Page 47 of Choosing You

He sits up, facing me. “You’ve never had a drink? Not even a beer? Or a sip of wine? Nothing?”

I shake my head.

“Wow. That’s impressive. But I don’t know. I don’t think I can go that whole time without a drink.”

“Will you at least try?”

He takes a moment to consider it. “Okay, I’ll try.” He stands up and holds out his hands to help me up. I take our notebooks while Garret folds up the blanket.

“I don’t want Professor Hawkins to see what I wrote,” I say. “I’m going to rip out that page and write something else, okay?”

“Maybe we should get our own notebooks. Ones just for you and me.”

“What for?”

“Sometimes it’s easier to write stuff down than to say it out loud. We might need to do that again.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

I’m not sure what I’d write in them after today, but I have to admit it was easier to put my innermost thoughts on paper than to say them. There’s no way I could have actually said those words to Garret. I could barely write them.

* * *

In the dining hall,I spot Harper sitting by herself eating lunch and reading a book. “Can we join you?” I ask, putting my tray in front of her.

“Sure.” She closes her book and sets it on the seat next to her. “I was wondering where you—” She stops when she sees Garret come up behind me. He sets his tray down and gives Harper that perfect smile that seems to make girls go into some type of trance.

“Hi. We haven’t met but Jade has told me all about you. I’m Garret by the way,” he glances at me, “in case Jade hasn’t mentioned me, which knowing her, she probably hasn’t.”

“Um, no. She’s mentioned you,” Harper says, staring at Garret like she can’t get enough of him. “Nice to meet you.”

“Harper, right?”

She doesn’t respond. I kick her foot under the table.

“Yeah. Harper. Harper Douglas. I’m from LA.”

“Is your dad Kiefer Douglas? The director?”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“Your dad’s been at some fundraisers at my house. I’ve met your mom, too. You look just like her.”

“All us girls do. I have two sisters.” Harper has lost all interest in her lunch. She’s too focused on listening to Garret’s every word.

“So how do you like Connecticut?”

“I like it. I needed a break from the whole LA scene. I wanted to try someplace completely different than what I was used to. My dad actually suggested I apply at Moorhurst. They have a good communications program here, which is what I want to do. Plus they let me play on the tennis team.”

“How long have you played tennis?”

“Ten years. But I’m not that good. Moorhurst doesn’t exactly have the best team. I just wanted to be on any team.” She picks at her salad with her fork but doesn’t eat it. “So are you two going to that party tonight down on Beech Street?”

“Garret already has plans,” I say.

“You should go to the party with Harper,” Garret says to me.

“No, I don’t feel like going.”

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