Page 137 of Choosing You

She reaches up and puts her tiny hand around mine. “You’re prettier than his other girlfriends.”

“Lilly!” Garret leans down like he’s telling her a secret. “You’re not supposed to talk about my old girlfriends.”

She ignores him and focuses all her attention on me. “Do you want to see my room?”

“Oh, um, I don’t know.” I look at Garret.

“Maybe later, Lilly. We just got here.”

“Okay.” She looks disappointed, but then perks up again. “Do you want some punch? It’s pink!”

“Sure,” I say, not wanting to disappoint her again. I haven’t been around kids much and generally don’t like them, but so far Lilly is winning me over. She keeps a tight hold on my hand and pulls on me to follow her. I glance back at Garret, who’s smiling watching the scene.

She takes me to a long table filled with assorted desserts. A crystal punch bowl sits at the end. “Two glasses, please,” she says politely to the server. She motions me to bend down so she can whisper. “The other one’s for my brother. I already had one. I’m not supposed to have any more. It’s too much sugar.”

I whisper back. “You can take a sip of mine. I won’t tell.”

The server hands me a glass and I offer it to Lilly. She takes a sip, then gives it back to me. “I have to go to bed at 8, so if you want to see my room, come find me and I’ll show you. Bye.” She gives me a quick hug, then gives one to Garret, and races off into the crowd.

“How old is she?” I ask Garret.

“Six. But if you ask her, she’ll say six and two months. She always includes the months.”

“She’s so cute.”

“Yeah, she is. Thanks for being nice to her. Myfakegirlfriends just ignore her or tell her to go away.”

“How could they ignore her? She’s so sweet. And very polite.”

He kisses my cheek. “You’re kind of sweet yourself, even though you try to hide it.”

“I am NOT sweet. You take that back!”

“You’re totally sweet. But I won’t tell anyone.” He sets his punch down. “I don’t really like punch, but Lilly always gives me a glass of it at these things.”

I try the punch. “It’s good. Very fruity.”

“It’s meant for the kids although I don’t see many kids here.” We look around at the room. It’s full of gray-haired old men and women.

“Do you know these people?”

“A few. But not many.”

“Where are all the photographers?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they’re showing up later. I guess we should go find my dad and get this over with. Or maybe I should wait until he’s had a few drinks.”

“See? I knew I shouldn’t have come. Now you’re all nervous. And so am I.”

“It’s fine, Jade. He has to get used to us dating.”

A server walks by with a tray of appetizers; bacon wrapped around a chunk of chicken. It doesn’t seem upscale enough for this crowd, not that I have a clue what these people eat. But it looks good so I take one while Garret scans the room.

“My dad’s over there by Mr. Sinclair. Let’s go. You can meet him. Plus, my dad won’t yell at me with him standing there.”

“You want me to meet the guy who might be president? I don’t know, Garret. Why don’t we wait until they’re done talking?” I quickly finish my appetizer and hand my plate to one of the servers.

“Come on.” Before I can talk him out of it, he takes my hand and we meander through the crowd across the room.

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