Page 35 of Shattered

Me: Hey, Angel. How’s your toe?

The swelling had gone down to the point she could put a shoe on without pain, however, the bruising had extended halfway up her foot and was a nasty purple color. My stubborn girl insisted she’d be okay when I suggested she take the day off.

Jade: Hi. It’s fine. Only a little sore.

God, I hated that word.Fine.My mom used it on endless repeat after Dad died. If I’d learned one thing during those months and years, it was when a woman said they were fine, they were anything but.

Me: Sit down and get your weight off of it every once in a while.

Jade: Have you been talking to Henley?

Me: No, why?

Jade: She’s been saying the same thing.

Me: We both care about you.

Three little dots appeared on the screen, then disappeared.

Me: You’ve got a whole team of people on your side now, Jade. You’re going to have to get used to it eventually.

Jade: I know. It’s just strange, in the best way.

Changing the subject, so as not to overwhelm her, I decided to begin the process of wooing my wife.

Me: Any plans the rest of the week?

Jade: I’m hanging out with Henley later, and I work every day except Wednesday. Why?

Me: Keep your evenings open for me. I’ll take care of dinner and the entertainment.

Jade: Oh boy. Sounds ominous. Do you even know how to cook?

Me: I guess we’ll find out. I’ll see you in the morning.

Jade: Stay safe.

Me: I’ll always come home to you.

I typed out the words without a second thought. It was a phrase I’d heard my father say every time he left the house, and its meaning had escaped me until right then. He hadn’t been talking about the physical building, he meant the people inside of it. My mom, Riley, Willow, and I were hishome,the same way Jade and Jett had somehow become mine.

Jade

“I’ve never been more grateful that Keaton is working late,” Henley said, taking a giant bite of her cheesesteak.

“Yeah, right.” I snickered.

After work, we stopped at Gino’s Pizzeria to pick up dinner, then headed to her and Keaton’s penthouse apartment. Jett was studying for a geometry test at Phoebe’s, so I had a few hours until he’d be home. It was the first time I’d been invited over and I jumped at the opportunity to see where they lived. The place had signs of Keaton’s wealth sprinkled throughout, though not enough to be ostentatious.

“What? I’m serious. I needed time with my best friend.”

“You just saw me two days ago.”

“Yeah, but we weren’t alone.”

What she really meant was she hadn’t had the opportunity to grill me about my impromptu wedding.

“Go ahead, Henley. Ask away.”

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