Page 152 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

I need to help get her through this. “Love to help you figure out how to do that. I'm actually pretty good at it.” I shrug one shoulder. “That's not my story to tell either.”

“Well, it's gonna be a quiet night then,” she jokes, or tries to.

It's adorable but in a wounded-kitten-that-wants-to-cuddle kind of way.

She sighs loudly and leans back. I can tell she wants to say something, so I tell her the truth. “Jade, you and me, we gotta be able to trust each other with stuff, right? I can promise you nothing I say goes anywhere.”

“Not even to your friend?”

“If my girlfriend asks me not to tell my best friend something, I'm not gonna tell my best friend.”

“Okay, but don't look behind me.” I nod. “Sitting close to the deck railing, there is a woman and a man. The woman is Tessa's mom, my Aunt Maggie. The man is a doctor she works with, and it is very clear they're on a date.”

I swear I see tears in those beautiful blue eyes, and it crushes me.

“She's important to you too,” I surmise.

“Been like a mother to me for many years, but she's married to my dad's brother.”

“And your dad wants you to be loyal to his brother?”

She laughs, but not the funny-ha-ha way. “No. My dad says we get them all through it because that's what family does. But I can't help feeling like I’d be betraying my cousin, my best friend for my whole life, by walking up to Aunt Maggie and hugging her and saying I love you, I miss you, come home.”

“I get that.” I take her hand and pull it up to my mouth, giving it a kiss. “So sorry, pretty girl.”

After finally getting Tessa in the car, I’m starting to wonder if there’s any chance of salvaging this date. The restaurant’s already a mess, Tessa drank far more than she should have, and now she’s determined to keep the night going.

“I’m not ready to go home.”

“You don’t say,” Lucas grumbles, but he still heads that way.

“I have to pee. Can you pull over?”

At the next stoplight, Tessa reaches for the door handle, and Lucas puts his arm in front of her, and Jade reaches up, grabs her seatbelt and pulls it back.

“In a minute. We’ll pull into the park up here, all right?”

“Sure, I would love to pee in the park.” She giggles and takes his hand. “Pee in the park.”

A few seconds later, Lucas pulls into the parking area. As soon as he stops, Tessa jumps out and throws her coat onto the seat.

“I hear music. After I pee, I am going to dance with you, Lucas... dirty dance.”

She heads toward the first building she sees, and Jade grabs her hand. “This way, drunkard.”

They walk past us, and I watch Tessa stumble along with Jade trying to keep her pointed in the right direction.

“She okay?” I ask.

“Apparently not. I have no idea what brought this on, but drunk Tessa can get me in a whole lot of trouble.” Lucas laughs, but I can hear the concern underneath it.

Do I want to tell him? Fuck yes I do, but I just made a promise, and I won’t break it.

When they come back out, Lucas is holding the takeout containers. Tessa skips toward him.

“I squatted and peed because public toilets carry germs and diseases. By the way, Lucas, do you have any STDs?” He shakes his head. “Good to know. I wiped and washed my hands, and now I’m ready to find that music and dance. We need to find where it’s coming from. Let’s go.”

Lucas catches her arm. “Hey, I want you to do me a favor, okay?”