Page 42 of Choosing You

“Now that I think about it, you do look like him. I didn’t put it together before. It said the firm’s in New York City. Is that where you’re from?”

“No, we have a house about 30 minutes from here. But my dad’s office is in New York so he has an apartment there. He’s never home.” Decker searches the job board again.

“Well, there’s nothing here that pays so I’ll see you later, Decker.” I start to leave.

“Hey, before you go, I wanted to tell you something.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“I saw Garret in class this morning and he didn’t look good.”

“Maybe he’s sick.”

“He wasn’t sick. He was upset. Like really upset. He said you two had a fight.”

“We had a disagreement over something, but I’m sure he’s forgot about it by now. He’s probably upset over something else.”

“No, I’m pretty sure he was upset because of your fight. He really likes you, Jade. I don’t know what he did or said to piss you off, but maybe you could give him another chance.”

“Did he put you up to this? I can’t believe he’s making his friends do his—”

“He didn’t put me up to this. In fact, if he knew I was even talking to you about this he’d kill me. I get that you don’t know him that well, but I’ve known him for years and he’s a good guy. Yes, he’s done his share of partying and drinking, which he said you don’t like, but he hasn’t done any of that stuff since he met you. And that’s huge, Jade.”

He waits for me to say something but I keep quiet. I like Decker but this whole conversation is making me very uncomfortable.

“Listen, you don’t have to date the guy, but maybe just don’t shut him out completely. At least not yet. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I should get going. I’ll see you around.”

I race out of there before he can give me more advice about Garret. I don’t trust Decker. He could easily be doing Garret’s dirty work, although I’m not sure how he knew he’d run into me in the Student Services building. It doesn’t matter. I still don’t trust him.

At dinner, Harper is disappointed that I show up alone and not with the “man candy” she requested. The girls she invited to eat with us are on her tennis team and live in a different residence hall. I wish they lived on our floor. They’re way better than the girls Harper and I have to live with every day. I’ve now introduced myself to almost every girl on our floor and Harper is the only one who seems interested in being friends.

Later that night I talk to Ryan and Frank. They both seem to be getting along better. I don’t know what happened to make them stop fighting and I don’t ask. Ryan found a temp job at a hospital lab. It has flexible hours so he’s able to take his dad to doctor’s appointments. Frank doesn’t say much on the call. And when he does talk, he sounds tired. He says he feels okay, but I’m sure if he didn’t, he wouldn’t tell me.

* * *

My Thursday classschedule is easier than Wednesday’s because I only have two classes. Thursday morning is calculus, which doesn’t sound easy but for me it is. I’ve always done well in math. I like the order and structure of it. I like that it makes sense and that each problem has a clear answer.

In the afternoon I have English. I arrive on time, but when I get there almost every seat is taken and I’m stuck sitting in the last row. It’s not like I wanted the first row, but something in the middle would’ve been nice.

I reach down to pull my laptop out of my backpack and my pens fall out all over the floor. I tend to pack a lot of pens, just in case.

“I’ll get them,” a voice says. I look over and see Garret picking up my pens. “Here.” He hands them to me, then takes the only seat left, which is right next to mine.

“So you’re in this class?” I stuff the pens in the front pouch of my backpack.

“That’s why I’m here,” he says staring straight ahead.

He’s being really cold. If he wants me to forgive him, he could be a little nicer.

“Welcome, everyone, to freshman English. I’m Professor Hawkins.” A gray-haired wiry man wearing khaki pants, a plaid dress shirt, and a navy tie stands at the front of the class, chalk stains on his hand from writing his name on the board. “I expect your full attention in this class and that means no texting, no emailing, no note passing, and no talking unless you are asked to speak.”

As the professor talks, I can’t help but glance over at Garret. Harper’s right. He’s super hot. Definite man candy as she would say. An image of us back in the pool pops in my head. His wet lips on mine. His nearly naked muscular body holding me close. His hand on my . . .

I feel a foot lightly kicking mine from the side.

“Jade? Jade Taylor?” The professor is calling my name.

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