Page 65 of Broken

I didn’t stop even when I saw the football players breaking from practice, not ready to give it up yet. It wasn’t until the sky turned dark, and I could barely see the path in front of me, that I pushed the last of the stretch and collapsed on the astroturf at the edge of the track. I laid out, spreadeagled, and closed my eyes. Just taking in me. The beat of my heart, my breaths, the rise and fall of my lungs, the blades of fake grass tickling under my legs. The cool breeze brushing over my flushed and sweaty skin. I laid there until my breathing returned to normal and my thoughts eased back in.

But they were doable now. Less chaotic.

“I love watching you fly.”

I smiled at the voice and turned my head before opening my eyes. Jet was seated on a bench at the sidelines, just staring. Awe reflected in his eyes under the lights. He stood, walking over to extend a hand. “Do you feel better?”

I nodded, letting him pull me up. “I feel like I can breathe now.”

The corner of his mouth dipped in a frown. “It’s been a lot lately, huh?”

“So much.”

We held hands, heading out of the parking lot together, so much said between us then that didn’t need saying aloud.

We sat in his car when we got home, and I dropped my head to my bag, not ready to get out. He reached over to massage the back of my neck, and I moaned as his magic fingers found the knots of tension in my neck.

“You need a night out,” Jet declared, and I snorted. Cuz that was going to happen. “I’m serious, Annie. Go in. Get showered and changed. I’ll be over to pick you up in thirty minutes.” He got out of the car and came around to open my door. I just stared up at him like he was crazy. “I mean it.” He jerked his head. “Inside. Shower. Now. It’s my turn to take care of you.”

There was gentleness behind his command that was so Jet, that my insides melted just hearing it, and I smiled. “Okay.”

I ran upstairs, and while I was tempted to take the fastest shower of my life, I decided to take a few extra minutes, shaving and using some body scrub I saved for special occasions. Doing a quick blow dry of my hair, I threw it up in a cute messy bun and swiped on a clear coat of lip gloss, my complexion still flushed and vibrant from my run without makeup.

I shimmied into my favorite pair of jeans that made my ass look great and threw on a deep blue sweater that both hugged my curves and would keep me warm. Borrowing a pair of Izzy’s ankle boots to finish the outfit off, I headed downstairs to wait for Jet.

I could hear Izzy still in her studio, and I tapped on the door when I heard a pause in the music. “Hey,” I greeted, finding her taking a water break.

She nodded, her eyes flicking up and down my outfit.

“You’re leaving?”

“Uh…yeah?” I questioned, picking something up in her tone. “Jet’s taking me out. Just thought I’d make sure you were okay before I go and to let you know you’d have to do the supper, homework, and bed thing with Archer tonight.”

“Great.” She set down her water and turned the music back on, turning her back to me.

Uh, excuse me?Had I missed something?

I cut the music, and Izzy whipped around to face me. “Do you mind?”

“Kind of?” I threw my hands on my hips. “You’re kind of being a bitch right now. Did something happen?”

“You mean besides all the drama with Mom again? No. I’m just sick of it and in a bad freaking mood, sis. Plus, I just got into it with Tucker earlier, which has me terrified that he’ll start to pull away and second guess all of this. Like I’m waiting for the freaking shoe to drop. And you’ve been out with Jet so much I’ve barely seen you, so no support there, but no, go ahead and have a nice night out. I don’t care.” She smacked the music back on, and I immediately smacked it off again.

“I’ve been with Jet becauseyou’vebeen holed up in here or with Tucker. But don’t act like I’m never around. I’m the one that’s been keeping the house running while you and Mom have been at each other’s throats.I’mnot the one who fucked up, Izzy, so don’t turn this all around on me.”

She reeled back as I smacked a hand over my mouth, realizing what I’d said.

“Izzy, I didn–”

“Oh, but you did.” Her eyes went flat with her tone, and instead of flipping the music back on, she checked my shoulder as she pushed past me out the door.

I clenched my eyes shut, cursing myself. Because, fuck, I’d just dug a hole.

“Hey! You ready?!” Jet’s voice suddenly called out from the living room.

“In here!” I yelled, leaning back against the wall.

Jet’s head popped in the doorway, and the wide smile he’d saved just for me dropped. “What’s wrong?”

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