Page 89 of The Heartbreak Blitz

“I’d ask you if you want a ride to your grandma’s, but I wouldn’t want to invade your privacy anymore.”

He turns, bounding down the steps and marching across the sidewalk toward his car. What little was left of my heart severs completely.

At the gate, he suddenly turns. “You know, I’m really glad you did this. Now, I can find someone who wants to love because you actually showed me that’s what I want.” He throws up his hands. “Ironic, huh?”

He gets in his car and starts it. He lingers there, glaring at me through the window, but I stay in place. His stare turns colder, and then he looks away. But what really gets to me is the exact moment he drives away. He doesn’t look back. He doesn’t peer at me wistfully, he just drives and then it’s like he was never here at all. Ever.

I sink to my knees just inside the house, all the fight leaving me in an instant. I clutch at my heart, the cries escaping me foreign and unbidden. He left.

Like everyone else. My mom. My grandma. Checked out just like my dad.

An animal-like cry pours from my mouth before I curl into a ball and sob on the wooden floor.

25

Cade

An arctic chill passes through me as I run up the front steps to my grandma’s house. Inside, I can already hear my family chatting and laughing. I don’t bother ringing the doorbell, just let myself in and take off my shoes.

“Cade!”

It’s my mom first, coming over with her hands outstretched. Almost like she’d been looking out the window for when I pulled up. “Mom.” I tug her close, sinking into her hug. She smells like lavender and safety, and I hold on for longer than normal.

She presses her palm against my cheek. “My boy. How was the drive?”

“Not bad. I made good time. Not too many cars.”

“Perfect.” She leads me into the living room, and I’m bombarded with images of holidays past. All of us, just like this. A chorus of “heys” and “hellos” echo through the room. My dad rounds the table and brings me in for a hug, as well as my sister.It’s cousins next, and then I sneak over to Nan at the stove and give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Anything I can do?”

“Put the rolls in the oven?”

“You got it, Nan.”

“You’re a good boy.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. On the ride here, anger and hurt turned to ache and regret. I said some things I shouldn’t have. I know how Charley is.

She had been making such good strides about opening up to people. She has a regular friendship with Kenna. The guys on the team all talk to her. It literally never crossed my mind that she would react that way.

I pushed her too far.

Then I left her standing on her porch. In the moment, I actually felt vindicated, but now I want to text her and make sure she’s okay.

But at the same time, I don’t know why I’m never good enough for anyone. I laid my heart out there for her. I told her I loved her, and she responded by screaming at me. Not only telling me she can’t say the words in return but yelled at me to stop saying them.

The blast of heat from the open oven fries my face for a second before I push the sheet pan in and hurry up and close it. “All done, Nan. Anything else?”

“Yes, I need a hug.”

I turn, finding her wiping her hands on her apron, then opening her arms wide. “Aw, Nan. I’ve missed you. You’ve been watching my games?”

“Don’t miss a single one.”

I squeeze her, and she lays her head on my shoulder. I’ve been taller than her since puberty.

“I tell everyone who’ll listen about you. The ladies at the grocery store. The girl who does my hair. The mechanic who worked on my car last week.”

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