Page 117 of Choosing You

Garret blocks me from Blake again. “It doesn’t matter anymore. My dad doesn’t care about Jade and me.”

“Yeah, right.” Blake dips his head in the water, then brings it up again, shaking it like a dog. “I’m heading to Decker’s place around 9 before all the good liquor’s gone. What time are you going?”

Garret sighs. “For the last time, I’m not going.”

“You’re ditching me again for that bitch?”

“I told you never to call her that!” For a second, I’m sure Garret’s going to hit him but he doesn’t.

“Why are you wasting your time with her? You’re not even fucking her.”

“Real nice, Blake. Like I’d really want to hang out with someone like you. Jade, let’s go.” Garret turns and gives me a look to get out of the water.

Blake continues to talk as Garret and I get out of the pool. “Hey, Ohio. Has he told you about all the girls he’s been with?”

“Ignore him,” Garret says quietly to me. “Go change and I’ll meet you outside.”

“Garret’s been with at least 10 girls,” Blake says. “Maybe more. I’m sure he hasn’t told me about all of them. And with that record, you know he’s not sitting around waiting for you. He’s getting it from somewhere.”

“Just shut the fuck up!” Garret yells it at Blake from the edge of the pool.

Blake keeps quiet, but I feel him watching me as I walk over to get my things. It makes me sick to think he’s checking me out. I quickly grab a towel and cover myself, then go into the girls’ locker room. I’d planned to shower, but now I just want to leave. I change into my clothes, then take a few minutes to dry my hair.

Garret is waiting outside, his hair still wet.

“Garret, it’s freezing. You should go dry your hair. You’re going to have ice forming on your head.”

“I’ll be okay. Let’s just get out of here.” He’s so angry. Garret is almost always in a good mood, but Blake always finds a way to put Garret in a bad mood. It’s another reason I hate him.

“Does he usually swim at that time?” I ask as we’re walking back.

“He usually doesn’t swim at all on Saturdays. I don’t know why he was there.”

We don’t speak again until we’re back at my room. I’m so pissed at Blake. He ruined everything. Now Garret’s in a crappy mood and I’m left thinking about what Blake said about all of Garret’s old girlfriends. I hope Blake was exaggerating. I don’t want to believe that Garret has slept with 10 girls by the age of 19. Or more than 10.

“I guess I’ll see you later,” I say going into my room. “So what time tonight?”

He stands in the hallway, not responding.

I nudge his arm. “Garret? Are we still going out tonight?”

“What? Yes. Of course we’re still going out. Why wouldn’t we go out?”

“You seem really mad, so I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to.”

He sighs. “Sorry. Blake just really gets to me sometimes. I can’t believe the shit that comes out of his mouth.”

“Yeah. He’s not my favorite person.”

Garret puts his hands on my shoulders. “I swear to God, Jade, I was ready to beat the living crap out of him for calling you that again. And for saying all that shit about you. And us.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t even paying attention to what he said.”

“Yes, you were. And now you probably think I tell him stuff about us. But you know I’d never do that, right?”

“Yeah. I guess. I mean, I don’t know what you two talk about.”

“We don’t talk about you and me. I don’t tell him anything about you. Or us.”

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