Page 86 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“So, Tessa,” He says, pulling out onto the road.

“Bro, come on, give me something.” I whine just a little.

“She’s not my type.”

“Your type?” I chuckle.

“Needy, loose morals, eager to please, emotionally unstable.”

I laugh. “That she is not.”

“You ever look at a girl and think she’s gonna be a problem and not in the way you’re used to?”

“Me?” I point to myself. “No.” I point to him. “You? All the time.”

“Fair.” He states.

We bust up laughing as he accelerates up the road.

I turn up the radio, and Alice in Chains Would, blasts through the speakers as I sink back into the leather seat, the window down, warm air whipping through the car and carrying the last of the hay dust with it.

This is perfect. I close my eyes for a second. My whole body is fucking wrecked, and I know Football practice tomorrow is going to suck. Worth it though.

I open my eyes and watch the fields roll past. There's something about this place.

Maybe it's because nobody gives a shit if you're dirty. Or sweaty. Or half-dead after working all afternoon. You just get shit done and then go find something better to do with people you like, not people who want to control you.

My best friend, the girl who I know wants to be mine, almost as much as I want to be hers.

I could get used to this life, work hard, then do things like going to the pond, like sitting on the dock until dinner's getting cold, but no one’s freaking out about it.

I glance at Lucas. He's watching the road, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping against his thigh with the music.

He's always known what he wants. Football. Me, I just want this. Maybe not the hay. I pick at a piece stuck to my thigh hair. Definitely not the fucking hay.

The rest of it. The noise. People coming and going. The pond. The fields. People who don’t hide that they really don’t like you but aren’t total backstabbing pricks. Alex Ross, Ryan Brooks, they get what a team is off the field. So does Jade, and Tessa too.

“You think it’s fucked up that I feel like I can be myself here?” I think, but don’t say and not my parents' son. Not whatever the hell Mom decided I should be? Because it sucks being that, but Lucas? He’s got it worse.

“Always knew down deep you were a farm boy.” He jokes.

“Honest work man.”

“We’ll buy a farm when we retire from the pros.”

I grin, “Can we, Lucas? Can we please?”

He chuckles as he turns onto the dirt road and pulls off to the side to park.

We get out, and I grab my swim trunks, towel, and a T-shirt from my duffel bag. Lucas has a pool, so I have that shit ready.

After we change, I look toward the pond. Yeah, I want this. Whatever this is. I want more of it.

“Race you to the dock,” I say.

Lucas glances over. “We're waiting for Ross, Brooks and⁠—”

“One, two⁠—”