Page 1 of Always Us

CHAPTER ONE

1

JADE

Yesterday when I got home from class, Garret was acting really strange. Actually, he’s been acting strange for a couple days now. It’s like he’s trying to act normal but something’s off. He seems on edge but not outwardly. It’s one of those things that, when you know someone really well, you notice tiny details that tell you something’s not right.

I asked Garret about it last night and he said everything’s fine. But he’s not fine and I think I know why. Ten years ago last Monday his mom was killed in a plane crash. He says that day doesn’t bother him anymore but I know it does and I think that’s why he’s not himself right now.

I thought he’d feel better after seeing his dad, but it didn’t seem to help. Yesterday Pearce came by the house while I was at class. He was in California for a meeting and wanted to stop and see Garret and me. But he only stayed for an hour so I never got to see him. When I got home, Garret seemed even more out of it than before I left. It was like his mind was elsewhere. I asked him about his dad’s visit and he just said they talked, but he didn’t say what they talked about.

This morning, as we were getting ready to leave for the airport, he still seemed off, but he keeps telling me nothing’s wrong. I think he’s just saying that because tomorrow is Thanksgiving and he wants me to enjoy the holiday. If something’s wrong, I know he wouldn’t tell me until we get home next Monday.

“Jade, we’re almost there.” Garret kisses the top of my head. I’m leaning against his shoulder, which is where I’ve slept for the past few hours. We’re on the plane to Des Moines and the pilot just announced that we’ll be landing in a few minutes.

I sit up and rub my neck. “I must’ve slept funny. I can barely move my neck.”

“Here.” He reaches behind me and starts massaging it for me.

“Mmm. That feels sooo good.” I close my eyes, tilting my head side to side. He hits a pressure point that releases the knot in my neck. “Oh, yeah. Right there.”

“You like that?” He puts a little more pressure on it.

“Yes. Don’t stop.” He puts his thumb at the base of my neck and runs it up to my hairline but I need more pressure. “That’s good. But go deeper.” I lean forward a little.

I hear him laugh, then clear his throat. “Jade.” He takes his hand off my neck.

“What?” I sit up and see the old lady across the aisle staring at us with a disapproving look on her face. I peer back at the crack between our seats and see two businessmen working on their laptops. They smile when they see me looking at them. I replay the words I just said and realize how it sounded. Shit!

I whip back around, my cheeks on fire. “Garret!” I whisper. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“About what?” He’s trying not to laugh.

“Why didn’t you tell me people were listening?”

“We’re crammed in here, Jade. Everyone can hear. They don’t even have to try to listen.”

“I was talking about my neck!” I’m still whispering. “That’s it! They saw you rubbing my neck. So why are they looking at me that way?”

He leans in, lowering his voice. “Because you just recited the dialogue from a porn film. Doesn’t matter which one. They’re all the same.” He laughs. “It sounded like you were auditioning for one of them.”

“This is not funny.” I bury my face in his chest as he hugs me.

“Actually, it’s freaking hilarious,” he says by my ear.

“I’ve never seen porn. How would I know what they say?”

“You’ve never seen porn?” He keeps his voice low.

“No! When would I have seen porn?” I whisper. “I don’t have those kind of movies.”

“You can see it on the Internet.”

“I don’t go to those sites!”

He looks at me. “Seriously? You’ve never seen it?”

“No.” I cross my arms over my chest. Now I feel like an idiot. He’s right. How could I be 20 years old and have not seen porn? Not that I’m interested in that stuff, but still.

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