Page 70 of Fierce Hope
“I guess.” He paused the game and fiddled with the edge of the blanket draped over the couch. “It’s weird getting to know him now. He used to be gone all the time when I was little. Mom—she kinda made me think he only cared about traveling the world with guns. So I grew up with this … picture of him that wasn’t great. Like he’d rather be the big bad SEAL than be a dad.” He exhaled, eyes on the game, as if it might hold answers. “But now—I kinda get it. It’s not that simple, you know?”
Jade’s chest tightened at the honesty in his voice. “Your dad’s a good man,” she said gently. “He protects people. Maybe your mom had her reasons for being angry, but it doesn’t mean she was right about him.”
DJ nodded, face pinched. “I just feel bad that it took me this long to figure out he’s … cool, I guess. Don’t tell him I said that.” A small, almost shy grin tugged at his lips. “I know you guys talk.”
A wave of affection rolled through Jade. She forced herself not to dwell on how complicated her dynamic with Deke had become after revealing her own checkered past. “I won’t tell,” she promised, pressing a hand to her chest dramatically. “Scout’s honor.”
He snorted. “Thanks.” Then, carefully, as though crossing into dangerous territory, he said, “But, like, you and him talk a lot, right? I can see how he looks at you. He ... he likes you.”
Jade felt her face grow warm. She turned her gaze to the flickering TV, searching for a distraction. “He’s protective, that’s all. It’s his nature to watch out for people in trouble.”
DJ rolled his eyes hard. “Nah, it’s more than that. Trust me, I know Dad. He doesn’t do the big puppy-dog eyes for other girls. I mean, women. And you—” He trailed off but gave her a pointed look. “You like him, too.”
Her cheeks burned. She tried to laugh it off. “You sure you’re only fifteen? You sound like a meddling best friend from a rom-com.”
DJ shrugged. “I see how you guys are. People talk about it at the church, too.”
She gave a half-hearted shrug, eyes fixed on the swirl of game icons. “It’s complicated. He’s a warrior, a SEAL, a dad with big responsibilities. I doubt there’s room for me in that.”
He let out a theatrical groan, pressing the game controller buttons to flick through menus. “Why do adults make everything so hard? You either like each other or you don’t.”
For a moment, Jade thought about explaining that they did like each other but her past—and Deke’s complicated life—stood in the way. Instead, she forced herself to exhale slowly. “We do. Trust me, it’s just not that simple.”
He rolled his eyes again, turning back to the game. “Fine. Whatever.” Then, in a quieter tone, he added, “Just think about it. I mean, I’d be okay with it. Not that you need my permission,” he mumbled, cheeks pink.
A sudden surge of affection welled in Jade, so intense it hurt. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means a lot.”
DJ gave a quick nod, as if embarrassed by his own sincerity. He resumed tapping at the game’s start screen, effectively ending the conversation. Jade cleared her throat, deciding a subject change was prudent. “You want more pizza or something else to drink?”
“Pizza,” he said without hesitation.
“On it.” Jade hopped up, heading to her small kitchen. She rifled through the fridge, pulling out the half-empty box and placing the remaining pizza on microwave safe plates. The warmth of the moment stuck with her. This fleeting sense of normalcy—she’d never pictured herself caring for a teenagerand feeling … like part of a family. A bittersweet smile tugged her lips.I guess I should enjoy it while it lasts.
As she closed the fridge door, something outside the window caught her eye. A quick flicker of movement, or maybe just swirling snow? She paused, squinting at the dark glass. Nothing but the faint reflection of the kitchen lights stared back. She shivered anyway, a sense of unease prickling along her skin.
“Everything good?” DJ called from the living room.
Jade forced a smile, stepping away from the window. “Just me being paranoid. The wind, I think.”
He accepted that explanation with a shrug.
Jade microwaved the food and returned to the couch, setting the pizza on the coffee table. DJ paused his game again, and for the next few minutes, they chatted about school—he asked for her help with geometry at some point, and she teased him about taking the long way to history class so he could walk past a certain girl’s locker.
Gradually,the conversation wound down. They switched the TV away from the game to a streaming service, half-watching a comedy movie. Jade’s heart felt lighter each time DJ laughed or tossed a piece of pepperoni at her in playful protest. Despite the swirl of doubts in her mind, she loved these simple, heartfelt moments. She’d miss him, she realized, once Deke came back. She was already attached.
Just as the movie’s credits began to roll, a loud pounding on the front door shattered the quiet. Jade jolted upright, nearly knocking over the empty soda cans on the table. DJ straightened too, the flicker of alarm crossing his face.
“Who would be here this late?” Jade murmured. Her pulse thudded, that earlier unease flaring.
The pounding came again, more urgent this time. Jade’s stomach twisted. She motioned for DJ to stay back, then carefully approached the door, flipping on the overhead entryway light. “Who is it?”
“Jade?” a familiar voice called, breathless. “It’s—Sarah. Please, open up. Hurry!”
Sarah?
Jade shot a worried glance at DJ, who rose from the couch, phone in hand just in case. The handle rattled under Sarah’s frantic attempts.
Despite the other woman’s urgency, Jade stole a look out the window. Sure enough, Sarah stood at the door, shivering in her down coat, stocking cap dusted with snow. Behind the woman, the landing was deserted. The guest parking lot, too.
