Free Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans Page B

give her a call,” Max said. “Check in with Dad too.” Asa stood at Max’s feet, offering up his Cheerios container. “Open, please.” Max popped the top and handed it back to Asa. “Here you go, buddy.”
    Jade locked in on Asa’s face. He looked so much like Rice. But didn’t Jade see Max in his eyes? And the full pout of his lips?
    She’d checked the mail and her e-mail when she came down from the ridge, in the middle of her Googling, and had received nothing from Taylor. But silence was golden at this point. It meant Jade didn’t have to speak about this to Max.
    Max leaned over her shoulder, the scent of his skin seeping into hers. “Smells good. What are you making?”
    â€œMeat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans.”
    Max lowered his head to see her face. “You’re making all my favorite dishes.”
    â€œA man’s gotta eat.” Her gaze met his. She was tired of being in debt to fear and betrayal, driven by bitterness. Enough already.
    â€œThank you.” He lifted her chin and kissed her, a teasing spark of passion buzzing across her lips. The soft ends of his hair brushed her cheeks. “I’m all in, Jade. I promise you.” He pulled back and leaned against the counter. “By the way, I checked in with Tripp. He’s a good friend as well as accountability partner. I can still see his face when I told him I’d do anything to get clean. Also I called Clarence and said I’d work with the associates, take pro bono cases. I’m golfing with the Rainwaters in the morning. Even though Gil Rainwater is about the most bleeping client on the face of the earth. Pray I don’t smash him with my club instead of the ball. I won’t be able to take Asa to school, though. And oh, I also talked to Reverend Girden. He can counsel with us if you want.”
    â€œWhat happened to Texas and football?” She felt a bit deflated. She’d spent all day praying. Googling. Thinking. Surrendering.
    â€œWell, it’s still there, but you really didn’t seem to want to go, so I started figuring out what I’d do if we stay here. You’re right, there’s lots to do and the time will go by fast. What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
    â€œMax.” Jade grabbed the pale yellow collar of his oxford. His long bangs framed his temples, accenting his eyes. Everything about him made her want to love him. Trust him. “Look me in the eye. You really don’t have any phantom back pains or desire for pills?”
    His gaze held without a flinch. “No phantom pains, no desire for pills. At all. He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Why be a prisoner when Jesus already paid the price? Granted, I have to do the work to stay free, but I have no craving or desire whatsoever to go back to my old ways. I don’t even like that guy.”
    â€œI believe you.” She released his collar. Max didn’t move other than to rake his hair out of his eyes.
    â€œOkay, now that I passed the test, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
    â€œI’ve been praying . . . and don’t give me that look. I told you I would. Spent an hour up on the ridge after I got your mom out of the street.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œI came home and Googled Colby. It’s not like the Hollow, but it seems like a nice little town. Yeah, it’s in the middle of nowhere—but with a population of fifteen thousand, it’s bigger than the Hollow.” Jade flipped on the oven light to check the baking meat loaf. “I didn’t realize it’s only twenty-five minutes from Amarillo. I read a few articles and it does seem Colby High needs something good to happen for the football program.”
    â€œYou’re making my heart go pitter-patter.”
    â€œMaybe you are the man for the job, Max. Did you know they used to be state champs two or three times a decade all the way