Loving You (The Jade Series #3) (18 page)

“Free stuff is one of perks of having a celebrity in the family.”

Back in my room, I start trying stuff on. It’s fun getting new clothes. Growing up, I never had any. All my clothes came from the thrift store.

I try on the denim skirt first along with a red fitted t-shirt.
 

“Jade, are you in there?” Garret knocks on the door.
 

“Yeah. Come in.” I adjust my skirt as he walks in the room. “Hey. You want to go have lunch or something?”

His eyes drift over my body as he closes the door. “Or something sounds good. Where did you get the new clothes?”
 

“Harper’s sister was getting rid of them. But the skirt was a Christmas gift from Harper. Do you like it?” I spin around.

“Do I like it? Are you kidding? I love it.” He leads me to the bed, sits down, and places me on his lap. “Skirts are freaking awesome.” He runs his hand up and down my bare legs.

I laugh. “I didn’t know you liked them so much. She got me another one. Do you want to see it?”

I start to get up but he holds me down and kisses me as his hand continues up my leg under the skirt and straight to my panties. Now I get why he likes skirts.
 

“Garret, don’t you want to see my other skirt?”
 

“Surprise me with it next time. I’m liking this one right now.”

He kisses me again as he lays me down on the bed. His hand brushes my thigh as it heads right back under the skirt.
 

“Damn, Jade,” he says, his breathing heavy. “I can’t believe you never wore one of these for me before.”

From the way he’s reacting, I think he might like this skirt thing as much as I like doing it in the shower. Who knew a simple skirt could have such an effect on him? It makes me wonder what else he likes.
 

After we’re done with what Garret is now referring to as “skirt sex” I put my regular clothes back on.

“I’m definitely buying you more skirts,” he says as he watches me put away my new clothes. “Be sure to thank Harper for me.”

“She got me some sundresses, too.” I take one out and show it to him. It’s short and has tiny straps at the top.
 

Garret’s smiling. “You should let Harper pick out all your clothes.”

I hang the dress back in the closet. “She’s having her sister send me some bikinis for the summer. I don’t think I’ve ever worn a bikini.”

“When you get them, I expect a fashion show.”
 

“Hey, did you call that real estate agent yet?” I go and sit next to him on the bed.

“No, but I got the number from my dad. He actually thought it was a good idea that we live together this summer. He didn’t even care that we’re going to California. Can you believe that? I was expecting a lecture when I told him.”

“About that. I think we should pick somewhere else to go. Do you know how much beach rentals cost?”

“Yeah. My family rents a place on the beach every summer.”

“Harper said summer rentals in California are like $4000 a week. That’s way too much. I can’t make enough money to pay for that.”

“You’re not backing out on this, Jade. We both want to do this and I’m not letting your stubbornness prevent us from going.”

“But it costs a fortune. And that doesn’t even count food and—”

He kisses me while I’m still talking and keeps kissing me until I stop.

“We’re done talking about money. We’re going to California this summer and we’re getting a place right on the beach. And we’re getting a good place, not a cheap, run-down place.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Jade, I don’t want to hear it. You don’t get many opportunities like this. Once we graduate and get jobs we won’t be able to do stuff like this anymore. Now is the time to just have fun and not worry about shit. We’re going. And I don’t want to hear one more word about how much it costs, now or when we’re there. I have it covered. Rent, food, and anything else we need.”

“You know I can’t just go there and not pay for anything.”

“Why not? I swear, I don’t understand you and this money thing. Just let it go.”

“I can’t. I still feel like I owe you when you keep buying me things. Like I have this huge mountain of debt to pay back.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Stop thinking that. And stop saying it.”

“What if we broke up? Then I’d owe you.”

“We’re back to this now? Dammit, Jade. I thought you were done with this breakup shit.”
 

He’s mad because I spent all of last semester telling him I was sure we’d break up. We’d had several fights about it.

“I’m not planning on us breaking up, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. And if it does, I’ll have to spend the rest of my life paying you back. I already owe you a ton of money for those plane tickets.”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “Okay. This is the last time we’re talking about this. Just so you’re clear. If we break up, you will not owe me anything. You will not owe my family anything. You can leave free and clear with no debt. Do you need that in writing? Because I can have something official drawn up by my dad’s lawyer.”

I smile. “No. I believe you.”
 

“So you promise you won’t bring up the money issue ever again? And you’ll let me pay for stuff?”

“I can’t promise you that.”

“Then I’ll withhold sex until you do.”

The comment along with the stern look on his face makes me laugh.

“I’m serious, Jade.”

“There’s no way in hell you wouldn’t have sex with me. All I have to do is put on a skirt.”

He thinks about it. “Nope. I could resist you. That’s how tired I am of this money discussion. I just want it to end.”

I consider testing him and seeing if he actually
would
hold out on me. But I really don’t want that. And I did secretly make a New Year’s resolution to stop worrying so much about money.

“Okay. I promise.”
 

“Wow, that was easy.” He kisses me, then stays close to my lips. “Guess you’re not willing to give up sex. I must be good.”

“You’re okay,” I say, taking his ego down a notch. “I was really just trying to avoid arguing about it. That’s all.”

His cocky grin appears. “Yeah, I’m sure that was the reason.”

“Whatever.”

He backs away. “I don’t think you can do it.”

“Do what?”

“I don’t think you can go even a day without talking about how much stuff costs or complaining about how much I’m spending. I think there needs to be consequences for you breaking your promise. Otherwise, you’ll just keep breaking it.”

I cross my arms across my chest. “Consequences? Like what?”
 

He takes a moment to consider it. “Like if you talk about money, you have to wear a skirt. Or some lingerie. Or you have to strip for me like you did in New York.”

I relax my arms. “I’d do those things for you anyway. That’s not a punishment. But if you want to say it is, then fine. I’ll agree to that.”

“Then we’ve got a deal.” He throws his hands in the air. “Finally. No more talk about money.”
 

I hug him. “I love you, Garret.”

“Really? I thought after that you’d be mad at me.”

“Nope. You piss me off with the money thing, but I still love you.”

“Ha! You brought it up again. You owe me a striptease. My room. Tonight.”

“But it was just a comment, not a complaint!”

“I heard the word ‘money.’ Enough said.”

I sigh. “Okay. Your room. Tonight. Did I tell you I’m not very good with keeping promises?”

“Yeah.” He smiles. “That’s why I made the consequences. I have a feeling you’ll be stripping a lot for me now.”

Tuesday morning, the first day of class, I wake up in Garret’s room to bright sunshine seeping through the curtains. I check the clock. 7:40. Shit! I have class at 8.
 

“Garret, get up.” I shove the covers off us and climb out of bed.

“What time is it?” he asks, still groggy.

“I overslept. I have class in 20 minutes. I gotta go. I’ll see you later.” I throw my sweatshirt on over my pajamas, then yank my shoe on but lose my balance and fall back on the bed.
 

Garret leans up to kiss me. “See you at lunch?”

“Not on Tuesdays and Thursdays, remember? You have class at noon and I have chem lab at 1.”

I hurry downstairs to my room and quickly change into jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. I haven’t even packed my backpack for class. I’m so unprepared this semester—a side effect of spending all my time with Garret. Last semester, I was early to my first class and my backpack was neatly organized. Today I’m a total disaster. I’m not even clean. I probably smell like sex.
 

I need to get focused again. This semester I’m trying to get serious and figure out what I want to major in. I’m considering biology, even though last semester’s biology class wasn’t my favorite. But that’s because my idiot lab partner stuck me with all the work.
 

I’m still thinking of going to med school, but I haven’t told anyone this yet and I don’t plan to until I decide for sure. To help make that decision, I’m taking the classes my advisor said are typical of pre-med students; chemistry, physics, and microbiology. Those three classes will be tough, so I added some easier electives; sociology and European history. It’s a full schedule that will keep me buried in homework.

When I arrive at the science building at 8:05, my chem class has already started. Moorhurst is a small college so the classes never have more than 30 people. From my quick count, this one has about 25. Everyone turns and stares at me as I walk in. Luckily the professor is writing something on the board and doesn’t notice.
 

There’s an open seat in the last row so I quickly take it, quietly setting my backpack on the floor. Some guy I’ve never seen before is sitting next to me. I thought I knew everyone at this school, but this guy doesn’t even look familiar.

The professor picks up a thin booklet from his desk and holds it up. “Before we begin, open your lab books to page 10.”

I search my backpack for the lab book. It’s not in there. Of course, because I’m not prepared! That’s it. As soon I get back to my room, I’m getting organized.

“Do you want to share?” The guy I don’t recognize holds his lab book out opened to page 10.

“Sure. Thanks.” I scoot my desk closer to his.
 

“No problem.” He smiles before returning his eyes to the book.
 

I glance at him quick. He’s really cute, bordering on hot. His wavy, dark brown hair matches his intensely deep brown eyes and I noticed a dimple in his cheek when he smiled.
 

He must be new. If this guy was here last semester, I definitely would’ve remembered him.
 

“The lab experiment you’ll be doing later today is listed on page 10,” the professor says. “Review the instructions before you get to lab and make sure you get there early to pick up your supplies, which are listed on page 12. And if you don’t have a partner yet, find one before you arrive.” He returns to the board and starts writing again.

Partner? Who already has a partner? Class just started. I see the people in front of me whispering to each other. So we’re picking partners right now? Shit! Now I’m going to be paired up with whoever’s left. I’m going to get another loser like I had in biology lab.

“Do you have a partner?” new guy asks, leaning over so close I can smell the minty gum he’s chewing.
 

I back away slightly. “No. I don’t.”
 

He’s clearly hinting he wants to be partners, but I don’t even know this guy. What if we don’t get along? I don’t want to be stuck with him all semester. I scan the room. Everyone is facing forward again as if they all now have partners.

“Would you mind being my partner?” new guy asks. “I promise I’ll always do my share of the work.” He smiles again, showing off his perfect white teeth and that seriously cute dimple.

“That already makes you better than my last lab partner, so, yeah, we can be partners.”

“I’m Carson, by the way.” He holds his hand out.

“I’m Jade.” I shake his hand, which is very large. He’s a big guy. Wide shoulders and chest. Muscular forearms. He definitely works out.
 

The professor is speaking again. “Now turn to page 8 in your textbooks and we’ll begin.”

After class, Carson follows me into the hallway. “Do you want me to get the lab supplies?”

“Sure, if you don’t mind. And I’ll definitely be on time for lab. I’m usually not late to class like that. In fact, that’s probably the first time I’ve ever been late to class. I’m usually early.”

“Me too. Except today I got there way too early. I wanted to make sure I went to the right room. I’m new here, in case you didn’t know that already.”