Page 67 of Jesse's Girl

“Humor me.” She looks at me blankly, but I can sense she’s hiding something.

Is she nervous?

“Okay. Yeah, she’s happy I’m home,” I say slowly. “Why?”

“I dunno, I guess I was just thinking…” She drags her hair back with one hand, flipping it over to one side, and pulls one knee up to hug it against her chest. “Like, maybe you’d be reconnecting a bit?” She shakes her head. “Forget it. I’m not making sense. It’s late.” She pushes up to leave and heads for the door.

“Ada,” I say, half smiling in confusion.

“Ugh, never mind,” she says without turning back. “I’m probably delirious or some shit from witnessing your heroic act. Goodnight!”

“Ada! Come on, stop,” I call out.

She’s halfway out the door when she pauses and peers at me around the doorframe, looking wary.

I make a face that says I’m not letting her off the hook.

“Okay.” She’s clearly uncomfortable with whatever she wants to say. “It’s just… been nice having you home again.” She grimaces at her words.

The corner of my mouth tugs up. “Uh, yeah, it’s been nice being home again.” I wait for her to say more. This is rare; Ada almost never lets down her guard. Her sarcastic defenses are virtually permanent fixtures of her personality and, without them, I don’t really know how to interact with her.

Isn’t this what I wanted the other day, though? For her to be real with me?

She crosses her arms over her chest and studies the floor, but still doesn’t respond.

“You getting all soft on me?” I ask, leaning forward. I can’t help but tease her to break the tension. “Is this you having a Hallmark moment?”

She scoffs. “Just shut up and forget I said anything.”

And she’s back. Crisis averted.

A slow grin spreads over my face. “Get some sleep, butthead.”

“You too, asshole.” She returns my smile despite herself and bites her lip. “Night.” She leaves the room, closing my door before I can respond.

I readjust the ice pack on my hand and furrow my brow, the smile fading from my lips as I think about what Ada said. If I reconnect with my mom, then what? I shake my head, my eyes landing on the door she just closed.

Is she saying she’d like it if I moved back home?

I lay back on the pillow and stare at the ceiling. My insomnia just got a power-up.

15

JESSE

This emergency trip home was never supposed to be a trial for a permanent move. I was just here to take care of my mom. Once her medical crisis was over, kicking around with my old friends was just a convenient bonus. But ever since Ada put the thought into my head a few days ago, I’m looking at my surroundings differently. I find myself wanting to see the leaves change this fall. To know what Ada ends up doing with her art. To see her doing what she loves. To be in her corner if her parents keep giving her shit.

Standing on the bank, I shield my eyes and cast my gaze across Black Bear River. I run a hand through my hair and chew the inside of my cheek, staring at—but not really seeing—the water.

Could I really move back home? What would I do here?

Talking about homesteading with Dimitri had piqued my interest. Could that be something?

Marcus is stooped over beside me, inflating his stand-up paddleboard with a pump. After parking his car downriver, we’d hiked with our gear upstream.

I check the time on my phone. “Kai said he was coming, right?”

“Yeah, I’m sure he’s on his way,” Marcus says. “He’s always late.”

---