Page 64 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Only considered?” Tessa laughs.

“Briefly,” Phoebe smirks.

Becca grins. “I knew she'd fit in.”

Phoebe sighs, yet still she’s smiling. “I can't feel my legs.”

“That's normal,” I admit.

“It shouldn't be.” She laughs.

“It is.” Tessa shakes her head. “Welcome to Blue Valley hockey.”

“I think I’m going to love it.”

She’s definitely one of us.

The showers feel like heaven. Actual heaven. The kind with fluffy clouds and angels singing. I bet Jason is playing lead air guitar, and Jasper’s chilling behind him playing bass.

Twenty minutes later, we're dressed and human again. Becca and Phoebe rushed out the door to catch their ride, Ry….

My hair is still damp when Tessa and I push through the back doors toward the parking lot.

The afternoon sun hangs low enough to cast long shadows across the athletic fields. The lot is mostly empty now. A few teachers' cars. Some student vehicles.

“No, Alex, looks like we’re hiking.” Tessa sighs.

“Hay season.” I shrug, then spot a black Trans Am approaching.

Tessa immediately groans. “No.”

“Oh yes.”

“No.”

I ignore her as they come to a stop, and Tommy Lane slides out shirtless and drops to his knees. “You crushed me, pretty girl.”

I laugh as I reach down and offer a hand.

He takes it, and I pull him up. “How was practice?”

“Awful.”

He laughs. “Good.”

“Good?”

“If you survived awful today, you'll survive anything the world throws at you tomorrow.”

I narrow my eyes. “What?”

“I'm extremely supportive.”

“Of my suffering?”

“Of your success.”

That smile. That stupid smile. It’s the one that could make a girl forget her own name, and I laugh.