Page 142 of Choosing You

“Wait here. I’ll go get it.” She takes off, not even asking for a description of the scarf.

I stand there, hoping Mr. Kensington doesn’t appear. The foyer is empty now. Most people are either eating or dancing in one of the side rooms. I turn and look out the window. Garret’s car is now sitting in the circular driveway and he’s standing there talking to Paul.

Someone touches my shoulder. I turn, expecting to see the lady who was getting my scarf, but instead it’s Mr. Sinclair. “Are you leaving already?”

“Yes,” I say, noticing he’s standing way too close. I back away slightly, hoping it’s not too obvious.

“Are you interested in politics? Because I’m giving a speech shortly to talk about the campaign. Maybe you’d like to stick around.”

“Um, no. I need to go. But good luck with everything.”

“Perhaps you could ask your parents to vote for me in the caucus. You said you’re from Iowa, right?”

“Yes, I’ll tell them,” I lie.

He looks at me, not saying anything. It creeps me out. I wonder if he’s some pervert who likes teen girls.

“Royce, there you are.” A thin woman with overdone makeup and hair walks up to him. “Your speech is in a few minutes. You should really get in there.” She notices me and puts her hand out. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Victoria Sinclair.”

I shake her hand. “Hi. I’m Jade. Nice to meet you.”

“She’s dating Garret,” Mr. Sinclair says.

“Oh. I see.” Victoria glares at me. She must be mad that Garret is no longer dating her daughter. “I don’t think you mentioned your last name.”

I purposely avoided saying my last name because people here judge you by your last name. By asking for my name, Victoria is trying to gauge how much money I’m worth.

“It’s Taylor. Jade Taylor.”

She pauses to search her mind’s rolodex for a Taylor. “Yes. Your father owns Taylor Investments in Greenwich.”

“No. Must be a different Taylor.”

Mr. Sinclair takes hold of his wife’s arm. “Dear, as you said, we need to get going. The speech starts soon.” He smiles at me. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Jade.”

As they walk off, the woman finally arrives with Harper’s scarf. I hurry outside where Garret is waiting.

“What took you so long?” He opens the car door for me.

“I was talking to your girlfriend’s parents.”

“My girlfriend doesn’t have parents,” he says once he’s in the car.

“Well, your ex-girlfriend’s parents. They seem pretty upset you’re not still dating her. At least her mom does.”

“You met Victoria? Ugh, I can’t stand that woman. She’s so phony. She’s just like Katherine. Somehow Sadie didn’t turn out like her. But her sisters did.”

“How many kids do they have?”

“Four. All girls. Sadie’s the oldest.”

“I didn’t like that guy. There’s something weird about him.”

“All politicians are like that. You feel like you can’t trust them.”

“It wasn’t that. I felt like he was checking me out.”

“I told you. You’re hot. Every guy in there was checking you out.”

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