Page 52 of Choosing You

“That’s true. All right. I guess we can try it.”

He reaches in his wallet and puts his credit card on the bill that’s sitting on the table. “Week one of Sundays at Al’s Pancake House. Our first tradition.”

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

“Our first?Are you thinking we’ll have others?”

“We have four years here, Jade. I’m sure we’ll come up with some others.”

I’m surprised that Garret thinks we’ll still be doing stuff together in four years. That’s a long time. There’s no way he’ll be friends with me in four years. But I like the thought of it. And I love the idea of making traditions, something I’ve never had.

The waitress comes by and clears our plates and takes the credit card.

“So what are your plans for today?” I ask Garret.

“I’m playing football this afternoon. I’m on a flag football team and we play every Sunday. After that we’re all going to this guy’s apartment to watch some games. He has an 80-inch TV.”

“I didn’t know you played football.”

“It’s one of my many hidden talents.” He gives me that cocky smile that I’ve seen several times now. I find it extremely hot. I love confidence in a guy and Garret’s definitely got plenty of that. But so far, he hasn’t crossed the line to arrogant. Plus, he always combines that cocky smile with a tone that implies he’s just kidding.

“And what areyourplans for today?” he asks.

“Probably go for a run. Call Frank and Ryan.”

“You never say anything about them. Are you related to Frank? Is he like an uncle?”

“I thought you knew my whole life story. Didn’t your dad fill you in about Frank?”

“My dad barely told me anything about you. I swear.”

“Frank is my legal guardian. Well, he was until I turned 18. He and Ryan moved into my neighborhood when I was 12.”

“So your neighbor offered to be your guardian?”

“He’s more than a neighbor. He’s been like a dad to me ever since I met him. And he knew my mom from college.”

“Your mom went to college?”

“Yes. Why are you so surprised? She didn’t get knocked up until she was 20. She had two years of college. Anyway, Frank took me in after she died. He has MS and now he’s in a wheelchair. Well, he doesn’t always use it but he’s supposed to.”

“That sucks. Is he going to be okay?”

“I don’t know. It changes by the day. The day I got here he had to be rushed to the hospital and I thought he was going to die.”

“Jade, why didn’t you say something? I wouldn’t have dragged you all over town that day if I knew that was going on.”

“It was good you got me out. Otherwise I would’ve sat in my room thinking about it. But Frank’s doing a lot better now.”

“So is Frank divorced?”

“No, his wife died a long time ago. She got cancer when Ryan was just a baby. Frank was working at the paper and going to grad school at the time and he hired my mom to babysit Ryan so he could take his wife to treatments. That’s how he got to know my mom. She was a freshman when he met her. Actually his wife met her first because she worked at the college. Anyway, around the time my mom got pregnant, Frank moved the family to San Diego to be closer to his wife’s parents. She died a few months later, but Frank stayed out there so his in-laws could help take care of Ryan. Then when they died, he moved back to Des Moines.”

“So your mom used to babysit Ryan.” The way he says it I know what he’s thinking.

“Yeah, I know. But apparently she was normal back then. She didn’t turn crazy until after I was born.” The waitress returns with the receipt. I scoot out of the booth. “Let’s get out of here before I order more pancakes.”

On the drive back to campus, Garret glances over at me. “You can take this if you want to go somewhere later.”

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