Page 128 of Choosing You

“It was a guy from another school. Homecoming. Last year. It was a mistake. I don’t even know why I did it.” Actually Idoknow why. I was trying to prove to my dead mother that I could have sex without having it destroy my life the way she said it would.

“You don’t need to tell me the details,” Garret says.

“Well, anyway, it’s not my first time, so you don’t have to get all uptight about it.”

“I’m not being uptight about it. I just don’t want to rush things. And doing it on our first date is rushing things.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not our first date, Garret.”

“Well, it is to me. So just wait a little longer. I promise I’ll make it worth the wait.” The cocky smile reappears, and combined with his promise he’s got me all hot and bothered again like before the phone rang. But I try to hide it.

“Just so you know, I had no intention of having sex with you tonight. So even if you’d tried, I would’ve turned you down.”

He kisses my cheek. “Good.” He leads me to the bed to sit down. “Now can we talk about this mystery caller?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I don’t know who it is, so I can’t do anything about it.”

“Get rid of the letter. Just do what he says. Once it’s gone he won’t bother you anymore.”

“Why should I have to do what he says? That’s just wrong.”

“You already read the letter. You know what it says. So just get rid of it. What do you need it for now?”

“It’s the only thing I have from my mom. It’s in her handwriting. I don’t want to get rid of it.”

“This guy could be crazy. You don’t know what he’s capable of. And if he’s watching you, what does that mean? That he’s someone on campus? How does he know you still have the letter?”

I slide farther back on the bed and slip under the covers. “I don’t know. But I’m tired and I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’m going to sleep.”

“We can’t ignore this, Jade. This guy isn’t going away.” Garret gets in bed next to me, holding me close to him. “And from now on I don’t want you going anywhere alone. Stay in groups when you go to class or anywhere else. Or come get me upstairs and I’ll go with you.”

“Garret, you’re being crazy.”

“No, I’m being careful. Now promise me you won’t go anywhere alone.”

“Fine. But you’re going to change your mind when I’m bothering you all the time to go everywhere with me.”

He kisses my cheek. “You’re never bothering me, so don’t ever think that. And I’m not leaving you alone here during Thanksgiving break. There’s no fucking way. It’s too dangerous.”

“Oh, please. The guy will be eating his turkey dinner. He’s not going to do anything to me on a holiday. And I don’t plan to leave my room, so I’m sure I’ll be safe.”

“There’s no use arguing about it, Jade. I’m staying here.”

“You have plans with your family. The Cayman Islands, remember?”

“I’ll tell them I can’t go. They can’t force me to. Besides Katherine would love to get rid of me. And I’d rather spend Thanksgiving with you anyway.”

“Your dad won’t allow it, especially if he knows you’re not going because of me.”

“I’ll deal with my dad.”

I don’t respond. I’d love it if Garret spent Thanksgiving with me, but it’s too much to ask. It wouldn’t be right for him to miss Thanksgiving with his family. Still, it’s nice of him to offer. I fall asleep imagining scenes of Garret and me having a real Thanksgiving dinner together.

* * *

Sunday morning,we have our usual breakfast at Al’s Pancake House. Garret doesn’t even mention the mysterious phone call, probably because he’s finally realizing there really isn’t anything we can do. We could tell the police but what would they do? Nothing. Because there isn’t anything they could do either.

Garret spends the rest of the day catching up on homework while I hang out with Harper. I haven’t seen her much since she met this new guy. She seems really happy. Way happier than she was with the last guy she dated.

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