Page 141 of Choosing You

“Ava and I are no longer together,” Garret says, glaring back at her. “Jade’s my girlfriend now. I thought you knew, but apparently my dad forgot to tell you.” He glances around the room. “So where are all the photographers tonight?”

“Mr. Sinclair wouldn’t allow them in until he gives his speech later.” Her tone is cold as ice. “He wanted to enjoy the party without cameras following him everywhere.” She turns to me. “So, Jade, how is school going?”

“Fine.” I look right at her and smile, not letting her get to me.

“Did Lilly go to bed, yet?” Garret asks, taking the attention off me. “I wanted to say goodnight to her.”

“She’s already asleep.” The Lilly question took Katherine by surprise and now she doesn’t seem to remember what she was going to say to us.

“Tell her to call me this week. Goodbye, Katherine.” Garret quickly walks away, still holding my hand. “That wasn’t so bad,” he says as we enter yet another huge room. This one has a dance floor and a band playing off to the side.

“She gave us the death stare, just like your dad gave you earlier,” I remind him.

“They give me that look all the time. That’s nothing new.” He turns to face me. “Do you want to dance?”

The dance floor is full of couples who are much older than us. “I don’t know. I’m not very good.”

“It’s not that hard, Jade. You just sway side to side while a hot guy holds you in his arms.”

“So we’re not even dancing together?” I tease.

“You see?” he says as he finds us a spot on the dance floor. “Shit like that’s why I think you don’t like me.”

“I was joking. Now show me what to do.”

“Haven’t you been to dances before?”

“Yes, but I didn’t really dance. I just hung out there.”

He places my hands on his shoulders, then puts his hands on my hips. “Start with this.”

The longer we dance the closer we get. After a while, my head is resting on his chest and his arms are fully around me. I close my eyes, pretending nobody else is around. But then I feel Garret’s muscles tense up and open my eyes to see his dad standing there, grabbing Garret’s arm.

I quickly pull away from him.

“Garret, I need to talk to you.” Oddly, his dad almost sounds more concerned than angry.

“Dad, I know what you’re going to say. And I’m not going to have this conversation with you anymore. Jade and I are together. Deal with it.”

“Come with me to the study.”

“I’m busy right now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Listen to me!” His dad raises his voice. “We need to talk. Now!”

“Come on, Jade. Let’s go.” Garret grabs my hand and starts walking out, with Mr. Kensington following right behind. “And by the way, Dad, I’m not going to the Caymans for Thanksgiving. Tell your wife. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

“Garret!” Mr. Kensington almost yells it. He stops following us, but I glance back and see him watching us leave.

We get our coats and wait outside for the car to be brought around. “Sorry about that,” Garret mutters. “I was hoping he wouldn’t act like that with so many people around.”

“It’s okay.” A cold gust of wind blows and I reach for my scarf but it’s not there. “My scarf is missing. I have to go back and get it.”

“We’ll get it later. I don’t want to go back in there.”

“I have to get it. It’s not my scarf. It’s Harper’s. Just wait here. I’ll be right back.”

When I go back inside, I spot the woman who took my coat earlier. “Excuse me, but I’m missing my scarf. Can I go check where you had the coats?”

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