Page 48 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

Blue and white ribbons hang from the light posts. SAINTS PRIDE is painted across the pharmacy windows in crooked white letters. Somebody stretched a giant FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS banner over Main Street, and every other storefront has player numbers or little hand-painted football helmets taped to the glass.

Even the church sign reads:

GOD BLESS OUR BLUE VALLEY SAINTS

Lucas slows as a group of kids on bikes fly across the street, waving. One points at the car. “That’s them!”

“The Stoneville guys!” another yells.

I press a hand dramatically to my chest. “We’re famous.”

“We’re suspects.”

“Same thing in a town this small.”

He shakes his head, but he’s smiling now despite himself. Probably because this place already feels different. Stoneville football was boosters and recruiters and dads reliving glory days through their sons.

This?

This feels like the entire town will shut down on Fridays just to sit under those lights together.

Then I start singing again. “’Cause I’ve got friends in looow places…”

Lucas reaches over and shoves my face with one hand. “I swear to God, Tommy.”

He swings into the parking lot, “Need some drinks.”

“There’s no way I’m driving this car down that tractor path,” Lucas says as he pulls off next to some piece of farm equipment.

“Can’t be too far from here, let’s take the Nike express.”

We get twenty feet and see that it’s actually a couple of football fields away, well, more like five.

He shakes his head, “This is bullshit.”

“Look at the cool fresh water, we’re so close.”

“You’re leading the golden pom pom competition already for the season, and it hasn’t even begun.” He nudges me.

“No shit?” I grin.

“None.” He chuckles and shakes his head, “I get we need to do this.”

“For the team.” I nod to the pond.

As we get closer, I clock her. Brunette, red suit, face that is perfection, blue eyes even more striking than mine. Lips and hips, they’re a bonus.

“Already told you, Spring Break was yours to choose,” Lucas says, drawing my attention from the seriously stunning Ross girl.

“Not even about that Links.” I laugh, “There’s something about her.”

“Which one?” he asks, taking off his shirt and tossing it onto the picnic table.

“You know which one.”

“You’re an ass man,” he says, walking into the pond.

“It’s not just the ass. It's that smile, that confidence.” I laugh. “The fact that she hasn’t looked at you.”