Promising You (The Jade Series #4) (11 page)

And now that he knows me, the real me, he knows that deep down I don’t think I’m a very good person. I know that’s why Garret said that to me just now. He wants me to believe I’m the person he described as much as he believes it. And maybe someday I will.
 

I give him a hug, squeezing him really tight. “I love you so much.”

He rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “I love you, too.”

I hold on to him a little longer, then finally let him go and stand up. “Now can we start Garret night?”
 

He laughs. “Okay, but I still don’t know why we’re having Garret night.”

“We just are, okay?” I go over to the movies. “Which one do you want to watch first?”

“Where did you get the DVD player?” he asks, seeing it next to the TV.

“I borrowed it from Harper.”

“And you made me cookies?” He points to the container of cookies, which is sitting next to the snacks I bought.

“No. I asked Charles to make them. He said those are your favorite. He made them this morning.”

“And he drove here and delivered them?”

“Actually Decker picked them up for me since I can’t drive yet.”

“You really put a lot of effort into Garret night,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Yeah, well, given that it’s the first one I figured it better be good.”

“So this isn’t a one-time thing?”

“Nope. Garret night will continue but you won’t know when. I’ll just surprise you.”

“You’re so damn sweet,” he says, tickling me as he kisses me.

“For the last time, I’m
not
sweet,” I say, laughing as I try to squirm away. “Now go pick out a movie.”

We watch two movies, then have sex again before finally going to sleep. Garret wakes me up early and we do it again. I think he’s trying to make sure I remember how good he is at that when I’m spending all those hours alone with Carson. As if I’d even consider doing anything with Carson. Not gonna happen.

We go to Al’s Pancake House for breakfast since we’ll miss our traditional Sunday breakfast. Luckily, there aren’t any photographers there. They must all be hanging out at Garret’s house.
 

When we get back to my room I finish packing. At 11:30 we say our goodbyes before Carson arrives.
 

“So you’ll call me every hour from the road,” Garret confirms.

“Yes. But Carson’s going to think I’m crazy calling you that much.”

“I don’t give a fuck what he thinks. I need to know you’re okay and not dead in a ditch somewhere.”

“He’s a very safe driver. And don’t start getting upset. He’ll be here in a few minutes and I don’t want you two fighting before we leave.”

“I won’t fight with him.” Garret doesn’t sound at all convincing.

“Garret, I mean it. If he says something that pisses you off, just ignore him.”

He drops his head down, shaking it side to side. “I can’t believe I’m going along with this. Why the hell am I letting some guy I can’t stand drive the person I love most in the world halfway across the country? Your life is in his hands. He could veer off the road into a ditch and kill you. Or hit another car.” Garret runs both his hands through his hair. “Shit! I can’t let you do this, Jade. I can’t trust this guy.”

I take Garret’s hands in mine. “Relax. Everything will be fine. Nothing bad will happen. Isn’t that what you always tell me when I worry about stuff?”

“Yes, but this is different. You sure you don’t want to stay here? We could watch movies at my house all week. Charles will make you whatever you want. You could hang out with Lilly.”

“Those are all good things but I need to spend time with Frank and Ryan.”

“Just make sure you call me, okay? And leave your phone on.”

“I will.”

He gets his wallet out and takes out four twenty dollar bills. “Here. Take this.”

“I’m not taking your money, Garret.”

“You’ll need it for the trip.”

“Carson said I didn’t owe him gas money. His dad’s paying for it.”

“You still need money for food and drinks and whatever you else want. Just take it.” He holds the bills out in front of me.

I take one of the bills. “I don’t need $80. Twenty is fine.”

“That’s not enough for two trips, there and back. You’ll be stopping at gas stations and they jack the price up on stuff. Trust me. You’ll want the $80.”

“Okay, but I’m giving you whatever’s left when I get back.”

He rolls his eyes. “You’re keeping it. I swear, Jade, you drive me crazy with this money thing.”

I take the remaining bills and put them in my empty wallet, then go back over to him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

We kiss just as Carson starts knocking on my door. “Jade, it’s me.”

Garret sighs as I pull away. “It’s me? Seriously? Tell him you’re not on the ‘it’s me’ level.”

“Don’t start.” I kiss him quick, then go to answer the door.

“Hey, Carson. I’m ready to go. Are you parked out front?”

“Actually I parked by the side door so you wouldn’t have to walk so far on the crutches.”

“I’m trying not to use them anymore. My knee feels a lot better.”

Garret picks up my crutches. “You’re still bringing them, just in case.”
 

“Let me take your suitcase.” Carson steps inside my room to get it but Garret blocks his way.
 

“I’ll take it,” he says, glaring at Carson.

“Whatever, man.” He turns back to me. “Jade, after you.”

Carson waits for me to go, then follows me out as Garret walks behind us with my stuff. We load up the Jeep, then Carson holds the passenger door open for me.
 

Garret goes up to him. “I’d like to say goodbye to my girlfriend.”

Carson doesn’t even look at Garret as he shuts the door. “I’ll wait in the car, Jade.”

Garret and I move off to the side, away from the Jeep.
 

“It’s just a week,” I remind him. “A week is nothing.”

“A week seemed like a month last time.” He rubs my arm.

I sigh. “I know. This is really gonna suck, isn’t it?”

“It won’t suck for you. You’ll be out doing stuff with Ryan and Frank. It’ll suck for me being trapped at the house for a week.”

“Just do stuff with Lilly. She loves playing with her big brother.”

“I can’t play with a six-year-old for more than a couple hours. I’ll probably spend the week swimming. Lift some weights. Start getting in shape for next season.”

“You’re going to be the hottest guy on the beach this summer.” I smile at him as I get a final feel of his abs. “I won’t be able to let you out of my sight. Those California girls will be all over you.”

“Jade, we should get going,” Carson yells from the car.

“She’ll be there when we’re done,” Garret yells back. “God, I hate that guy.”
 

“Maybe when I get back we can finalize our place for the summer,” I say, trying to get his focus off Carson.

“Yeah, we need to do that soon. Go online when you’re home and check out those condos Harper suggested. I’ll do the same and we’ll compare notes.”

Carson starts the Jeep. Garret rolls his eyes.
 

“I better go before he bugs us again.” I hate goodbyes and I just want this one over with so we can skip ahead to the reunion. “See ya next Saturday.” I give Garret a quick kiss, then turn to walk away.

“Hey. Get back here. That’s not a goodbye kiss.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me in a way that makes it nearly impossible to say goodbye. “I love you. Be safe. And make sure to call me.”

“I will. I love you.” I hug him once more.

I get into the Jeep just as Garret’s driver shows up.
 

“What’s with the fancy car and chauffeur?” Carson asks as he pulls out of the parking lot. “Garret can’t drive himself places anymore? He has to hire someone?”

I take a deep breath and let it out. “Okay, Carson. We’re going to be together in this car for a very long time and we need to set some ground rules. We are not going to talk about Garret. At all. Not one word about him. Got it?”

“I was just asking a question.” Carson drives down the small road that leads away from campus.
 

“For the last time, Garret and I are a couple. We are not breaking up no matter what you say.” I take my cell phone out of my purse and set it in the cup holder between us. “So it’s no use trying to convince me to stop dating him and start dating you.”

“Jade, I’m not trying to date you. Why do you keep saying that?” He stops at the end of the road, looking both ways several times before turning onto the main road. He definitely seems like a safe driver.

“Because you act like you are. You call me and text me all the time. You put down my boyfriend. You always invite me to go out with you.”

“Yeah, as a friend.”

“Guys aren’t friends with girls. They always want more.”

“Who told you that? He-who-must-not-be-talked-about? Because he’s wrong. I have several female friends and I’m not trying to have sex with any of them. Besides, I might be getting back with my ex-girlfriend. She’s on break from school at the same time as us and wants to get together while I’m home.”

“That girl you showed me a photo of?”

“Yeah. Madison. She wants to see if we can work out the long distance thing. So who knows? Maybe we’ll get back together.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good. I hope it works out.” I feel like a total idiot. Here I am accusing him of trying to date me and his mind is on his ex-girlfriend. His ex is really pretty. She has a face like a model and long, blond hair. He showed me her picture when we first met. She’s a senior at a small college in Chicago. She broke up with Carson when he moved to Connecticut because she didn’t want to do the long distance thing. But apparently she’s changed her mind.

He reaches over and puts his hand on my shoulder. “So will you relax now? We’re just two friends taking a road trip. That’s it.”

“Okay, but I still don’t want you to talk about Garret.”

“Fine by me.”

Maybe this trip won’t be so bad after all. I’m glad we got this out in the open and settled right away.
 

As Carson gets on the interstate, I position the pillow I brought with me up against the seat and rest my head on it. I’m so tired from my lack of sleep last night that I can’t stay awake.

“Jade.” I feel Carson tapping my arm. “I need to stop for gas. Do you have to use the restroom or anything?”

Stop for gas? What’s he talking about? We just got on the road.
 

“Why didn’t you fill up before we left?”

“I did, but the tank’s getting low and there’s a station just up ahead so I’m going to stop.”

“How long was I asleep?”

“About four hours.”

 
I sit up. “What? How is that possible?”

“I guess you were tired. Why? What’s wrong?”

“I told Garret I’d call him every hour. Shit! He probably thinks I’m dead in a ditch somewhere.” I reach down for my purse to get my phone.
 

“Why would he think that?”

“Where the hell is my phone?” I don’t have a very big purse and my searching has turned up nothing.

“It’s right here.” Carson points to the cup holder in the center console. “I didn’t want it to wake you up so I put it on vibrate.”

“You what? No! You can’t do that.” I grab the phone and see the long list of missed calls from Garret and a string of texts. I call him back.

He answers right away. “Jade, what the hell? It’s been four hours.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. The phone was on vibrate and I fell asleep.”
 

“Why was it on vibrate?”

“I don’t know. I must’ve hit it by accident.” I feel guilty lying to Garret but I don’t want him hating Carson even more.
 

“I was freaking out here, Jade. I thought something happened. I was about ready to have the state patrol start looking for you.”

“It won’t happen again. I promise. So how’s everything at home?”

“Boring. I miss you already. This totally sucks.”

“I know. I miss you, too.” I turn away so Carson can’t hear. “Did you have people waiting around your house when you got there?”

“Yes. It’s crazy. Girls are lined up on the street taking photos of the house and trying to climb the gate. Photographers are waiting by the entrance. My dad doesn’t want me leaving the house until school starts again, but I don’t know if I can make it that long.”

“Well, it’s only a week.“ Carson pulls into the gas station and parks at the pump. “We just stopped for gas and I really have to go to the bathroom so I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Yeah, but it better not be another four hours. And turn your ringer on.”

“I will. Bye.”

We hang up and I go in to use the restroom. Then I grab some energy drinks in the gas station so I won’t fall asleep again.
 

“Let me get those.” Carson walks up to me holding his own collection of caffeinated beverages. “You want anything else?”

“I have money. You don’t need to pay.”

“My dad gave me trip money. Might as well spend it.” He turns to the rack behind him and grabs three bags of potato chips.

“You must really like potato chips,” I say.

“These are for you. I know they’re your favorite.”

He does? How does he know that? Did I tell him that? I can’t remember, but the fact that he wants to buy me my favorite food seems a little more like something a boyfriend would do than a friend, doesn’t it? But he wants to get back with his ex-girlfriend. I’m so confused by this guy.

9

When we get to the register, Carson takes my energy drinks and sets them on the counter. As I’m getting my wallet out, he pays for all it before I can stop him. I just let it go and don’t say anything because I don’t want to argue about it here in the gas station.
 

We stop for dinner a few hours later and he tries to pay again but this time I pay for myself. Now I’m really glad Garret gave me that money. I don’t like Carson buying me stuff. And I definitely don’t want him buying me dinner, which would make it seem like we’re on a date.

I call Garret and check in once we’re back on the road. “Hey, it’s me again.”