his house. The one his dad put in his name instead of his mom's, violating a court order. A Landon move for sure — dick move— but Lucas’s mother probably would have sold it when she was fucked up, at least this way he doesn’t have to move to Jersey.

I look at the field, and I swear I feel a weight lifting off my shoulders knowing we’re less than a year to freedom. “Even though it’s not what we’re used to, it’s good, man, I feel it.”

He nods and looks around. “Doesn’t matter where we play, we’re doing this together.”

“Damn right we are.”

After several minutes of silence, I ask, “Feels right here. Peaceful.”

“Feels like the end of a war.” He adds.

I point to the end zone on the other side of the field. “Can you see it, the light at the end of the tunnel?”

“Yeah, I can, and I wouldn’t want to be there with anyone but you.”

I hold up a fist, “Brothers until the end.”

He taps his to mine, “And beyond.”

The silence ends when a loud diesel engine roars and we turn to look.

A truck pulls in and parks by the school's back door. The passenger door opens, and a girl with raven hair wearing red shorts jumps out. I’m not sure how, but over the engine I hear, “Be just a minute, Daddy.”

“Dayum.” I groan, seeing long legs running to the door. “She can call me Daddy.”

Lucas chuckles as he walks to the passenger side of the vehicle. “Read the side of that truck.”