Pieces Excerpt
From Chapter 6
She almost didnât recognize him behind the wheel of his fatherâs green pickup truck. His hair was longer than she remembered. For a moment, her mind spun. She dropped the box in her hands and it fell to the floor, spilling the pink and white candies everywhere. He was parking almost directly across the street from her now. As stupid as it was, she hadnât planned this far. Now he was getting out of the truck.
She had long since rolled up her window and turned on the air conditioning, so it wasnât as if she could yell to him. Instead, she opened her door as fast as she could and tripped over her feet as she stumbled out onto the road. She shut the door and the sound made Jesse stop and look up before he could shut the truckâs door. His mouth dropped open.
âNaomi?â
âI heard you were on parole.â She brushed a sweaty hand across her forehead. âI ⌠Iââ
âIâm not allowed to see you,â he interrupted, taking a step back. But he had nowhere to go except the truck. His hand lingered on the open door. âIâll be sent back to prison if I attempt to contact or see you. Iâm not even sure I can see you after my parole is over. It might be long time.â He looked at his hands. âI have a hearing next week. Iâll find out more then.â
Even from across the street, Naomi could see the muscles in his jaw tightening with anger. She knew it wasnât aimed at her. âBut you arenât attempting,â she said. âIâve taken that initiative, so itâs not your fault.â
âYes, but if my parole officer finds out about this, he wonât be happy. I was lucky enough to be released to my father. If youâre found here, Iâll be in more trouble than you can imagine.â His face was stiff, his body tense. Naomi realized what a mistake she had made, but there he was, right in front of her. It was too much. She took a step forward, relieved the road was quiet with no traffic at the moment. Jesse glanced down the street, then back to her. His expression softened as she walked toward him. Each of her steps were heavy, as if she didnât believe she would ever reach him.