Page 109 of Choosing You

“Where’s the letter? Can I see it?”

“No. Because you’ll take it and get rid of it. And I’m not ready to do that yet.”

“I won’t do anything with it. I just want to see it.”

“I don’t want you to read it. It was only meant for me to read and I don’t want anyone else to. Not even Frank. Besides, I already told you what’s in it.”

“But there were no names mentioned, right? She didn’t say who did that to her?”

“No. That’s why I don’t get why this guy is harassing me about it.”

“I don’t know either. But don’t go trying to dig up more about this, Jade. You’ve already talked to Frank about it. So just let it be. Don’t go looking for more answers.”

“I don’t like being bullied like this. I should be able to find out stuff about my own mother without being threatened.”

“Yes, but that’s not going to happen. Promise me you’ll let this go.”

“Fine. Whatever. But I’m keeping the letter.”

I can tell Garret isn’t happy with my decision but I can’t get rid of it. That letter showed a side of my mom that I’d never seen. She was like a whole different person. A person I would’ve actually liked and maybe even loved. And the letter is the only thing I have to prove that person existed.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

“Doyou want to go do something?” I ask, hoping to get Garret’s mind off the letter. “Or are you tired from the trip?”

“I can sleep later. What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t really have anything in mind. I was just asking.”

“I haven’t eaten since this morning. We could go get some food.”

“Okay.” I crawl over him on the bed but he grabs hold of me before I can get up, our faces aligned for a kiss.

“Did I tell you how much I missed you?”

“Yes,” I say, waiting for him to kiss me. He doesn’t.

“Good. Just wanted to make sure I told you.” He lets me go and gets up to grab his coat. “You know, I just realized that nobody has insulted me for an entire week.”

“Funny you should mention that because I was just going to say that you seemed a little out of shape. I mean, you haven’t worked out for what? A week? You’re starting to lose those swimmer abs.”

He yanks his shirt up. “Shit, you’re right. I better hit the gym tomorrow.”

I still find it hilarious how offended he gets by my insults. And the fact that he actually takes them seriously.

The truth is that his abs are freaking amazing. So is his chest, his arms, his shoulders, his ass. Basically he’s in awesome shape. And I want to kiss him so bad right now but I can’t. I told him we had to wait until that first date. Now I totally regret saying it, but I’m insanely stubborn so if I said it I can’t go back and change my mind. If I did, he’d know I was too weak to resist him. Which I am. But he doesn’t need to know that.

We go to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. He orders two meals for himself, claiming that he’s really hungry. But then he only eats part of each meal and makes me help him out. It’s a trick so he can pay for my meal.

I don’t like people paying for stuff for me, even Garret. That makes going out a real problem because I have very little spending money. I normally get mad when he pays, but I keep quiet about it tonight and just eat his Chinese food.

“So what are we doing tomorrow night?” I ask as we’re waiting for the check. “What’s this big date you’ve got planned?”

He leans back in his chair. “I don’t have anything planned. What do you want to do?”

“Garret, you made this huge deal about our first date and now you have nothing planned?”

“Well, there’s not much to do around here. We could go see a movie but that seems kind of boring. And I don’t get the whole movie date thing. You can’t even talk to the person so what’s the point?”

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