*Linc*
I ended up taking Jess to a nearby park where we could have the privacy we needed. I put her on a bench and waited until she was ready to talk. Even though she was trying to hold it together, I could tell Jess was hurting.
After a few minutes she turned and gave me another unconvincing smile. “I really am fine, Linc," she tried to tell me.
“Jess, you look the same way you did when I found you after that football game," I pointed out.
She gave a small, pained laugh. “Yeah, I wasn't doing well after that," she admitted.
“And you're not doing well here."
“I'm fine, Linc," Jess repeated more forcefully, but no more convincingly.
I wasn't going to get anywhere like this, and I could tell I was going to need to take a more direct approach.
“Let me ask you something, Jess," I bega
