Page 71 of Mr. Broody

“I do. It’s just different. You’ve never been that way with me. Usually, I’m the one demanding answers.” She skips a crack, and I chuckle. “Old habit.”

When we were younger, we wouldn’t step on any cracks on the walk to school.

When we reach St. Pat’s, I walk us around the back of the building, but the playground is all fenced off, locked and secure.

“What do you say?” She unwinds her hand from mine and starts to climb the fence.

“You’re gonna get me arrested, and my name will be splashed all over the sports channels.” I follow her.

She gets up and over with more ease than I do, which is a tad embarrassing since I’m a professional athlete. But it’s not as if my training regularly includes climbing fences. Once we’re on the other side, she walks over to the giant piece of equipment with slides and bridges and poles to climb. Instead of taking the stairs, she walks up the slide.

I lift myself up the pole, remembering when I’d barely be able to make it.

Jade sits at the top, her legs stretched out and her head down, staring at her entwined hands. I squeeze myself in across from her. This thing was definitely made for small bodies.

“I… lost it,” she says, never looking at me. “My eye for the camera. My enjoyment. I just can’t do it anymore.”

I bite my bottom lip. “Is it because… of him?” I know I’ll hate it if she says yes.

She glances at me, and her answer is in her eyes. It usually is when she wants me to see her truth. “No.”

Thank God. I’m not sure I could’ve handled if it was because that would’ve meant she’d loved him. For some reason, I can deal with her having partners while we were apart, but love? Yeah, I’d struggle with that.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and I think it’s a few different things. I think returning home and seeing you makes me hate my camera.” Her gaze falls to her lap. “I associate it with losing you. Like it was the other woman, and it came between us. She was fun for a while, but no replacement for you.”

I open my mouth, but she puts up her hand.

“Regardless, you have a life now, Henry. One I’m not a part of, and it’s been really hard to see it.” A lone tear escapes her eye and slides down her cheek. “I’m not blaming you. And I don’t think you made a bad decision sending me away, but I think maybe I did by letting you. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten on that plane.”

“But everything you’ve seen and experienced is amazing. Bodhi was just saying the other day how cool he thought all your pictures were, but mostly he was interested in how many places you’ve been to.” I inch forward, desperate to soothe her pain.

She holds her hand in the air again, keeping me at bay. “I did find something while I was away, but I don’t think it’s what we thought it would be.” She looks up, nibbling on the inside of her cheek. “I found my love for my home.”

Is she saying what I think she is? I’m almost too afraid to hope.

“What are you saying?” My voice is a raspy whisper.

“I’m staying in Chicago.”

I’m struggling to find words. How long have I wanted to hear her say that? Too long. And it changes everything.

Thirty-One

Jade

I can’t believe I just told him. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that.

“I’m not expecting anything,” I say in a rush before he has a chance to respond. I twist around and swing my legs toward the slide to make a quick getaway.

“Don’t,” he says before I can push myself to go down. “Please don’t run.”

I stop but don’t turn around.

“I came here tonight to tell you something, and I want to say it. Afterward, if you want to leave, I won’t fight you.”

I stay facing the ground, feeling as if it’s my best option if things get too hard.

“Turn around, Jade.”

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