Page 100 of Always Us

“Is this about Carson?”

“Yeah. But I’ll just talk to him tomorrow.”

I don’t want to tell Jade about Roth. Not yet. Not until I find out why he was here and what he wanted.

I need to know where he went, and if he left alone or with my dad. I hope their argument didn’t escalate beyond where it was when I left to go upstairs with Lilly. Because if it did, there’s a good chance one of them is dead, or will be soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

24

JADE

Garret and I go upstairs. It’s too early to go to bed but I want to change out of this dress. On the way to Garret’s room, we stop at Lilly’s door.

Garret knocks once before going inside. “Hey, Lilly. I’m back. Is the movie over?”

Back? Was Garret in here earlier? When did he have time to watch a movie with Lilly?

I walk into her room. She’s sitting on her bed, hugging her stuffed panda. I see her red eyes and tear-stained cheeks and feel horrible that she was left up here all alone.

Garret sits down next to her. “Hey, come over here.”

She scoots over to where he’s sitting. He picks her up and holds her as he leans back into a stack of pillows arranged against the headboard. She sets her panda down and hugs his chest.

I’m not sure if I should stay or leave. Garret’s the only one who can help Lilly right now and I feel like I need to give them time alone.

“Jade, why don’t you go change clothes?” Garret says. “Wear something comfortable. It’s going to be a long movie night. It’s a princess marathon.”

Lilly lifts her head up and smiles. “It is?”

“That’s right. A whole night of princess fun. Just you, Jade, and me.”

She wiggles away from him and hops off the bed. “I’ll get Jade a doll. You can have my panda, Garret.”

I try not to laugh as I watch Lilly pick from her assortment of dolls. I still have the doll she gave me last year. Garret told me I could get rid of it, but I can’t do it. It’s special because Lilly wanted me to have it.

“I’ll be right back.” I go down to Garret’s room and change into jeans and a t-shirt. I’m kind of excited about this movie marathon. I know it sounds strange because princesses aren’t my thing, but it’s not about the movies. After the night I’ve had, I just like the idea of being with Garret and Lilly, in her bright pink room, all three of us squished together on her tiny twin bed watching cartoons.

When I get back to her room she’s got fluffy pink throw pillows lined up on one side of the headboard. I guess that’s my side and Garret gets the other, with Lilly’s spot in between us. She has a doll with brown hair and a purple dress sitting on my side of the bed.

“I’ll be right back.” Garret heads down to his room to change.

I take my place on Lilly’s bed, holding the doll in my lap. “Who’s this?”

“That’s Lexi. She looks like you and she has a purple dress like you had when I met you.”

“She does look like me.” I hold up the doll, inspecting her dress.

Lilly sits next to me, holding a doll with long blond hair and a light green dress. She leans against me, brushing her doll’s hair with a tiny hairbrush. “Jade?”

“Yeah?”

“Were you sad when your mom died?”

“Um, yeah. I was sad.”

“And then it went away?”

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