Page 168 of Choosing You

I see Garret tensing up. “You’re so fucking rude, Blake. Just get out of here.”

“You skipped out on the Caymans for her?” Blake looks me up and down, then flashes a grin at Garret. “You’re finally fucking her, aren’t you? It’s about damn time.”

Before Garret can yell at him, Decker walks in holding his phone like he just hung up with someone. “Hey, Garret. We weren’t sure if you were home.” He sees me and smiles. “Hi, Jade.”

“Hi, Decker,” I say, smiling back.

Unlike Blake, Decker is normal. He’s always been nice to me and he actually likes the fact that I’m dating Garret. I don’t know why Decker hangs out with Blake all the time, although Decker does drink a lot, so maybe they’re just drinking buddies.

“Decker, I was just telling Blake that I’m not going out with you guys.”

“That’s fine,” Decker says. “We didn’t know Jade was here. We should’ve called first. So what are you guys doing tonight?”

Blake crosses his arms across his chest. “Yeah. Whatareyou doing tonight?”

“We’re busy,” Garret answers.

“Doing what? Fucking?” Blake laughs.

“Blake! What the hell is wrong with you?” Decker glares at him, then turns to Garret and me. “Sorry. We’ll leave you two alone.” Decker goes back outside. “I’m leaving, Blake. If you want a ride, you better get your ass out here.”

Blake follows him, but turns and looks back at me when he’s halfway through the door. “Hey, Ohio. You’ll never be a Kensington, so don’t even try.”

Garret slams the door. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just being an ass.”

I keep quiet because what Blake said is true. I’ll never be a Kensington. Garret’s dad may let us date, but there’s no way in hell he’d let it go beyond that. They’d kick Garret out of the family if he ever married me. Given my new commitment to be happy, I try not to think about it. Besides, it’s way too soon to even consider that far into the future.

We spend the rest of the night playing cards with Charles. It’s our last night at the house and I think Charles is going to miss us. I’m going to miss him, too, and I’ll definitely miss his cooking.

I sleep in Garret’s room again, enjoying one more night in a regular adult-size bed before we have to go back to our twin-size dorm beds. And of course we end up doing it, first in the bed and later in the shower. I figure we won’t get as many opportunities when we’re back at school. Garret will be busy with swim practice and meets and we’ll both be studying for finals.

Sunday morning, we have breakfast with Charles instead of going to Al’s Pancake House. Then we pack up and drive back to Moorhurst.

When we get there people are just starting to return. I almost feel sad coming back. I’m used to spending the whole day and night with Garret and now I’ll only see him once or twice a day, if that.

Garret carries my stuff to my room. “This kind of sucks being back.” He picks me up and lays me on the bed, positioning himself next to me. “I was getting used to our routine back at the house.”

“We had a routine?”

“Sleep late, eat breakfast, watch movies, have dinner with Charles, play poker.”

“You forgot the sex.”

“I didn’tmentionthe sex. I definitely didn’t forget it.” He leaves soft kisses down my neck, making my pulse speed up.

“Okay. Don’t start.”

“Why not?” He says it right next to my ear and my heart pumps even faster. “Do you have something else you need to be doing right now?”

“No, but . . .” He takes his shirt off, knowing I can’t resist his freaking hot chest and abs. “I can’t do this in the dorms with people right next door.”

He laughs. “We live here, Jade. There are going to be people around.”

“I know, but it’s embarrassing. What if they hear us?”

“We’ll be quiet.” He whispers it as he unzips my jeans. Something about his whisper is beyond sexy and I find myself moving closer to him.

We hear some girls walking down the hall, stopping just outside my room to talk.

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