Page 125 of Choosing You

“I have to go outside,” I say, putting my shoes on.

Garret gets up. “Like right now? It’s freezing out.”

“That’s okay. I don’t care. You can stay here if you want.”

“No. I’ll go. Just hold on.” He slips his shoes on and grabs his coat.

We stop at my room to get my coat, then hurry outside. The snow is falling hard, but I can still make out each big fluffy flake.

“This is so great.” I scoop some snow up and toss it in the air. “Don’t you love it?”

Garret’s smiling at me. “I love how happy it makes you.”

“Let’s run in the snow.” I grab his hand and drag him down the sidewalk.

“It’s too slippery.”

“No, it’s not.” I let go of him and take off down the hill.

“Jade, wait.” He follows and I hear him laughing at me. I don’t care if he thinks I’m insane. I’m not missing the first snow.

I run for a few minutes, then stop. Garret catches up and hugs me, lifting my feet off the ground. “You’re completely crazy,” he says, out of breath.

“I know I am,” I say, also out of breath. “That’s why I don’t know why you hang out with me.”

“Are you kidding? I think it’s great that you’re crazy like this.” He sets me down. “It’s one of the reasons I—” he stops, “um, like hanging out with you. Let’s go in. It’s freezing out here.”

“I’m not ready yet.” I reach up and grab his jacket, tugging it toward me. He gets the hint and kisses me. Soft sweet kisses, just like at the restaurant. Kissing Garret in the first snow of the year when nobody’s around and the campus is silent. It’s perfect.

After a few minutes, I break away. “We can go inside now.”

“Really? Because I was starting to enjoy this snow thing.”

“As much as I like the snow, Iamgetting cold.”

“Then let’s get you inside.” He holds my mitten-covered hand and we start to head back.

“Garret.” I stop walking. “Thanks for the date. I had a really good time.”

He kisses my cheek. “You’re welcome. But the date’s not over yet. Is it?”

“No, it’s not over.” I smile. “I just wanted to say that I had—or am having— fun on the date. That’s all.”

“So are you saying there’ll be another one?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

We go inside, stopping at my room so I can get some clothes to sleep in.

“Jade, let’s stay down here tonight.”

“Inmyroom? Why? Your room is way better and it has the TV.”

“Yeah, but I want to be here in case you get one of those calls again.”

“He only called that one time. I don’t think he’ll call again.”

“You said he called last night.”

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