Page 181 of Choosing You

“What’s wrong with that? I was talking about those donuts Charles made. That’s interesting.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not that interesting.” He turns the page. “This one is about your meal at that Mexican place we went to. It’s all food, Jade. That’s all you talk about in here.”

“Well, I didn’t know what else to write about. It’s a stupid assignment. I’m sure it hasn’t helped my writing at all.” I search my backpack for a pen. “Do you ever write in your other notebook?”

Months ago, Garret and I decided to get notebooks that would only be seen by the two of us. We got them so we could write down stuff we weren’t comfortable saying out loud.

“Maybe,” he says, as he writes comments after my donut entry.

“What are you writing in there?” I snatch the notebook from him.

His comments read,Very descriptive prose. Truly expresses her love of pastries. Makes me want a donut.

I roll my eyes and toss it back at him. “That’s the best you can do?”

He throws my notebook down, pretending to be offended. “You gave me nothing to work with here.”

“A good writer can work with anything.”

He smiles. “Who says I’m a good writer?”

I keep my eyes on his latest entry, which is about last Monday night’s football game. “You’re good at everything. It’s annoying.”

He comes over and takes the notebook from me, then feels my forehead with the back of his hand. “Are you coming down with something? Because I’m almost positive that was a compliment. And you never give me compliments. You must have a fever. You need to lie down.” He positions some pillows on the floor.

“Are you playing doctor now?” I ask, lying back on the pillows.

“I am. So I need you to undress.” He slowly unbuttons my shirt, leaving kisses down my chest and stomach as he works his way down.

“Garret, we have to study.” I smile as he flicks open the button on my jeans and tugs the zipper down.

“We’ve been studying all day. It’s 5 o’clock. We need a break.” He brings his lips back to mine as he reaches around to unhook my bra.

Finally, the old Garret is back. I’m relieved. Part of me wondered if he’d go back to being cautious around me, even after last night.

“I guess I could use a break,” I say as I undo his belt.

He takes it slow again, but this time I make him be on top. And despite a brief moment of panic when I first feel the weight of him, I’m okay. Because I know it’s him and not Blake.

Afterward, I get dressed and go to the mirror to tame my crazy sex hair. “We might as well eat dinner now that you’ve broken my concentration.”

“I don’t think you minded.” He comes up behind me and turns me around. “You said I was good at everything, right?”

“I really need to start insulting you again. Your ego is getting way out of control.” He’s still smiling at me, as if waiting for an answer about his performance. But I won’t give him one. He knows he’s good at that.

We go out for dinner to get a break from being cooped up in the dorms all day. Then it’s back to studying. I can’t wait for finals to be over.

Monday I get up early and cram one last time before heading to class. Once I get past the nerves, the first final isn’t so bad. I think I might’ve even gotten an A on it.

The rest of the finals that day also go well. I have easier classes on Tuesday, so those exams are no problem. Tuesday afternoon, Garret and I turn in our English journals, which I’m a little worried about because I have no idea what the professor expects. He was so vague about them at the beginning of the semester.

On Wednesday morning, I have my biology final, which is my last one. I go to my afternoon class, turn in a paper, and then the professor excuses us early. I can tell she’s anxious for the semester to be over, too.

Garret’s last final is at 4 so we meet up afterward to celebrate.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says as he collapses on my bed.

“You don’t exactly look ready to go anywhere.” I straddle him and lean down to kiss him.

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