Page 83 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

Every time I catch them before or after field hockey practice, it looks like two different teams on one field, and that is not what it takes to have the winning season they had a shot at even before Tommy and Lucas showed up at Blue Valley. It pisses me off almost as badly as it the way he looks at me now. Those hazel eyes no longer turn from the guarded way he looks at everyone else to soft and sincere. It’s even worse. It’s now a cross between disappointed and … disgusted. If I let myself think about it too long, it hurts. Through the past few years, I’ve become a pro at avoiding people whose looks and whispers have made me feel less than. I’m sure the scar tissue that once surrounded my heart is now cement, yet somehow Ry still manages to find his way through that and manages to make me bleed again, if I let him.

I look up from where my gaze is fixed on the water flowing from the faucet, and gasp as I see something different amongst the pickup trucks.

Tessa jumps and looks around. “What?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Look at all those cars.”

“I think you need an eye exam.” She looks out the window. “I see a bunch of trucks, but only one …” I swear her jaw hit the counter. “That cannot be⁠—”

“It so is.” My smile grows into a grin.

“The nerve of⁠—”

“You mean the balls on them?” I say, knowing her reaction.

“Jade!” Tessa gasps.

“You’re home!” Kendall’s sweet little voice pulls our attention away from the barnyard.

We turn as she and Jake come running into the kitchen. Tessa tosses me the towel she was just drying her hands on before hugging Kendall, and my chest tightens a bit. Jake doesn't step away from her when she attempts to hug him like he normally would; he leans in.

They're all hurting.

Jake turns toward me, and I hold up my hand, and he gives me a high five.

“Tell us about your day.” Tessa smiles as she walks past them toward the pantry.

Kendall shrugs, “It was okay.”

“My day was awesome. In gym class, I got first place for the football throw.” He holds up one finger.

“Of course you did, you’re a Ross.” I wink, and he grins.

Tessa hands me one of the five-gallon water cooler jugs, and she carries the other to the sink. “Fill that, and I'll grab hamburgers and hot dogs out of the freezer. Kendall and Jake, will you go out back and grab a couple dozen ears of corn?”

Kendall grins. “We have company.”

“Never a dull moment.” She fakes a smile. “Make sure it's sweet corn and not cow corn.”

“I know the difference.” Jake huffs.

“I know you do.” Tessa winks.

“Come on, Jake!” Kendall yells as she grabs the empty basket.

“Hey, wait for me!” He runs out behind her.

Tessa rolls her eyes when she catches me smiling and nodding to the window. “This day could not get any worse.”

“What’s going on out there?” Molly asks as she walks into the kitchen.

I am surprised, but not shocked, to see Molly here. She always goes back to school on Sunday nights. Given everything going on, I get it.

“We have to feed and water the dogs,” Tessa grumbles.

“Hot dogs.” I wiggle my brows.

Molly laughs as she looks out to see what has our attention. “The landscape in Blue Valley has certainly changed since I was a senior.”