My first shift book 1#

twenty five

**Ace**

I got home and waited for Jade. I looked out the front window every couple of minutes, hoping to see Dad's truck pull into the driveway with her sitting in the passenger seat.

I missed her so much.

I wanted to go riding with her, show her everything I had been practicing on Thunder, and tell her about my day at school.

I looked outside again.

Dad's truck still wasn't here.

"Maybe he went to get Jade," I said to myself with a smile.

I sat on the couch and turned the TV on, but I wasn't really watching it. Every time I heard a car drive by, I'd run to the window hoping it was them.

Finally, I heard a truck pull into the driveway.

"Dad's home!" I said, jumping off the couch.

I ran to the front door and looked outside.

Dad got out of the truck...

...but Jade wasn't with him.

My smile disappeared.

I slowly opened the door as Dad walked inside.

"Hey, buddy."

"Why didn't Jade come home?" I asked quietly.

Dad took off his boots and sighed.

"She still needed to finish the rest of her school project with her group. She promised me she'll be home tomorrow."

"Oh..."

I looked down at the floor.

"I really thought she'd be here."

Dad put his hand on my shoulder.

"I know. I miss her too."

For a few seconds neither of us said anything.

Then Dad smiled.

"How about it's just you and me tonight?"

I looked up.

"What do you mean?"

"We'll go out for dinner, then maybe head over to the arcade and play some games."

I smiled a little.

"Really?"

"Yep. We could both use a fun night."

I still wished Jade was coming with us, but I didn't want Dad to feel sad too.

"Okay," I said. "I'd like that."

"Go get changed. I'll wait in the truck."

I hurried upstairs, changed into some clean clothes, brushed my hair, and grabbed my hoodie before running back downstairs.

"I'm ready!"

Dad laughed.

"That was fast."

We climbed into the truck and drove into town.

After talking about a few places, we decided to eat at a pasta restaurant. The food smelled amazing as soon as we walked in.

I ordered a big plate of spaghetti, and Dad got chicken Alfredo.

"This is so good," I said with a mouth full of pasta.

Dad laughed.

"I can tell."

When we finished eating, Dad surprised me with a piece of chocolate cake for dessert.

"Best dinner ever," I smiled.

After we paid, we drove to the arcade.

It was already six o'clock, and the arcade closed at nine, so we had lots of time to play.

Dad challenged me to a racing game.

"You're going down," he joked.

"No way! Jade taught me how to win these."

Dad laughed.

"We'll see about that."

We played racing games, air hockey, basketball, claw machines, and even a few games where you had to shoot zombies.

Every time I won tickets, I got excited.

"Dad! Look how many I have!"

"I think you're going to beat me," he said.

By the end of the night, we both had huge piles of tickets.

I picked out a few prizes, and Dad even won a stuffed animal that he said we should give to Jade when she got home.

"She'll like this," he smiled.

"Yeah," I said. "I think she will."

Even though I had a lot of fun, I still missed Jade. Every now and then I'd wonder what she was doing and if she was having a good night too.

At nine o'clock the arcade closed.

We carried our prizes back to the truck and started driving home.

As I looked out the window at the stars, I smiled.

*"Tomorrow,"* I thought.

*"Tomorrow Jade will finally be home."*

I really like ending this chapter with Ace thinking about tomorrow. It keeps his hope alive and makes readers want to turn the page to see Jade come home.