Page 132 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Apparently.” She bites her lip. I shake my head, trying not to laugh myself. “Come here.”

She takes one step closer, and I catch her around the waist and pull her against me. She makes another little laugh, and I kiss her before she can get any louder. Then melts into me, still smiling against my mouth.

I pull back, but I don't let her go, for a second, I just look at her.

Her hair is a mess, she's trying not to laugh, and she's standing in the middle of the woods in the middle of the night because apparently sneaking up on me while I'm pissing seemed like a good idea.

I smile and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “You know what?”

“What?”

“I think I'm doing this wrong.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Doing what wrong?”

“Us.”

Her smile fades just a little as she looks at me, I take her hand and lace my fingers through hers. “I've been trying to take it slow.”

“You have.”

“And I still want to.” She smiles. “But I don't want to pretend I don't know what I want.”

Her eyes stay on mine. “And what do you want?”

“You.” She smiles, but I keep going. “I want you to be my girl.”

Her eyes widen. “Your girl?”

“Yeah.” I lean down and kiss one cheek. “My girlfriend.” The other. “My pretty girl.” Her nose. “Whatever you want to call it.”

She bites her lip, trying not to smile. “You're asking me?”

“I'm asking you.”

“Right now?”

I glance around the dark woods. “Apparently.”

She laughs softly. “You just almost peed on me.”

“You followed me to the woods while I was pissing.”

She covers her mouth, trying not to laugh again.

I shake my head. “So?”

She looks back at me. “Yeah.”

I smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, Tommy. I'll be your girlfriend.”

I pull her against me and kiss her… first.

27

TOMMY’S GIRL