Page 66 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

My eyes drift back to the overhead. A heart. Flowers. A ridiculous boy trying way too hard to make me smile.

And somehow all I can think about is Sunday, about Dad going to church, about T. Lane and feeling like Jason and Jasper were telling me something, secrets from heaven.

I can practically hear them arguing about it. Jason calling me crazy, Jasper telling me not to overthink it, and just enjoy senior year.

A lump forms in my throat so fast it catches me off guard. Not sadness. Not really. Something warmer.

“Where'd you go?” Tommy asks.

I blink and realize he's still looking at me… still smiling. Still waiting for an answer to a question.

“Nowhere.”

“Liar.” His smile widens.

“Maybe.” I try to hold back a smile, but why? “You're ridiculous.”

“Yet you're smiling.”

Up front, Lucas suddenly mutters, “Fuck.”

I glance up just as he slows slightly.

“Don't ask questions. Just bend down and hide.”

Tessa immediately ducks.

A few seconds later, Lucas says, “Okay, coast is clear. Sorry, Tessa. Crazy ex.”

Tommy leans closer. “See? This is why we're the normal ones.”

“The normal ones?”

“Compared to those two? Absolutely.”

God, how I have craved normal…

“Do you like animals?”

The question comes out of nowhere. “What?”

“Animals.”

“Yes. Why?”

He shrugs. “Just wondering.”

I narrow my eyes.

“Fine.” He sighs dramatically and relents. “I want to know things about you.”

“Things?”

“All the things.”

I roll my eyes. “That's helpful.”

“You know what I mean.”