Page 157 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Oh shit.” Jade sighs.

Tessa's hand comes up, and she slaps him across the face.

For a second, nobody moves. Lucas just stares at her. Tessa looks shocked by what she has done, but then her expression hardens and she storms toward the car.

Sadi calls after her. “Feisty little one, isn’t she?”

I look at Jade. “Come on.”

We follow them to the car.

Tessa is already inside, and Lucas gets behind the wheel after Jade and I climb into the back.

For a while, nobody says anything.

Then, somewhere off Route Thirteen, Tessa suddenly says, “I think I’m going to throw up.”

Lucas immediately turns onto a dirt road and pulls over. Tessa nearly falls out of the door before she starts vomiting. Jade is out of the car right behind her, pulling Tessa's hair away from her face and rubbing her back.

“Oh, Tessa,” she whispers.

Lucas gets out and I follow them the back to the car. “Jade, here’s some water, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.” Tessa stays turned away from us, embarrassed. “Did she get any on her?”

“A little,” Jade answers, rubbing her back.

Lucas opens and closes the car doors while Jade helps Tessa clean up. They change her clothes beside the car, and I turn away enough to give them privacy while still keeping an eye on the road.

When they're finished, Tessa is shaking.

“So cold,” she says, hugging herself.

Jade pulls her closer.

“Do you have an old bag that I can put these in?” she asks Lucas.

He finds one, and Jade gathers up Tessa's clothes. Then Lucas's pager goes off. He looks at it and replies.

“Everything…” I let it trail off, because okay or good just isn’t happening tonight, not for him anyway

He shakes his head, “Nope.”

“Want me to drive?” I offer.

He looks at me like I’m insane, and then rolls his eyes, “I’m good brother.”

Jade is still holding Tessa close when she starts crying.

“It’s going to be okay, Tessa. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“No, I won’t.” Tessa wipes at her eyes and gets back into the car.

Lucas climbs behind the wheel and looks at her.

“You okay?”

“No, I’m not. You called me a bitch.”

“I said not to be a bitch. There’s a difference. And you slapped me, so...” He shrugs as he pulls onto the road.