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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I’ll ask them,” Pearce says.

Garret looks at his dad. “Ask them what?”

“I’ll ask Roth if they have plans for you or if this is just one of their control tactics.”

“You’re not allowed to ask them questions. You know that.”

“Yes, but I also know that I want my son to be happy more than anything else. I want you to have a normal life, Garret. That’s the reason we worked so hard to get you out of this. And I don’t want you worrying about this for the rest of your life.”

“They’ll punish you. They’ll punish you for even asking the question.”

“Let them. I don’t care anymore.”

“They could do something to Lilly.”

“They won’t. Katherine’s father made some kind of deal with them. She knows what it is but she won’t tell me. All I know is that any punishment I receive will never involve Lilly.”

“You don’t need to do this. Jade and I will just do like you said and not let them get to us.”

“No. I want this to be settled and I want it to be settled now. I want you to be able to relax and enjoy your wedding day and you won’t be able to do so if you’re worrying about this.”

“But, Dad, I don’t want you to—”

“Garret. I’m taking care of it.” Pearce says it forcefully.

Garret and his dad look at each other for just a moment and although nothing is said, it seems like there’s some kind of understanding between them.

“I guess we should get inside,” Garret says.

Pearce stands up. “Yes, we should go to dinner. Lilly needs to get to sleep early tonight. She’s had a long day.”

And that’s it. The conversation is over. Garret and his dad act like the whole thing never even happened and I’m left confused, as I always am when his family’s involved. It’s like they turn a switch and one minute they’re in crisis mode and the next they’re back to normal. It’s so strange.

We go back in the house and get ready for dinner. Grace takes us to her favorite restaurant in town, a little French cafe. I can’t even understand the menu because it’s in French so I make Garret find me something to eat. Apparently he learned French while in prep school. It’s not like he’s fluent in it but he can at least read the menu. I swear I’m always learning something new about him.

After dinner, we go back to Grace’s house and Pearce puts Lilly to bed. He even reads her a story. The guy has totally changed. There’s a warmth coming from him that was never there before, or if it was, he hid it really well.

It’s only 8, so Garret and I decide to head home instead of spending the night at Grace’s house. We tell everyone goodbye but as we’re walking out to the car, Pearce follows us.

“My meetings will be done Thursday morning so maybe we could come by your place Thursday afternoon?”

“Yes, definitely,” I say.

He looks at Garret. “I know I told you not to worry, but I don’t think you should go into town until they’re gone.”

“Can Lilly come over while you’re in your meetings?” I ask him. “Grace could bring her, right?”

“That’s a good idea. Lilly would love to spend time with you two if you’re not too busy with the wedding plans.”

“Everything’s pretty much done,” I say.

“Then yes, I’ll tell Grace to bring her over.” He hugs Garret. “Have a safe trip back.”

He hugs me, too. I’m still not used to it.

On the ride back, Garret and I avoid talking about our conversation with his dad. But as soon as we’re home, getting ready for bed, I bring it up.

“I don’t believe your dad. I don’t believe this is over.” I put a tank top on and get into bed.

“Jade, I don’t want to get into this. Talking about it will just make you worry more.” He gets in bed next to me, wearing just his boxer briefs.

“I’ll worry if we don’t talk about it.” I shove the blanket down so we’re covered with just the sheet. “I need to talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to say. They let me go. They have to follow the rules. My dad’s right. The organization is all about rules and they’re very strict about following those rules.”

“Then why are they here? And why are they doing this now? A week before the wedding?”

“Because they’re trying to get in our heads. Like my dad said, it’s what they do. They’re fucking crazy. They get off on doing this shit. Playing mind games. Showing how powerful they are. You can’t let them get to you.”

“Well, they’ve already gotten to me because I’m a nervous wreck. I feel sick to my stomach.”

“Get over here.” Garret puts his arm out I scoot up next to him. He wraps his other arm tightly around me. “Everything will work out. You need to stop worrying about this.”

I lift my head and look at him. “You’re not worried? Not even a little?”

“I’m not going to let them ruin this for us. This is the week before our wedding. We’re supposed to be happy.”

“But they’re here in town. What if they do something? What if they really do try to stop the wedding?”

“It’s not gonna happen. I worked my freaking ass off trying to get you to marry me and it’s happening on Saturday, no matter what.”

I rest my chin on his chest. “I don’t think you worked your ass off. I think I made it pretty easy.”

“Are you kidding me? First of all, I worked my ass off just to get you to date me. And then I worked my ass off trying to get you to keep dating me after you kept trying to break up with me.”

I smile. “I think you’re exaggerating. I didn’t make it that hard.”

“You made it nearly impossible. That should show you how much I love you. There’s no way in hell I’d work that hard for any other girl.”

I rub my hand along his bare chest. “You’re funny.”

“I’m not kidding, Jade. You made things very difficult. Extremely difficult.”

I laugh. “I’m sorry. But you got what you wanted in the end.”

“I did.” He drops a soft kiss on my forehead.

“So did I.” I inch closer to him.

“You know what?” he asks.

“What?” I reach up and kiss him.

“Next week at this time you’ll be my wife.” I feel him smile against my lips.

“And you’ll be my husband.” I kiss him again then kiss my way down to his chest. I love kissing him. All of him. His body is pure perfection and I can’t help but put my hands and lips all over him.

“Jade?” Garret smooths my hair with his hand.

I kiss my way back to his face. “Yeah?”

“I’m serious when I say I don’t want you to worry about this thing with Roth. We’re going to have a great week. We’re going to have a great wedding. And everything’s going to be okay.”

“I know you say that but—”

“What did I say back in the woods in Connecticut before I found out their decision about my future?”

My mind flashes back to that day. I remember it so vividly it’s like it happened yesterday. “You said that everything will work out.”

“And it did work out.”

“Yeah, but you had no control over that.”

“Jade.” He waits until our gazes meet in the dimly-lit room. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” And it’s true. I, the person who used to trust no one, trust Garret completely now.

“Then listen to me. They are not going to try to take me again. They’re not going to do anything to me. This is over, okay?”

“I guess.” I rest my head on his shoulder.

“Hey.” He lifts my chin up. “We can’t let them control us. I mean it. We can’t let them get in our heads.”

“You’re right.” I take a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. I’m not going to worry about it. This is our wedding week and I want to spend it being happy. Because I am, Garret. I’m so happy to be marrying you.”

“You are?” I see him smiling.

“Yes. But you already know that.”

“I still like hearing you say it.” He kisses me and the feel of his soft lips and warm breath gets me all tingly inside.

“I’m not sleepy yet. I think I need to do something that’ll help me relax.” My hand wanders under the sheet and down his abs.

“I can help you relax.” He turns on his side and eases me down on my back.

“I didn’t even tell you what I wanted,” I say, running my fingers through his hair.

“I know what you want.” His hand slides down my stomach, slipping under my panties. He kisses the area just under my ear and I hear him softly talking. “I know exactly what you want. And exactly what to do to drive you crazy.”

His lips meet up with mine again and he proceeds to do those things and more.