Page 94 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“Thanks,” I call.

As we get dried off, I see Ryan, Lucas, and Tommy are carrying firewood up from camp, and Alex starts building the fire.

By the time the first flames catch, most of the guys have settled into whatever chairs, benches, or pieces of wood they can find around the fire.

I drop into a lawn chair beside Tommy, pulling my towel tighter around my shoulders. Tommy stretches his long legs out in front of him, his chair angled just enough that our shoulders almost touch.

For a minute, we just sit there. The entire starting team is getting along; and something between Ryan and I has changed. It feels… peaceful.

The fire crackles in front of us. Somebody behind us is arguing about tomorrow's game. Tessa and Frankie are still laughing about something that happened in the pond, and Lucas is throwing pieces of kindling into the fire while Alex watches him more closely now than before. He’s obviously catching on to what is so obvious. Tessa and Lucas are totally into each other.

Tommy bumps his knee against mine.

“Okay. Important question.”

I look over at him. “What’s that?”

“Favorite cars. Four.”

I laugh. “Four?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “Just answer.”

I think for a second. “Mustang.”

He points at me. “I can see that.”

I continue, “Camaro, Firebird, and four-door all-white Ford crew cab.”

He grins. “Pretty girl likes fast cars and big trucks.”

“I like pretty cars and trucks big enough to bring others along.”

“Even a Ford crew cab would be pretty with you behind the wheel.”

“Keep talking like that, T. Lane.” I smirk.

He picks up a stick from beside his chair and starts drawing in the dirt.

“Okay. Future husbands. Three.”

I stare at him. “Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“I don't have three future husbands.”

“You don't know that.” He chuckles.

“I do know that.” I correct him.

“Fine. Three guys you think are cute.”

I laugh. “Seriously?”