Page 144 of Choosing You

“Sure. What is it?”

“Have you really been with 10 girls, like Blake said? Or more than 10?”

Garret tips his head back toward the ceiling, then brings it down again. “Ask me anything but that.”

“I want to know.”

“What difference does it make?”

I search for a reason. “You could have an STD sleeping with all those girls.”

“I don’t have any STDs.”

“Still, I want to know. I told you how many people I’ve been with.”

“Yeah. One. That makes my number look pretty bad.”

“So youhavebeen with 10. Or more than that?”

He sighs. “None of them mattered, Jade. I know that makes me sound like a total ass, but half the time I didn’t even know what I was doing. Back in high school, I used to hook up with girls at parties when I was drunk. It was stupid.”

I keep quiet. I’m not sure what to say. The random hook-ups explain how he got such a high number of sex partners but it also makes me uncomfortable knowing he used to be that way.

He sits up. “I know what you’re thinking. I knew I shouldn’t have told you that.” He sounds a little angry. “And you never should’ve asked. It’s the past. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Itdoesmatter. How do I know you weren’t still doing that when you were going to all those parties with Blake on Friday nights?” I regret it as soon as I say it. I know he wasn’t doing that. Harper was at those same parties and she said Garret barely even talked to girls when he was there.

Garret gets up off the bed, now definitely angry. “How could you even say that? God, Jade, after everything we’ve been through together I can’t believe you’d accuse me of something like that.”

“I know how girls act around you. I’m sure they made offers.” I have no know idea why I’m continuing to push the issue.

“Yeah. And I told them I wasn’t interested. Plus, I wasn’t even drinking at those parties. Not even a beer. That’s all because of you, Jade. Because I knew how disappointed you’d be in me.” He stands there, looking so incredibly handsome in his white shirt and tux pants. “I thought you trusted me. I know I lied to you when we first met but since then, I’ve been completely honest with you. I haven’t kept stuff from you. And you still don’t trust me.”

His tone reflects how much I’ve hurt him, with accusations I never should have made. I swear something is seriously wrong with me. Why would I say something like that to him when I know it’s not true?

I get up and stand right in front of him. “Idotrust you, Garret. I don’t know why I said that just now. I guess I just can’t believe that someone like you would want me. And only me.” There goes my mouth again, speaking without my brain’s permission. Letting all my secret thoughts spill out.

Garret’s anger fades. He lifts my chin up and our eyes meet. “I only want you. Nobody else. What do I have to do to make you understand that?”

I glance down, not sure how to answer him. I’m afraid to speak, knowing I’ll probably screw up again and say something I don’t really mean.

He puts his arms around my waist.

“Jade. Look at me.” I slowly lift my head and our eyes meet again. “I love you.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

My mouth goesdry and my legs feel weak. I’ve never heard those words before. Not from my mother. Not from Frank or Ryan. And certainly not from a boy.

He waits for me to speak but I can’t. I’m too stunned.

“Did you hear me? I said I love you.”

The words shock me again. Am I dreaming this? It feels real.

“Jade. Do you have anything to say?” Garret looks concerned.

“Um, thank you.” It is the absolute worst thing to say but the words just came out before I could think.

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