Page 88 of Come Break My Heart Again

My morning run was the main topic of conversation at breakfast. But no one mentioned the hose incident. That felt like a private moment, somehow, between me and Elle. The first happy one we’ve shared in a long time.

“Where’s Scout?” I ask.

“Asleep in his crate. You really wore him out.”

“He’s a good running buddy.”

Elle nods. “We run along the Charles most mornings.”

“That sounds nice.”

“You should get a dog,” she tells me.

“Maybe one day. Trailer is pretty tight with the three of us.”

I study it carefully, but Elle’s expression remains completely smooth. If my mom and Cormac had played it this cool, I’d have had no clue about her visits.

“I’m sure they’re happy to have you home.”

I nod, then draw the four tic-tac-toe lines in the sand between us.

Elle’s inhale is sharp and immediate. “What are we playing for?”

“An honest answer. Winner gets one question.”

“And if it’s a cat’s game?”

I guess we’re a cat’s game after all.

Does she remember the letters she sent me? Did she memorize them the way I did with the response I never sent?

“No winner.”

“Deal.” She takes the center spot, same as always.

My X goes in the top right corner. I’m playing fast, planning three steps ahead, hoping Elle will react impulsively and provide me an opening.

Two moves later, I see it. The spot I can mark that sets up two opportunities for three X’s in a row. She can only block one.

Elle realizes the same, her hand falling to her side and then wrapping around her knees. “Congratulations.”

Her face is aimed toward the ocean, so all I can read is her profile. She’s nervous, if I had to guess. Unsure what I’m going to ask.

“Why’d you go to law school?”

“What?” She glances over, forehead wrinkled with confusion.

“That’s my question. Why’d you go to law school?”

“That’syour one question?”

“Yep.” I lean back on my palms, waiting.

“Um, I … well …”

I hide the smirk that wants to appear, not wanting to make her feel more self-conscious. I know Elle must have a preparedresponse to this question. One she’s used in job interviews and carefully phrased in essays on applications. But I figured she didn’t have an honest one ready, and I was right.

“I couldn’t think of something I’d rather do,” she finally answers. “There was no secret dream of being an astronaut or a ballerina or a surgeon. And if there was nothing else I wanted instead—nothing else I wantedmore—I figured, why not? There’s a lot you can do with a law degree. It’s a smart career move.”

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