Page 95 of Choosing You

“Don’t be an ass. Just get out of here.” I hear Garret’s hand on the doorknob.

“Who’s in there? Ava?”

“It’s none of your damn business,” Garret says loudly. “Just go.”

“Whatever, man.” I hear them walking away. “You used to be fun, Garret. Now you’re just a fucking loser.”

Garret comes back in the room and sits next to me again. “Sorry about that. They’ve been drinking so were even more obnoxious than usual.”

I turn the volume down on the TV and scoot closer to him. “You know, those guys are right. You should be out at one of the gazillion parties going on right now. You’re missing out on all those girls in sexy nurse costumes, not to mention all the half-naked angels, witches, devils—”

He puts his finger to my lips. “This is where I want to be, Jade. Right here.”

I pull his hand away and look up at him, practically begging him to kiss me. He leans down and gives me a quick friend kiss, then looks up at the TV. “So what’s going on with this one?”

“The psychotic killer met this girl on an Internet dating site.” I shudder. “It’s totally freaking me out. Look at that guy. Look at his eyes. I feel like he’s watching me.”

He laughs. “I’ll protect you. Come here.” I snuggle up next to him. A few minutes into the movie I fall asleep.

I wake up when I feel Garret move his arm off me. “Jade, I can’t sit here any longer. I need to move.”

The clock on his desk says it’s 1 a.m. “Have you been awake this whole time?”

“Yeah, the movie ended and I’ve been watching TV.”

“You should’ve woke me up.”

“Nah. I like it when you sleep on me, but my arm was starting to go numb.”

“Oh. Sorry about that.” I sit up. “I should go.”

“Do you really want to go?”

“Well, it’s kind of late to start another movie.” I yawn and rub my eyes.

He turns the TV off. “I wasn’t going to watch another movie.”

I’m sleepy and it takes a moment for me to figure out what he means. “Are you inviting me for another sleepover?”

“The night’s practically over. You might as well stay.”

“Yeah, because my room’s so far away. It’ll be morning before I make it back.”

“I’m not trying to get you to have sex with me, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just want tosleep next to you again. Sleep. That’s it. But if you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“Okay, I’ll stay.” I’m happy he wants me there, but I’m a little concerned that he thinks I’ve totally ruled out the idea of having sex with him. I made that one comment and now he assumes I’m not at all interested.

I get up from the chair, take my jeans off, and climb into bed.

“What are you doing?” he asks, standing over me.

“Going to sleep.” I pull the covers up.

“But you’re not wearing anything.”

“I’m wearing a shirt.”

“Yeah, but nothing else. You want a pair of my shorts?”

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