Page 108 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

The waitress, Sally, brings over our steaks, exactly the way we always get them. Thick-cut New York strips cooked medium-rare, the outside seared dark enough to give it a good crust while the center stays pink and juicy. A baked potato sits beside each one, split open and steaming, with a little butter melting down into the middle, and a pile of green beans tucked alongside it.

I stare at the plates. “Damn.”

Lucas grins. “Damn.”

We're barely out of Ithaca when I spot the truck.

“Wait.”

Lucas slows down. “That Brooks?”

I look toward the side of the road where Ryan's truck is pulled over. “Well, he’s not broken down.”

He's standing beside it talking to a woman. I stare for a second. She looks rough. Her clothes are worn, her hair is a mess, and even from here, something about her makes me wonder when the last time was that she had food or a fucking bath.

“Huh,” he says. “Wouldn’t have guessed Brooks was into anything that dirty.”

“Ease up.”

He looks at me. “What?”

“We don't know what's going on, maybe he’s doing some sort of charity thing.”

“He's a dick.”

“I know.”

“He's a dick to you.”

“I know that too.”

“So why are you defending him?” He chuckles.

“I'm not.”

Lucas glances in the mirror at Ryan's truck. “Sure sounds like it.”

I look back through the rear window until the truck disappears behind us. “There's something you don't know.”

He looks at me again. “About what?”

“The Ross’.”

His eyes narrow. “What about them?”

“I figured something out today.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why does it feel like I’m betraying her when I don’t even have facts yet?

He waits. I don't say anything. We come to a stop, and he turns to me. “Well?”

“Promise me you won't tell anyone.”

He laughs once. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Tommy.”

“You know the rules.”