Page 128 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“I’ll leave the steaks.”

I look at the grill. “You wouldn't.”

“I absolutely would.”

“This team is falling apart already.” I reach over and snag a little piece of steak he just cut to check the inside.

Alex smacks my hand away. “Those aren't done.”

“I was just checking.”

“With your mouth?” he asks.

“That’s how I check things.” I pop it into my mouth and smile. “Little underdone.”

Lucas laughs.

Alex points the tongs at me. “Just remember one thing.”

“What?”

“Respect.”

I put my hand over my heart again. “Utmost.”

Lucas laughs. “Jesus L Christ.”

Alex scrunches up his face. “What the hell is L?”

“Links,” Lucas and I say in unison.

“Oh, hell no.” Alex laughs.

We settle around the picnic table with our plates piled high, and for a few minutes, nobody says much because apparently we’ve all decided chewing is more important than conversation.

I cut into my steak, dip it in butter, and take a bite. Fuck. Alex knows what he’s doing. I take another bite, then glance across the table.

Jade is laughing, her head tipped back, and I swear the girl has no idea what she does to me when she looks like that.

I take a drink. Nope, not going there. Dinner. I am here for dinner. Steak. Crab. Vegetables. Jade. Shit.

Apparently, my brain has decided we're having a completely different meal.

She catches me looking; her smile changes, just a little. Enough that I know she knows I’m thinking about her.

I drop my eyes to my plate and stab a piece of steak with my fork. Focus, Tommy. You can behave like a respectable human being for one fucking dinner.

I look up again. She's still watching me. Yeah. This is going to be a long dinner.

But you know what comes after dinner?

Cake.

“We’ll grab more wood,” Jade offers, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind her.

I wanna tell her we brought up plenty, but with the past hour of food-play… Fuck it.

The noise of the bonfire fades behind us as we slip farther into the trees.