Page 65 of Falling Into You

Jacob tried again and again; there was nothing. He leaned forward, placing his head against the steering wheel for half a second, then sat up again and looked over at her. “She’s dead.”

“No. Dead? Likedeaddead?” Rory said.

“I think so,” Jacob replied. “Shit. We were so close.”

“Call your parents! They can drive you!” she said.

“They already left,” he told her. “Chad had to get to a birthday party.”

“Ugh!” Rory got out of the truck and looked around. Was it possible her mother and Owen were still here somewhere? This could not be happening. She’d promised Jacob he’d get to his soccer game. He’d told the coach he’d be there. He couldn’t just not show up. He might get thrown off the team for good this time. She was about to text on her family’s group chat when she heard her mom’s voice.

“Rory? Is everything okay?”

Rory started and turned around. Her mother and Owen were standing right behind her.

“No! Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you haven’t left yet. Jacob’s truck is dead. We’re supposed to be running to his soccer game in Bergen right now. Is there any way we can take him?”

“Yes, of course.” Rory’s mother turned to look at Jacob. “You want a ride, kid?”

“Are you serious?” Jacob said.

“As a sold-out box office,” she replied. “The show must go on!”

“Heck yes!” Jacob said.

“Let’s go!” Owen cheered, giving a little jump with his heels kicked up behind him.

“Wow, someone got into the cheerleading spirit,” Jacob said.

“Grab your stuff!” Rory’s mom said, then turned to head over to her car.

“Mom,” Rory said, catching up to her mother and grabbing her arm. “I know you were probably hoping to get over to the theater, so I... I really appreciate this. You barely even know Jacob.”

Jacob and Owen walked past them, Jacob toting his duffel bag, and the two of them got into the Graham family car. A cool breeze tugged at Rory’s hair, and it barely moved thanks to all the hair spray she’d unloaded into it that morning.

“Well, he’s important to you, so he’s important to me. Though you’re really going to have to catch me up on what happened with Tucker one of these days.”

“It’s a long story,” Rory said. “Actually, it’s a short story. He just didn’t deserve me.”

“That’s my girl.” Her mom pulled her into a hug, and Rory closed her eyes, pressing her cheek into her mother’s shoulder.

“We gotta go! Waze says fifty-five minutes!” Owen shouted out the window.

Rory and her mom broke apart and ran for the car.

Jacob

Jacob was already sweating by the time he got from the parking lot to the soccer field. After profusely thanking Rory’s mom and getting one more kiss from Rory for good luck, he’d sprinted the whole way, which was really saying something considering he had to bypass the baseball diamond and the football field to get there. The team was just finishing up stretching behind the goal when he arrived, stopping with his hands on his hips right next to his coach.

“Nice hustle,” Coach Fitz said without looking at him. He kept his eyes on the rest of the team. Jacob saw Tucker smack Kai’s chest and nod toward him, and within seconds the entire team was aware that he’d arrived. “Glad you could make it.”

“Glad to be here, Coach,” Jacob said between breaths.

“Get out there and stretch your hammies. We’re going to need to put you to good use tonight.” Coach bleated hiswhistle and shouted, “Frankensteins!”

Jacob fell in next to Cody, who had finally been medically cleared to play. Cody slapped his hand. “The dream team together again,” Cody said as they kicked their legs up straight and walked forward. “Heard you guys won the whole thing earlier.”

“Yeah. It was pretty crazy,” Jacob told him. He wasn’t sure how Cody felt about Jacob being on the cheerleading squad. They hadn’t exactly talked about it. “First time Woodmont won regionals.”