Page 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

My face must be white because Garret grabs the phone from my hand and yells into it. “Who the fuck is this?” He listens. “Oh, now you can’t speak? You’re such a fucking coward that you can’t say who’s calling?” He listens again, but I can tell the guy’s not responding. “Leave her the fuck alone! Do you hear me, asshole? Stop calling here. Don’t you ever fucking call here again.” He slams the phone down.

“Jade, what did he say?” Garret has both hands on my shoulders, staring down at me to answer.

“He said I didn’t get rid of the letter.”

“How the fuck would he know that?” Garret is really freaked out by this, even more than when I told him about the previous call. Did he not believe me? Or is it more real now that he’s witnessing it?

“I don’t know. I mean, last time he called he said they were watching me, but I didn’t believe him.”

“What else did he say just now?”

“That it’s my last warning.” Saying those words sends a shiver down my spine. I don’t what that means. Will he hurt Frank? Ryan? Me?

Garret pulls me into a hug. Not his usual friend hug, but a tight, protective hug, like he really thinks I’m in danger.

“Maybe the guy’s just trying to scare me and won’t actually do anything,” I say trying to reassure both Garret and me. “I’m sure he won’t call back after you yelled at him like that. Now he knows I have a boyf—” I stop before I say it. “I mean, a friend who will kick his ass if he calls again.”

Garret loosens his hug and leans back a bit. I notice a slight grin on his face. “He knows you have a what?”

I feel my face heat up. “A friend. A guy friend who will kick his ass.”

“I don’t know, Jade. I could’ve sworn you called me something else.”

He’s not going to let it go. I feel my face get even hotter. “Nope. Friend. That’s what I said.”

He leans down to whisper in my ear. “I think you called me your boyfriend.”

I back away slightly. “What? No way. We’ve been on one date. That’s crazy.”

“It’s okay, you know.” The cocky smile appears. “You can call me your boyfriend. I’d actually like it.”

“No, I don’t want to tie you down like that.” It’s such a lie. I don’t know why I always say the opposite of what I want. Of course I want him to be my boyfriend. I don’t even want to think about anyone else having him.

“What would you say about being my girlfriend? That way, I’d be the one tying you down. And I’d be your boyfriend by default.”

His tone is much lighter now. This boyfriend/girlfriend talk has distracted him from the call, which is good because it gives us both a chance to calm down.

“Hmm. So if I was your girlfriend, you’d finally make a move?”

He looks offended. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I gave you all kinds of chances to take advantage of me just now and you didn’t take them.”

His face gets serious. “Because I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“Why not? I’m sure you’ve done it plenty of other times. According to Blake you’ve taken advantage of at least 10 other girls.”

“You know better than to listen to him.” He runs his hand down the side of my face and cups my cheek. “I don’t want you to feel pressured, like we have to rush into anything.”

“I don’t feel pressured. And we’re not rushing. We’ve been dating for more than two months.”

“We haven’t been officially dating until tonight. And you should take things slow. Your first time is a big deal.”

I give him a confused look. “First time? This wouldn’t be my first time.”

“Oh. Sorry. I just thought . . . you said you never really had a boyfriend so . . .” He’s completely flustered.

“Yeah, but I dated. I just didn’t consider any of them to be boyfriends.” I suddenly realize how slutty that sounds. I’ve had sex but no boyfriends? “What I mean is that I take the boyfriend title more seriously than other people do. And I didn’t have any serious relationships in high school.” No serious relationships? But I had sex? My attempt to sound less slutty failed miserably.

“Yeah, okay. I got it.” He looks a little disappointed. But I’m 19. Did he really think I was still a virgin?

“It was just one time.” I blurt it out, not at all intending for that little secret to spill out.

He doesn’t respond. So in my attempt to fill the awkward silence I continue to overshare.

“It was a guy from another school. Homecoming. Last year. It was a mistake. I don’t even know why I did it.” Actually I do know 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.

Later that night she makes me watch a holiday-themed romance movie that’s on TV even though Christmas is still more than a month away. Harper loves those sappy romance movies. And now that she’s dating someone, she loves them even more.

“That was so sad, but so good,” she says when the movie’s over. She’s been sniffling for the last half hour. I don’t understand why people like movies that make you cry. Why would anyone want to intentionally do something that makes them cry? “Did you like it, Jade?”

“Um, yeah, it was okay.” I get up, stretching my arms out. “I need to go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Hey, I saw Garret leaving your room this morning.” She gets this excited tone to her voice. “Did something happen last night? I mean, I know you guys do that sleepover thing sometimes, but he seemed even happier than normal when I saw him in the hall.”

“He did? Well, no, we didn’t do anything. Just slept.”

She seems disappointed. “That’s so weird. I don’t get you two.”

“But we did have our first date last night.”

She rolls her eyes. “Again. Weird. You two have probably been on about 50 dates by now.”

“I know. But as of last night we’re officially dating.” Saying that out loud to someone makes me smile.

“So he’s finally your boyfriend?”

Hearing her call Garret my boyfriend makes me smile even more. “Yes.”

“Well, it’s about time. Maybe we could double date.”

“Sure. I’ll mention it to Garret.”

“So when are you leaving for Thanksgiving?”

Before I can even enjoy the high of telling her that Garret is my boyfriend the dreaded holiday topic comes up again. “I’m staying here. It’s too far to go back home.”

“I’m from California. That’s way farther than Iowa. And I’m going home.”

“I know. But flights are really expensive over the holiday and it’s too far to drive.”

“So you’ll be here all alone?”

“No, I have plans.” I race to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Who do you have plans with? Everyone will be gone.”

I don’t answer. I’m too tired to come up with a fake story she’ll believe.

“Are you going to the Kensington’s?” she asks cautiously.

“No. They’re going to some tropical island for Thanksgiving.”

“Then who? Or are you saying Garret is staying here? No way. His dad would never go for that, at least not if he’s like you say he is.”

She’s right. Garret is crazy to think he’ll get away with not going on his family’s trip.

“Harper, I just made that stuff up. I don’t have plans. I’ll be here for Thanksgiving. It’s just that I don’t like people feeling sorry for me being all alone. Because there’s no need to. I’m actually excited about getting some time to just sleep and catch up on stuff.”

She has her pity face on. She’s definitely feeling sorry for me. “Well, I’ll call you every day from California, okay?”

“Sure. Goodnight, Harper.”

As I’m unlocking the door to my room, Garret appears in the hallway. “Hey.” He kisses me. “I missed you today.”

“Garret, we’re not going to be one of those couples who can’t even go a day without seeing each other. I need my space.”

He laughs. “I can’t even say that I missed you?”

I go in my room, tossing my keys on the desk. “Not if it’s only been a few hours. It has to be at least 24 hours. No, 48 hours. Or maybe a week.”

He closes the door and backs me against the wall, his arms on both sides of me. “You can’t tell me what I can say or when I can say it. If I want to say it, I’ll say it. I might even say it again. I missed you. There. I said it twice now. Within two minutes.”

“You’re really annoying me,” I say with a smile. “Keep it up and you’re not going to be my boyfriend for much longer.”

“That’s the first time you’ve called me that. I like it.” He goes to kiss me but I turn my head at the last minute. “Hey, what’s that for? You’re playing hard to get now? Last night you got mad at me for not making a move.”

“That was last night. This is now. If you’re gonna be with me, you’ve gotta learn to keep up.” I duck under his arm and go to my drawer to get my pajamas.

“I was thinking I’d stay down here in case that guy calls again.”

“You don’t need to do that. I don’t think he’ll call after just calling last night. Besides we could get in trouble if you’re sleeping down here all the time.”

“I’ve known your RA for years. She doesn’t care.”

“Well, even if that guy calls again there’s nothing you can do.”

“I guess. But I don’t want you to be alone if he calls.”

“I’ll be fine. But thanks for offering.” I kiss him quick. “It makes me want to keep you as a boyfriend. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He sits down instead of leaving. “I had another reason for coming down here. Besides the missing you thing.”

His tone is making me nervous. “Okay. So what is it?”

“We can’t go to New York next weekend. I’m sorry but I totally forgot that next weekend is that political fundraiser at my house.”

“But I thought you hated those things.”

I do, but I kind of need to go to this.” Garret’s not telling me something and whatever he’s not telling me is something I don’t want to know. But I don’t like him keeping secrets. He’s kept secrets from me before and it almost destroyed our relationship.

“What is it?” I ask, keeping my eyes on him. “Just tell me. I know you’re not giving me the whole story here.”

“It’s just that I . . . I used to date the guy’s daughter.”

“What guy?”

“The politician we’re having the fundraiser for. Royce Sinclair.”

“The guy who’s trying to run for president? The guy who could actually be president? You dated his daughter?”

“Yes. It was last summer when I was interning in DC. She was an intern, too. But it was nothing. We just—”

“Okay. Hold on. I’m still trying to process the fact that you dated a girl who might live in the White House soon.”

“My dad’s been friends with her dad forever, so it’s not that big a deal.”

“Is that why you dated her? Did your dad make you?”

“No. Actually I didn’t even tell him that Sadie and I were dating until we’d broken up. Anyway, I feel like I should go to this thing since it’s for her dad. Plus, like I said, the guy’s kind of a friend of the family.”

“And will this girl you dated be there?”

“I don’t think so. She goes to college in DC. She won’t come all the way up here for a fundraiser.”

“So this means what? You have to go with Ava?”

He nods. “Yes.”

I say nothing. Garret hasn’t had one of these functions for over a month. And now that he and I are officially dating, I don’t want him around Ava.

“You’re mad,” he says.

“Well, yeah. I don’t want Ava hanging all over you at this thing, pretending to be your girlfriend.”

“I won’t let her hang on me.”

“I don’t even want her touching you.”

“Jade, you know I’m not at all interested in her. I don’t even like her as a friend.”

“I know. But still.” I get into bed. “If you feel you need to do this, it’s okay. We can go to New York another time. I need to get to sleep. I’ll see you later.”

He gets up to leave, but stops before he reaches the door. “What if you came with me?”

“With you where?”

“To the fundraiser. What if you were my date instead of Ava?”