Page 71 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Or,” he says, “I can just look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

My stomach flips. “Tomorrow works too.”

“Good.”

Neither of us hangs up. Just a few seconds of comfortable silence.

Then— “Night, Pretty Girl.”

“Night, Tommy.”

For those few seconds, it was easy. Easy to forget the suitcases. Easy to forget the tension hanging over Tessa's house. Easy to forget everything except the fact that Tommy Lane called… me.

Then guilt creeps in. I glance toward the kitchen. Dad's still sitting at the table. Waiting. Not eavesdropping. Just waiting. And I'm waiting too. For the phone to ring again. For Tessa. For answers or to listen, be there, for whatever comes next.

I walk back out to the kitchen and sit across from Dad.

He looks up from the paper. “Who’s Tommy?”

I smile and laugh quietly as I say, “One of those new studs.”

He makes a face. “Did it sound that disgusting when I said it?”

“It certainly did.” I laugh.

“The QB?” he asks, looking back at his paper, trying to appear uninterested, although clearly, he is.

“I decided he was the enemy when I heard he’d be playing QB, and that’s where Ryaan should be.”

He glances up. “It’s not the new kids’ fault that⁠—”

“I call them implants.” I stand up and grab my plate.

He chuckles, “Whatever you call them, the boys haven’t played in years. Links has⁠—”

“You know his name.” I laugh as I head to the sink.

“Drive down Main Street, his name is all over,” he says, setting the paper down.

“Any other names?” I ask as I turn on the faucet.

“Ross, Brooks, Lane and⁠—”

“Lane.” I smile to myself.

“Tommy Lane,” he says as if testing it out.

I look over my shoulder. “He’s nice.”

“Nice is a start. Just remember⁠—”

“Saving it for marriage, just like.” I stop before saying you and Mom, but recover quickly with, “Jesus would want that.”

“You deserve good things, don’t take anything less.” He nudges me with his hip and stands at the sink with me, grabbing a towel and throwing it over his shoulder to rinse and dry. “I’ve managed to stay out of jail for my entire life; I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Aren’t you the same dad who just told me I only have four more summers here?”

He sighs and shakes his head.