Page 184 of Choosing You

“Thank you.” I give him a hug. “Thank you for doing this for me. And for going with me.”

“Little secret,” he says quietly. “I already made the reservations before you told me to go. I was never letting you go alone.”

I smile. He knows me way too well. It’s like he knows exactly what I need.

I feel a huge sense of relief knowing I’ll be seeing Frank tomorrow and that I’ll have Garret at my side. Ryan will be there, of course, but he has his girlfriend, Chloe, now. And they’re getting more serious, so I’m sure she’ll be with him at the hospital.

That night I call Ryan to tell him I’m coming home and what time I’ll be there. Garret rented a car so Ryan won’t have to leave the hospital to pick us up.

Garret tells his dad he’s going to Des Moines with me and his dad doesn’t even get mad. I guess he’s just given up trying to control his son.

* * *

In the morningas we’re boarding the plane I start to get really nervous. “I’ve never been on a plane, Garret.”

He holds my hand as we give our boarding passes to the lady. “I know. So it’s a good thing you’re with me.” He kisses my cheek. “I have a calming effect on people. It’s another thing I’m good at.”

I roll my eyes like I don’t believe him.

We get on the plane and Garret stops at the third row. “Right here. You want the window?”

I look around. “We’re in first class? Why did you put us in first class?”

Garret gives me a look as a man tries to get past us in the aisle. “Jade. People are waiting.”

I take the window seat, glancing back at the tiny, jammed-together seats back in coach and comparing them to the spacious, luxurious seats in first class.

“How much did this cost?” I ask him.

“Don’t worry about it.” He sits down and buckles my seat belt across my lap. “You want something to drink?”

A flight attendant is standing there waiting. We both order a soda.

“I can’t believe my first time on a plane is in first class,” I say to Garret. “Now, it’s really gonna suck when I have to ride back there.”

“Maybe you’ll never have to. I can’t sit back there. My legs are too long. I don’t fit in those seats. So whenever we fly, you’ll be sitting up here with me in first class.”

I never know how to react when he makes these statements that assume we’ll be together years from now. So I keep quiet.

When the plane takes off, I squeeze Garret’s hand and take deep breaths.

“It’s okay,” he whispers to me.

He does have a calming effect. I’m already starting to relax.

“Go to sleep,” he says once we’re in the air. “I’ll wake you up when we’re there.”

I do as he says. I’m so tired from the stress of finals and now Frank. I don’t wake up until we’re in Des Moines.

As Garret gets the rental car, I call Ryan and tell him we’re on our way. When we get to the hospital, Ryan is waiting for us. He looks thinner. And he has dark circles under his eyes like he hasn’t slept for days.

“Ryan.” I run up and hug him. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until now.

Ryan seems surprised. “You’re giving hugs now, Jade? What happened to you at college?”

“Um, yeah. I kind of got into the whole hug thing.”

“I’m just kidding. I like it.” He turns to Garret and shakes his hand. “Hi, Garret. Thanks for getting her here.”

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