Page 109 of Always Us

“He was speeding and crashed into a telephone pole. It sparked a fire and the car exploded. This just happened so the news didn’t have many details yet.”

“Does your dad know?”

“Yeah, he had the TV on in his office and that’s when we found out.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Yeah, me, too.” Garret hugs me as he says it, and again, his hug is a little too tight.

“Garret, is something wrong?”

He pulls back. “No. Why?”

“Nothing. I just—never mind.”

I need a moment to process this. Roth and Holton are dead. The two men who were trying to control Garret, trying to take over his life, are gone. They’re really gone. I feel like we should celebrate. That’s wrong, I know. I shouldn’t celebrate people dying, but feeling safer and more secure is something to celebrate.

“Let’s go out,” I say to Garret.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere. Go get your coat.”

Garret gets his jacket from the closet. “I know it’s early, but do you want to go out for lunch?”

“What about your dad and Lilly? Should we invite them to come with us?”

“I don’t think so. My dad wants to spend some time with her since he hasn’t been around much, so it’s probably better if we leave. We’ll see them this afternoon.” He opens the door. “You driving?”

“No.” I hand him the keys. “Driving your dad’s car makes me nervous.”

He goes over to it and opens my door. “Why does it make you nervous?”

“Because if I get in an accident, he’ll yell at me.”

Garret laughs as I get in the car. “He would never yell at you, Jade, especially about wrecking his car. He’d just fix it or buy another one.” He gets in the driver’s side and pulls out of the circular driveway. “So what did you decide about lunch? Yes? No?”

“Yes. I’m starving. Where should we go?”

“You’ll see.”

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“It’s a surprise.” He smiles. “Because I know how much you love surprises.”

He drives out of the fancy rich neighborhood his dad lives in and goes down some winding roads for about five minutes, then turns off onto another small road. I recognize the area and know exactly where we’re going.

“The Mexican place?” I ask him as I see the sign for it just a few feet ahead. It’s the place he took me to on our first official date.

“I know you’re dying to hear that guy sing again.” He pulls into the lot and parks. “And no laughing this time.”

“That’s impossible,” I say, already laughing. “You know that, right? Because I’m telling you right now, there will be laughing.”

He takes my hand as we walk to the entrance. A man with a huge sombrero opens the door. “Welcome, amigos!”

I burst out laughing. I don’t know what my problem is, but this whole place makes me laugh. For some reason, I find everything funny here.

“Jade, stop.” Garret’s laughing, too, but at me, not the sombrero guy.

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