Page 123 of The Wayward Son

“So am I.” He sat up and leaned against the headboard as he watched her get dressed. “Jade.” When she didn’t stop, he repeated himself. Louder this time. “Jade!”

She stopped and looked at him. “What? I need to go.”

“They already know.”

She buttoned her blouse. “Who? And what do they know?”

“Dad and J.T. I talked to them about this.”

She felt herself flush with anger. She wasn’t sure why. But she couldn’t seem to stop herself from going there.

“You told them?”

“I’m damn confused and pretty frustrated. I needed some clarity.”

“So you told them?”

“It’s no big deal.”

“Quit saying that. It’s a big deal to me.”

He looked at her for a moment. “Why? I just don’t get it. I’m beginning to think you’re embarrassed to be with me.”

She tucked her blouse into her pants and put on her jacket. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then give me an explanation other than you need time. Why? Why do you need time? Why are we hiding out and sneaking around?” He blew out a breath. “Explain it to me, please.”

She sat on the edge of the chair and put on her shoes. “I need to go.”

“So you won’t even talk to me? You’re just going to run away?”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

“It’s so what you’re doing. Shit, Jade.”

She looked at him for a moment. How could she explain it to him when she couldn’t even explain it to herself? This wonderful, caring man wanted to be with her. Why couldn’t she accept that? He was mad. She could see it in his eyes. They gotdarker blue when he was upset or angry, or hurt. She felt herself slipping into panic mode.

She stood. “I…I need to go.” She crossed the room and went out the door without looking back at him.

Jade rushed down the stairs and didn’t see Jake until she almost ran into him.

He dropped some of the hay he was holding. “Whoa there, girl.”

She stopped short. “I’m sorry.” She glanced over her shoulder at the stairs, then looked at Jake, who seemed to pick up on her state of panic. “I…we were up late…”

Jake tossed the hay into a stall, then took Jade’s arm. “Come take a walk with me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Sure you can.” He put a little pressure on her arm, and she started walking beside him. They left the barn and circled around to the path taking them to the pond. “Just take some deep breaths and calm yourself.”

She did as he said and felt the tightness in her chest ease a little. When they got to the pond, Jake let go of her arm and sat down on the bench of the picnic table and leaned against the table. After a moment, Jade sat next to him and took one last deep breath.

Jake stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. “Do you remember the last time I brought you to the pond after you had a fight with Sawyer?”

“How do you know we had a fight?”

He smiled. “It’s kind of obvious. The last fight. When I brought you out here. I believe you were mad at Sawyer because he foolishly suggested you take Will Mason’s invitation to the spring dance.”

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