Page 48

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

GARRET

I walk in the coffee shop and see Jade reading one of her textbooks.

“Ready to go?” I ask her. “I have the car outside but I’m in a no parking zone so we need to hurry.”

She jumps up from her chair, grabbing her backpack. “No parking zone?” She takes my hand as we walk out the door. “You’re breaking the law?”

“Today I am.”

She smiles. “I like this bad boy side of you.”

“I can be as bad as you want when we get home.” I kiss her as I open the car door.

As we’re driving away from campus, I look over at her and say, “Did you go through a lot of Kleenex today? Have any hair emergencies to use up those headbands? Or how about that protractor? Did you measure any angles?”

She hits my arm. “Someday you’ll need those things and you’ll be sorry you don’t have them.”

“Yeah, I’ll be sorry I don’t have a pink headband and cherry lip balm.”

“Maybe not those things but the other ones. Hey, I met this girl at the coffee shop. We talked a little and she seemed really nice. I think we might become friends.”

“You guys should go do something. Maybe you could have lunch with her this week.”

“She works during lunch. And she can’t do anything after work because she has a baby. The dad took off and she doesn’t have any family around.”

“That sucks. So the dad doesn’t see the kid?”

“He doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want anything to do with Sara or the baby. He went to Camsburg and graduated last May and now he works in San Francisco. He’s rich. Well, his parents are rich. But he won’t help her with money. He won’t even pay child support.”

“What an ass. Who leaves their kid like that?”

“A lot of people do. My dad left me. Her kid is basically me. He has a rich dad who wants nothing to do with him. Anyway, I told her I’d babysit if she needed me to.”

“Babysit? How old is this kid?”

“Six months.”

Somehow I can’t see Jade watching a baby. Jade doesn’t like loud noises and babies are very loud. And I can’t imagine her changing a diaper. “Have you ever taken care of a baby?”

“No, but I’ll have you there to help me out.” She gives me the smile she uses when she wants me to go along with something. “You took care of Lilly when she was a baby.”

“That doesn’t mean I should be babysitting someone else’s kid.”

“Then I’ll just do it. I already told her I would. And she may not even need me to.”

“Hey, before I forget, Dr. Cunningham won’t be here until tomorrow afternoon so my appointment is at 4. We can go right after class. Your calculus class ends at 3:30, right?”

“Yes. Ugh, another semester of calculus. I am not looking forward to that.”

We’re home now and as we get out of the car I scan the outside of the house. Everything appears to be okay. While we were gone, I used my phone to check the views from the cameras. I didn’t see anyone lurking around, but I only checked the cameras a few times.

I follow Jade inside and check for anything that looks out of place. Ever since that burglar showed up, I haven’t felt safe. I feel like we’re open targets out here with no protection. No gun. No security guards. No locked gate keeping people out.

I hate to admit it, but I kind of wish I lived closer to my dad now. When I went to Moorhurst, I didn’t worry about shit as much because my dad was just a half hour away. Even after Jade’s room was broken into last year, I felt safe because we were in the dorm. There were always people around and the doors were locked at night. And if we needed to, Jade and I could always go stay at my dad’s house and feel safe. Now we can’t do that. We’re out here all alone and there’s nobody here we can trust. And I can’t run to my dad for protection. It’s just me now and I have to take care of Jade.

Over the summer I didn’t have to worry. Harper was always with Jade and even when she wasn’t, the beach we lived on always had people on it. We didn’t know our neighbors that well but we’d introduced ourselves. Our neighbors were mostly families or older couples and I felt like Jade could go to them if she ever needed help. Living there felt much safer than here, where we rarely see anyone.

My phone rings and I see it’s my dad.

“Hey, Dad.” I go outside on the deck.

“Hello, Garret. I don’t have much time to talk but I wanted to give you an update regarding the robbery in your neighborhood. I’ve been trying to locate the police report.”

I don’t know how he does it, but my dad is somehow able to get access to police reports. This isn’t the first time he’s done this. When I used to get in trouble with the cops back in high school, my dad always got copies of the reports they made about me. I never asked how he got them.

“So did you find it?”

“No. I even had someone go to the station and look, but it wasn’t there. I don’t think they ever filled one out.”

“That doesn’t make sense. They arrested the guy.”

“Yes, and I checked on that. He’s still in jail but not for the robbery. They picked him up on charges related to drug possession.”

“How did you know who he was without having the police report?”

“I had one of my security experts check the footage from the cameras at your house. He was able to zoom in and identify the man in the car as a man who was already in the police’s criminal database. He has a long record, including charges for rape and attempted murder.”

“So there was a rapist killer hanging around my home? That’s just great.”

“He was never convicted on either of those charges. It sounded like he was almost convicted for the murder but he got off on a technicality. The point I’m trying to make here is that the police want to get this guy locked up for good, so it’s in their best interest to file a police report about that burglary.”

“What are you telling me here, Dad?”

“I want you to be careful. I’ll keep working on this, but until I figure out what’s going on, I need both of you to be careful.”

“What does this have to do with Jade and me? The guy robbed the neighbors, not us, and if he’s in custody now, why are you so worried?”

“When police reports are missing, it means someone’s trying to hide something.”

That’s all my dad needs to say for me to understand. It means the organization might be involved. They’re always trying to hide things. The question is, why would they be involved in this?

“I’ll let you know if I get any updates,” my dad says. “As of now, I wouldn’t tell Jade about this. There’s no use worrying her until I know for sure what’s going on.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Goodbye, Garret.”

“Bye.”

I almost wish he hadn’t told me that. He told me because he wants me to be alert. Check for anything suspicious. Keep an eye on Jade. But it’s just another thing to worry about and I don’t need the stress. I have enough of it with moving and starting a new school and dealing with my shoulder.

This missing police report could be nothing. The cops could’ve just misplaced the file. Or whoever my dad hired to find it may be looking in the wrong place. I hope that’s all it is.

My phone rings again. It’s Sean. I haven’t called him since we moved here. I kept meaning to and then I’d get busy and not do it. I need to call him more. We became really good friends over the summer and I want to make sure we stay friends. From the way things are going, I don’t think I’ll have many friends here.

“Hey, Sean.” I try to relax and get that conversation with my dad out of my head. I can’t worry about it. If I do, Jade will notice and then she’ll ask questions.

“Hey, how it’s going?”

“Good. Sorry I haven’t called. It’s been busy with the move, and then my dad was here, and classes started.”

“Don’t worry about it. So how’s the new place?”

“It’s great, but one of the houses a few down from ours was broken into the other day so I’m not feeling too safe about the area.”

“Yeah, Harper told me. That sucks. You’d think you’d be safe in a small town like that.”

“I don’t think you’re safe anywhere anymore. So what’s new in your life? Work going okay?”

“Not really. My boss didn’t like me taking the summer off so he’s being a real ass about it. Giving me the worst shifts. Not giving me time off when I ask. I need a different job.”

“Doesn’t seem like you have many options around there.”

“I don’t. That’s the problem. If I want to work somewhere decent, and not some shit diner, I need to go out of town.”

“Meaning you’d have to move?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you told Harper this?”

“No. And I’m not going to. As much as I hate my job, I love Harper and I’m not willing to risk our relationship for a job somewhere else that I may not even like. I might as well stay where I am.”

This is one of those times when it sucks to have inside information. Jade’s told me that Harper isn’t sure about her future with Sean and yet Sean is putting his career on hold for her. But I can’t tell him what Harper said. He needs to hear it from her. The two of them need to work this out themselves.

“So you’re going to stay at that job until she graduates? That’s three more years, Sean. You sure you want to do that?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“You could try dating long distance. Where were you thinking of moving to?”

“Don’t tell Jade this, okay?”

“Sean, you know I’m going to tell her.”

“Fine, but ask her not to tell Harper.”

“Okay, so what is it?”

“The guy I worked for last summer called and offered me a job at his flagship restaurant in LA. He said he was really impressed with me and could see me working as head chef at one of his restaurants someday. He’s got places all up and down the coast.”

“Sean, that’s a great opportunity. You can’t pass that up.”

“I already told him I couldn’t do it. I can’t lose Harper.”

“She goes back to California all the time to visit her family. And she’d live with you in the summers. You guys could make this work.”

“Not for three years. That’s too long.”

“You have to tell Harper about this. She has to know what you’re giving up to be with her.”

“If I did that, she’d tell me to take the job.”

“Yeah, so what’s the problem?”

“I don’t want us living on separate coasts. I’m hoping we’ll be engaged in a few months and I don’t want to live 3000 miles away from my fiancé.”

“You’re proposing to her?”

“Yeah. I told you that last summer.”

“You haven’t said anything since then so I wasn’t sure if you still planned to.”

“I’m going to. I’m just not sure when. I’m trying to save up for a ring. I’ve been shopping around but shit, they’re expensive. How much did you pay for Jade’s?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Sometimes I forget you’re loaded.”

That’s another reason I like Sean. He treats me like I don’t have money. He doesn’t know I lost my trust fund and he doesn’t know about Jade’s money. But none of that matters. To Sean, I’m just his friend and he doesn’t even think about the money. He’s so different from the fake friends I had back in high school who only hung out with me because of whatever benefits they thought they could get from being friends with a Kensington.

“If you’re not proposing right away, you don’t need to buy a ring yet.”

“I know. I’m just shopping around.”

“Does Harper know you’re proposing? Did you drop any hints?”

“I thought I did, but I don’t know if she picked up on them.”

“You should drop some more hints. Make it clear to her this is what you’re planning. She may not be ready for this. She’s still in college.”

“So are you and Jade. What’s up with you, man? Are you trying to talk me out of this? Or did Jade tell you something? Did Harper say she didn’t want to marry me?”

Shit. Now I have to lie. But I can’t get in the middle of this.

“I just think you might want to make sure you two are on the same page. Maybe she’ll want to wait to get married. Like wait until after graduation.”

“That’s fine. We can just have a long engagement.”

“Are you going to ask Harper’s dad before you propose?”

“I’d like to, but the guy hates me and I really don’t want him telling me I can’t marry his daughter. I don’t know what his problem is. He’s nice to everyone except me. I must’ve done something to piss him off.”

“You didn’t do anything, Sean.”

“Then what the hell’s his problem? Even her mom hates me now. It doesn’t make sense. The only thing I can think of is that they want Harper to marry someone who’s rich. But her parents grew up without money so you’d think they’d be okay with her marrying someone like me.”

“Hollywood people are strange. Don’t worry about them. You don’t need Kiefer’s permission to marry her.”

“I’d still like to ask him. And I know Harper would want me to. She’s really close to her dad and it would mean a lot to her if he gave us his blessing. But I know he’s not going to, which really pisses me off. I don’t care how he treats me , but I care how he treats Harper and right now he’s hurting her by acting this way. Last week I caught her crying right after she talked to him. She said it wasn’t about us but I know it was. I mean, is that really what her dad wants? To hurt his daughter like that? Would he rather have her dating some rich asshole who treats her like shit?”

“Just give it time. My dad didn’t like Jade when we first started dating. I told you how he kept trying to break us apart. My stepmom still hates her, but she hates everyone, including me. Anyway, the point is my dad eventually came around and now he loves Jade.”

Just as I say it, Jade comes walking out on the deck wearing her bright green bikini and sunglasses. Damn, she’s hot. It causes movement in my shorts, which is awkward when I’m trying to talk to Sean.

“Who loves me?” Jade asks, hearing the tail end of the conversation.

“My dad.” I put the phone on speaker. “Sean’s on the phone.”

“Hey, Sean, how’s it going?” Jade reclines back in the chair, putting her feet up on me.

“Good. How was the first day of class?”

“It sucked. The only good part of the day was eating lunch with this really hot guy.”

“Does Garret know?”

“Asshole,” I mumble.

Jade laughs.

Sean laughs, too. “I need to go, but I’ll call you guys later.”

“Sounds good. See ya, Sean.” I put my phone away.

“What’s new with Sean?”

My eyes are fixed on the cleavage spilling out of Jade’s bikini top. Harper gave her that bikini last spring, along with a few others, but this one’s my favorite. It hugs her ass perfectly and the top pushes up her breasts.

“Garret? What did Sean say?”

“You need to cover up if you want to talk.”

“I came out here to get some sun. I’m not covering up.”

“Then we need to go have sex and then come out here and talk.” I take her feet off my lap and yank her chair toward me. “This suit drives me crazy. You know it does.”

She tries to play innocent. “Actually, no, I never knew that.”

I put my lips to her ear. “Bedroom. Now.”

“Tell me what Sean said first.”

“Jade.” I lick the skin just below her ear and her breath catches.

“What?” She closes her eyes as I kiss the area I just licked.

I talk low but forceful. “Get your hot little ass in that bedroom or I’ll do you right here.”

“No, you won’t. There are cameras out here.”

“Do you really think I give a shit?” I run my hand up her inner thigh and right before I slip my finger under her suit, her eyes pop open and she stands up.

I laugh. “Going somewhere?”

She grabs my hand and yanks me inside. I scoop her up and take her to the bed. She rips her suit off before I can do it. Yeah, she knew what she was doing wearing that thing. It works every time.

Right after we have sex, she says, “Now will you tell me what Sean said?”

I’m still on top of her. “Really, Jade? You can’t wait a few minutes?”

“Why? What’s the problem?”

“We just had sex. I’m trying to enjoy the moment here. I don’t want to talk about Sean.”

“Oh, sorry. Get off me and we’ll go back outside.”

I sigh as I get up. “Just use me for sex, then move on, huh?”

“The sex wasn’t my idea,” she insists, putting her bikini back on.

“Yeah, that wasn’t at all what you had in mind when you came outside wearing that.”

She just smiles as she walks away. “I’ll see you out there.”

I throw my shorts on and grab my sunglasses and meet Jade outside. “So if I tell you what Sean said you can’t tell Harper.” I set my chair next to Jade’s, facing the ocean.

She reaches over and holds my hand. She always links our hands when we’re next to each other. It’s so automatic I don’t even think she realizes she does it.

“I won’t tell her. So what did he say?”

“He said that guy he worked for last summer offered him a job. The guy owns a bunch of restaurants up and down the coast and he wants Sean to work his way up to head chef at one of his restaurants.”

“What’s Sean going to do? Did he take the job?”

“No. He won’t take it because of Harper. But you can’t tell her that. He doesn’t want her to know. He still plans to propose to her in a few months. He’s been looking at rings.”

“But she’s not ready for that. Why doesn’t he know this? He needs to be dropping hints to see her reaction.”

“I told him that and he said he already did, but it sounds like she didn’t pick up on them.”

“Did he mention Harper’s dad? Because I’m sure he knows her dad’s not going to be happy about the proposal.”

“I don’t think he cares. I mean, he cares, but he’ll still propose.”

“So Sean’s giving up a huge job opportunity all because of Harper and she doesn’t even know. This really sucks.”

“If he told her, do you think she’d break up with him?”

“She’d tell him to take the job, which would basically mean they’re breaking up. They can’t live on separate coasts and still date. They could try it, but doing that for three years? It wouldn’t work.”

“She could move to California with him. She’d be closer to her family.”

“I don’t think she’d do that. She likes being on the tennis team at Moorhurst and I don’t think she’d change her whole life like that for Sean. She still sees him as just a boyfriend, not a future husband, so if he proposes, she’ll say no. She isn’t ready for that kind of commitment.”

“Then I guess he’s stuck there.” I squeeze her hand. “Look what you girls do to us.”

“What do we do?”

“Make us love you so we end up doing stupid shit we shouldn’t do.”

“You guys do the same thing to us.”

“You girls are way worse. You know we’re weak when it comes to your womanly wiles.”

She laughs. “Womanly wiles? Did you suddenly step back into the Victorian era?”

“That green bikini.” I point to it. “Prime example of using your womanly wiles to get what you want.”

“I did not want anything. I was just sunbathing.”

“Whatever, Jade.” I lean over and kiss her cheek, then we both recline back in our chairs and let the sun bake into our skin.

I hear the waves and am reminded of the invite to go surfing with those guys. I’m glad I didn’t go. As much as I like to surf, that guy who invited me seemed like an ass, which means his friends probably are, too. I’d much rather spend the rest of the day hanging out with my hot wife in her green bikini, which by the way leads back to the bedroom an hour later.