Page 176 of Choosing You

“I don’t want to go back. I just didn’t want to be in the way.”

“You’re never in the way. And my dad said you could stay all weekend if you want.” He leans down to my ear to whisper. “But you’ll have to stay in your own room this time.”

I smile. “Yeah. I know. That was nice of your dad to offer. I think I might take him up on it.”

“Good. Now let’s go talk to the lawyers.” He puts his hand on my back, leading me out of the room, then stops suddenly and pulls me back. He leans down and kisses me. It’s a soft, gentle, caring kiss that makes me want to stay there in his arms until all the bad stuff goes away. “Okay, now we can go.”

We spend the rest of the evening going over what happened, detail by detail. The entire incident happened in just a few minutes and yet it takes hours to replay it to the lawyers who ask a million questions. I’m so embarrassed having to talk about something this intimate with complete strangers plus Garret’s dad, but I know I need to, so I do.

Afterward I go to the guest room—the one I was supposed to sleep in when I was there for Thanksgiving. It’s odd to be staying in the house with Garret’s whole family. But I’m still more comfortable there than back in my dorm room. I like knowing that Garret is just down the hall.

When I wake up the next morning, a tiny face with long blond hair is standing next to my bed.

“Hi, Jade.” It’s Lilly, Garret’s sister.

“Hi, Lilly.” I sit up. “What are you doing here?”

“Garret said you were sad so I brought you this.” She hands me the stuffed panda bear from her room.

“Oh, um, thank you.” I hold the bear, not sure what to do with it.

“He’s my favorite, but you can have him if he makes you feel better.”

She’s so darn cute in her pink pajamas. How did something so cute and sweet come from Katherine? Garret must’ve had a big influence on her.

“Do you wanna watch cartoons in my room?” Her big blue eyes light up as she says it. “Or we could have a tea party.”

I’m not in the mood to do either, but like Garret warned me, it’s nearly impossible to say no to her.

“Okay, let’s go.” As I put on my robe, Lilly reminds me to bring the panda bear.

She holds my hand and leads me to her room. The TV is already on playing cartoons.

“Do you want some tea?” she asks, still holding my hand.

“Um, sure.” I follow her to the tiny table and sit in one of the tiny chairs, setting the panda next to me.

She pours the imaginary tea, then sits down and pretends to drink it. “I always wanted a big sister.”

“But you have Garret. A big brother.”

“I know. But he likes football and boy stuff.” She takes another sip of tea. “Can I braid your hair?”

“Right now?” I run my hand through my hair, which is all tangled from sleeping.

She nods, excitedly.

“Okay. Let me brush it out first.”

Within minutes, Lilly has me drinking fake tea while watching princess cartoons and getting my hair braided.

I hear footsteps in the hallway and then the door opens.

“Lilly, have you seen—” It’s Garret. As soon as he sees me sitting there at the tiny table holding a tea cup with half braided hair, a huge grin forms across his face as he tries to hide his laughter.

“She got you good,” he says.

“Hi, Garret.” Lilly leaves my hair and runs over to Garret.

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