Page 89 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

Jake grins; Alex shakes his head, but there's a smile there.

Kendall swims up beside them, and Brooks reaches out automatically when one of the guys gets too close, putting a hand between them. “Watch it.”

The guy backs off. “Sorry.”

Brooks gives him a nod and turns his attention right back to Kendall.

I watch him for a second.

He's different with the Ross family. Not softer, exactly. I shift my gaze to Alex; he’s focused. Like he's keeping track of where they are without making a big deal about it.

I guess that's what happens when you're an older brother. Somebody has to keep track of the little ones when everybody else is busy being an idiot.

Jake tries to climb onto the dock, and one of the guys grabs him around the waist and pulls him back into the water. Jake comes up laughing.

Alex watches him for a second, then his eyes flick toward the guy, Mike, I think? “Easy.”

That's it. The guy nods.

Ryan is doing the same thing from the other side of the pond, keeping an eye on Kendall whenever the guys get too rough. I guess they're both just wired that way. Responsible. Focused.

Probably why they're so damn good at everything they do on the field, even after not playing for years. Blows my mind. I get why we are unwelcome.

I climb onto the dock and look toward the shore; something catches my eye through the trees.

Jade, my pretty girl.

She's carrying a tray covered in foil, with a giant picnic basket hanging on one arm, Tessa is doing the same.

Lucas licks his lips and says. “Dinner.”

I chuckle, knowing damn well what he means, until I see another truck rolling down the dirt road. John Ross.

“Keep it PG. You like her. Don’t⁠—”

He cuts me off with amusement in his eyes. “You were just in your boxers in front of Jade’s father. Bold choice.” I shake my head. “So, goes without saying, I got this, brother.”

John pulls up near the other trucks, shuts off the engine, and climbs out. Jade spots him and waves. He waves back. Then she looks toward the raft, straight at me. Even from here, I can see her smile.

And yeah, I smile back like an idiot.

The dinner bell rings from somewhere behind us, and I turn to see Tessa next to an old triangle chow bell hanging from one of the posts of a clothesline, with a dozen towels hanging. She smacks it again with the little metal striker, and the sharp clang cuts through every conversation at once. I grin. Of course they have an actual triangle bell for dinner. There’s something ridiculously charming about it.

“Food!” somebody yells.

The floating dock empties like somebody’s going to pull a plug and drain the pond if we don’t hurry.

I look toward Lucas as he shoves me off the dock, laughing, I fall in.

We all start swimming for shore, climbing out and grabbing towels as we head toward the extra-long picnic table, clearly custom-built for gatherings like this.

When I look toward the table, Jade is standing beside Tessa. She catches me looking.

She belongs in this place. Bare feet, hair pulled back, cheeks flushed from the heat, carrying food like she’s been doing it her whole life.

I walk over and grab a plate.

There’s barely room at the table, so I end up sitting across from her.