Page 26 of The Heart That Breaks
“No. He had burned it after selling that song. I guess he got scared he was going to get caught. Which he did.”
“Did he go to jail?”
“My dad let it go. He said maybe it had been a blessing in disguise that he had to start over with his first publishing gig. Losing that notebook made him more determined than ever to write the best stuff he could.”
“That’s pretty admirable. I don’t know if I could have done that.”
“Me either.”
The night air has dropped a few degrees since Nathan arrived, and I shiver a little despite my jacket. I zip up the front and slip the sleeves down over my hands.
“I don’t want to leave you out here tonight,” he says.
“We’re fine,” I say, reaching out to rub Henry’s head.
“You can’t keep doing this, Ann-Elizabeth,” he says.
“It’s not forever. One winter won’t kill me.”
“It might,” he says in a serious voice.
“If it gets too cold, I’ll sneak Henry into my room and just risk Lance finding out.”
“You got any metal cutters to get that lock off his neck?”
“No.”
“I’ll bring you some next time I come.”
Something warm and promising unfurls inside me.Next time I come. I’d like to deny how happy the thought makes me but what good does it do to try and fool your own self?“That’s nice,” I say in a low voice.
“It’s not right that you two are living like this because of him.”
“I’m not sure right counts for much in this world,” I say, thinking then of Brandy and the unfairness of her life at home.
“Please go with me to Homecoming, Ann-Elizabeth,” Nathan says, surprising me with the abrupt change of subject. “If you don’t have a good time, I’ll never ask you out again.”
I let my gaze meet his, unable to deny the earnestness in his eyes. I hear Brandi’s voice.This is a good thing. You deserve a good thing.“You don’t give up easily, do you?”
“Apparently not.”
“Okay,” I say before I can stop myself.
“Really?” he asks, a grin breaking across his face.
“You’re not really shocked, are you? Have you ever been turned down for a date?”
“Well, no, but I thought for sure you were going to be the first time.”
I laugh a little, shaking my head. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
He jumps to his feet, pulling me up beside him. My chest bumps against his, and a cascade of feeling flutters through me. I draw in a sharp breath, righting myself with a hand on his arm. He looks down at me, our eyes revealing things our lips aren’t yet ready to admit.
“You should get going,” I manage in a barely audible voice. “It’s late.”
“I don’t want to leave you out here,” he says, sounding truly worried.
“I’m fine,” I say. “We’re used to it.”
