Page 49 of Choosing You

He doesn’t seem to get how much I appreciate the gesture. People don’t do stuff like that for me. I don’t get surprises or presents. My mom ignored my birthday every year as well as Christmas and other holidays. That was fine with me because I figured she’d just use the holidays as an excuse to drink more.

“Well, it’s a big deal to me, so thanks for doing it.”

“You’re welcome. Also, that key I gave you is yours. I had it made while I was out. That way you can watch TV or movies whenever you want.”

“Garret, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“I had to. You don’t have a TV. Plus now, if I ever lose my key, I can just come downstairs and get my spare.”

“So that’s the real reason you made an extra key,” I kid. “How’s the party?”

“Same as it is every year. Blake’s here, but he’s leaving soon to go to some party near campus. Sierra and Ava are here, too. You met them, right?”

“Yeah, they live on my floor. Is half the school there or what?”

“Not half, but a lot of them are. This is a huge event. The place is packed. Dinner starts in a few minutes, but I wanted to call you quick and see if you needed anything.”

“I don’t need anything. Thanks again for letting me use your stuff.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Jade. What’s mine is yours. Use anything in there. I gotta go. My little sister’s pulling me away for dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I go back to the box of movies and pick out two, just in case I’m able to stay awake that long. Rather than sit in the bean bag chair, I watch from Garret’s bed. It smells like him, with just the slightest hint of his cologne. By 11, I’m really sleepy but I put in one more movie. It’s an action film so I figure it will keep me awake.

* * *

“Jade, I’m back.”I hear Garret’s voice and quickly sit up. He’s sitting right next to me on the bed.

“What time is it?”

“It’s 8:30.”

“In the morning? Crap! I didn’t mean to spend the night here. I must have fallen asleep.”

“It’s okay. I don’t care. But you left the TV on all night.”

You left the TV on! You think I have money to run that damn thing all night you ungrateful spoiled brat!I hear her screaming and I duck down knowing she’s going to hurl the TV remote at me. I can almost hear it hitting the wall with a short loud thump.

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again! I promise! I’ll never do it again!” I notice my own voice yelling in the room as I struggle to get free from whatever is touching me.

“Jade, stop.” Garret is holding my shoulders, staring at me. “I was just kidding. I don’t care that you left it on.”

The voice in my head is gone and I feel my face heating up. “No. I wasn’t talking to you. I was . . .” My voice trails off.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Nobody. I need to go.” I try to get off the bed but he won’t let me.

“Wait. What just happened? Why were you screaming at me?”

“I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. Now let me go.”

“Something’s wrong. You totally changed just now. You were all happy and smiling and then all of a sudden you changed. What happened? Was it something I said?”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

He lets me up. “Then tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”

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