Page 21 of Choosing You

“I don’t want to talk about Ryan.” Hearing his name reminds me that I haven’t heard from Ryan all day. He should’ve called with an update on Frank. “We have to eat fast. I have to call him as soon as we get back.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know. Never mind. Talk about something else.”

“Jade, I can tell you’re worried about something. Go call him right now.”

“I don’t have a phone. It’s okay. I’ll call him later.”

“You don’t have a cell phone?”

“No. I don’t need one.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t have a cell phone.” He pulls out his phone and sets it on the table in front of me. “Here. Use mine.”

“It can wait. Really.” I slide it back over to him.

Our dessert arrives; a giant orange bowl that contains eight scoops of different-flavored ice cream topped with broken up chocolate chip cookies, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. It’s the largest dessert I’ve ever seen.

“What do you think?” Garret asks, taking a bite using one of the oversized spoons that came with it.

“I guess it’s all right.” I taste the cookies. They’re incredible. Definitely homemade. “Okay, it’s good. Really good.”

It takes us a half hour to finish the whole thing. As we eat, Garret tells me more about the area and what there is to do there. When the check arrives, he insists on paying, saying it’s his punishment for ordering for me without asking first.

When we’re back on campus, he walks me to my room. I get my key out and unlock the door. “Well, thanks for dessert, but I still feel like I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me. Can’t a person be nice without expecting anything in return?”

“People always expect something in return.”

I’m not sure why he’s waiting there. It’s not like I plan to invite him in.

The phone in my room rings. “That’s Ryan. I have to go. I’ll see you later.”

Garret leaves and I hurry inside my room to answer the phone. “Ryan?”

“Hey, Jade. How’s college?”

“Who cares about that. How’s Frank?”

“I just talked to him and he said he’s sore from his injuries, but that he’s starting to feel better. Now tell me about your day.”

“Where are you calling from?”

“I’m at a restaurant somewhere in Ohio. I needed a break from driving. So what did you do all day?”

“I ran on the track and then I had lunch at the park. Oh, the dining halls don’t open until Tuesday. Can you believe that?”

“See? It’s a good thing I gave you money. What park did you go to? I don’t remember seeing a park near campus.”

“It’s not near campus. We had to drive there. We got sandwiches from a deli and ate at the park.”

“So you already made friends? That’s great. Did you go out with those girls you met last night?”

“Um, no. I went with that guy, Garret. He helped us unpack the car, remember?”

“Huh. Yeah, I remember. Pretty boy. So you went with him in his car?” Ryan asks in his overprotective tone.

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