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She didn’t answer right away. “It’s one of those things you just know. Other people will usually tell you to be smart. But that doesn’t make them right. You know that song, ‘Reckless Love?’ ”
“How could I forget that heated Sunday school debate?” Apparently the worship song rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, as they found out one Sunday morning.
“Right. Well, I get why people debate. It sounds on the surface like it’s insulting God, calling him reckless. But the song is more of a human picture to show how big God’s love is. The way God loves us—well, if it were a friend of yours, you’d tell them to give up. That it’s not worth it to chase after someone who’s running away from you or rebelling. But God comes after us like that. In the human sense that looks reckless.”
“Wow. I don’t remember you saying all that in Sunday school.”
“Yeah, well. I don’t always talk a lot in big groups. But that’s what I think about the song and about love. Sometimes real love is reckless. It’s foolish.”
Jackson had certainly done a lot of foolish things recently, but not the good kind of foolish. Flying off the handle at Jenna without getting the full story. Punching Beau in the face. And then being too cowardly to push when Jenna said she just wanted to be friends.
“So, you’d suggest in this case, that I do the reckless thing?”
Mercer smiled. “Definitely. I have an idea actually. Of a very reckless thing you could do.”
Jackson laughed. “Of course you do. Can I think about it for a while?”
“Sometimes taking too long to decide is making a decision.”
“Okay, Mr. Miyagi.”
“Who?”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Karate Kid? Ever heard of it? Never mind. I keep forgetting that I’m in a different generation. You are wise beyond your years. And yet you know so little about iconic movies of the past.”
“Thanks, I think? Anyway, this is as pushy as I get, but the idea I have is time-sensitive. You probably shouldn’t wait.” She lingered in the doorway, hand on the frame. “For what it’s worth, I really think that you should choose to make the stupid decision. Be foolish, Jackson.”
Jackson pictured Jenna’s face, remembering the feel of her in his arms as they danced on her back porch. His heart seemed to rocket back to life again, roaring in his chest. For the first time in weeks, Jackson felt like something deep inside him was waking up again.
“Fine. I’ll make the foolish choice. Now, sit down and tell me what it is I just agreed to.”