“You guys have an apartment in New York?”
“Yeah. My dad has a lot of meetings there so sometimes he needs a place to stay overnight. We also have an apartment in London and one in LA.”
In addition to that, Garret’s family has five other houses, although he assures me they’re much smaller than his house here in Connecticut. That house is so big that the first time I saw it I thought it was some type of fancy hotel.
“So you were going to drive all the way to New York City for our first date?”
“I usually don’t drive there. Parking is impossible. I take my dad’s car service. But we could’ve taken the train, too.”
“That sounds fun. Why didn’t we go?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to. First of all, you don’t like noisy places and that city is nothing but noise. And second, I knew you’d say I was spending too much money.”
“I guess. But I really want to see New York City. I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Really? Dammit. I should’ve just taken you there.” He checks his watch. “It’s kind of late to head there now. We’ll do it next week. Next Saturday. We’ll leave early so we’ll have time to see stuff.”
“Are you just assuming I’ll go on another date with you? We haven’t even finished this one yet. Maybe I’ll say no.”
“You’d seriously say no after I wore those stupid shoes for you and let you kick my ass in there?”
I punch his arm. “You didn’t let me kick your ass. I just kicked your ass, period.”
We hear laughing and glance up to see the two high school girls from the bowling alley heading toward Garret’s side of the car.
“Kiss me,” he says, keeping his eyes on them.
“What? Like right now?”
The girls are almost at the car. Garret turns to me, then places his hand behind my head and pulls me in for a kiss. I don’t protest because I’ve been dying to kiss him all night. He keeps it innocent, no tongue action, but I’m sure the girls who are watching us think we’re doing more. I hear them walk past us, mumbling something about how all the good guys are taken.
Garret slowly backs away. “Sorry about that. Again, it was an emergency.” He doesn’t sound all that apologetic. “Those girls are aggressive.”
“I’m glad I could help you out.” I lean back and put my seat belt on.
He pulls out of the parking lot and takes off down the road.
“Wait. We didn’t decide where to eat,” I say.
“I know where to go.”
“But you said you wanted me to pick it out.”
“Yeah, well, I asked you out, so I should pick what we do. You were right. I should’ve planned something. If you don’t like what I pick, then you’ll have to ask me out next time.”
“What’s with the attitude all of a sudden?”
“I’m just taking charge of this date. That’s all.” He reaches over to hold my hand and this time I let him. “Now tell me how you learned to bowl like that.”
We drive back toward Moorhurst, passing the campus and driving for another half hour until we’re almost at his hometown.
“Garret, we’re close to where your parents live. Aren’t you worried they’ll see us?”
“Katherine would never let my dad take her to the place we’re going. It’s not expensive enough. And I told you, I’m not listening to them anymore. If they have a problem with us dating, I really don’t care.”
We get to the restaurant. It’s an upscale Mexican place. The inside has colored lights and a fountain. I’ve never heard of half of the stuff on the menu, but I find some familiar tacos to order.
“Now THIS is Mexican food,” Garret says as he dips a chip in some fresh guacamole. “Not that shit Mexican you ate from that taco stand by campus.” He’s referring to the taco stand that seems to make everyone sick except me.
“The taco stand is still in business, so it can’t be that bad.” I try some of the salsa. “Although I admit that the food here is way better. And I like the atmosphere. It’s fun. You did good, Garret.”
His cocky grin appears. “I don’t know what I was thinking letting you plan our date. You probably would’ve picked that taco stand for dinner if I let you.”
“Nah. Probably the burger joint by the dry cleaners.”
“That place is just as disgusting. Well, that confirms it. I’ll be planning the dates from here on out.”
“I still haven’t agreed to go out with you again.”
He nudges my foot under the table and smiles. “You will.”
Our food arrives and just as we start to eat, a mariachi band stops by our table singing some type of love song. It makes me laugh, not just because of the song but because they’re not very good. The main singer is way off key. I try to hide my laughter because the guy is really trying hard.
Garret sees me struggling. He sets his fork down, then reaches over and holds the hand I’m not eating with and gazes into my eyes. The mariachi guys notice and assume their music has caused Garret’s romantic gesture. The bad singer nods at Garret and gets a huge grin on his face, singing even louder.
I’m practically in tears trying to keep from laughing. I give Garret a look to cut it out, but he’s enjoying this way too much. He picks my hand up and kisses it.
Finally, the song ends. Garret takes some money from his wallet and gives it to the guy.
“Muchas gracias,” the singer says. He points to me. “Beautiful girl. You two are a lovely couple.”
“We are, aren’t we?” Garret says, smiling at me, then back at the singer.
“You two get married some day. I sing at your wedding.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a business card.
“Thank you.” Garret takes the card, then looks at me. “Jade, he could sing at our wedding. Wouldn’t that be great?”
I kick his foot under the table. “Um, yeah. Great.” I turn to the singer. “Thanks again. It was very nice music.”
The guy nods and moves on to another table. Garret releases my hand and goes back to eating like the whole scene didn’t even happen.
“Did you have to do that?” I ask him. “You knew I was dying over here. They would’ve left if you hadn’t started that hand-holding crap.”
He shrugs. “I didn’t want them to leave. I was enjoying it.”
“They were horrible! That guy was way off key.” I take a bite of my taco.
“He did better than I would do. I didn’t think he was that bad. And you must’ve liked him at least a little. You agreed to let him sing at our wedding.”
I almost choke when he says it. I take a big gulp of my soda. He continues to eat as if his comment is perfectly normal and expected. “We’re on a first date here, Garret. I think it’s a little early to plan a wedding.”
“I guess. Then maybe he could sing at our graduation party.”
“Four years from now, I don’t think he’ll still be employed as a singer.”
I hear the guy belting out a new song at a table on the other side of the restaurant. Now that they’re gone, I’m finally able to laugh.
Garret shakes his head, but he’s laughing, too. “You’re so mean. At least he’s trying.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it. He’s just so bad.”
For the rest of dinner, I keep thinking about Garret’s wedding comment. He couldn’t possibly be even the tiniest bit serious. We’ve only known each other a few months and we technically weren’t even dating during those months.
He was probably just making a joke. But still, hearing Garret even mention the idea of marrying me makes those annoying butterflies that have now taken up permanent residence in my stomach flutter with happiness. Which only makes me wonder what this boy is doing to me.
I’m Jade, the sarcastic, independent, smart ass who has no interest in marriage or weddings or rings or any of that stuff.
And yet my stupid heart skips a stupid beat when that stupid boy tosses out the idea that someday he might marry me.
8
“What do you want to do now?” I ask when we’re done with dinner. Garret’s already paid the check and the small restaurant is packed with people waiting for our table.
Garret checks his watch. “It’s only 9. Do you want to see a movie? Or we could get dessert somewhere.”
“I’m stuffed, so no on the dessert. And I don’t really want to see any of the movies that are out. You want to just head back?”
“Not really, but I don’t know what else to do around here.”
I’m sure Garret’s thinking we could stop at a party, but I make a real effort to avoid parties. The last party I went to was a total disaster. I ended up drinking for the first time ever and it totally freaked me out. I felt like I had no control over what I was doing. And the scary thing is that part of me liked that. I actually liked the feeling of giving up control for once. Letting my mind rest while the alcohol took over. I’m sure that’s what got my mother started down the path of becoming an alcoholic. And that’s why I told myself I’d never do it again.
Garret always acts like he’s okay with us not going to parties, but I don’t believe him. This is college for crying out loud. Normal people would be at a party on Saturday night. As much as I remind him of this, he continues to insist that the parties don’t matter to him.
When we leave the restaurant, we walk out into a flurry of white flakes.
“It’s snowing!” I gaze up at it and twirl around with my arms out. I quickly realize how stupid I must look. But I really like snow and the first snow of the year is the best one ever.
Garret watches me. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I assume he thinks I’ve lost my mind.
I put my arms down and quit twirling. “Sorry. I get a little excited by snow. It’s dorky, I know. We can go now.”
I start to walk to the car but he catches my waist and draws me into him. He leans down and kisses me. It’s a gentle, sweet kiss that makes me all warm inside. I feel the snowflakes land on my cheeks and peek my eyes open to see them falling. Big, white flakes. I close my eyes again as we continue to kiss.
We hear some people leaving the restaurant and we slowly break apart.
“What was that for?” It’s a dumb question, but I tend to ask dumb questions when I’m not sure what to say.
“I just had to kiss you. I couldn’t help myself.” He smiles, not letting me go. “Your reaction when you saw the snow. I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about snow.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of weird that way. Most people hate snow. But I think there’s something amazing about it.” I stare up at the sky, watching the flakes gently fall. “I mean, each snowflake is so perfect. And each one is different.”
Garret’s watching me again. I look down, feeling self-conscious. “Well, anyway, we should go.”
He nudges my chin up with his hand. “I don’t know how you do it, Jade, but you keep making me like you more.”
“I like you, too.” I say it in a just-friends type of way, but I like him so much more than that. And that scares the shit out of me. I can’t like someone this much.
He walks me to the car, opening my door and closing it once I’m in. On the drive back, the snow falls even harder. Back at campus, at least a couple inches have accumulated on the ground. I get out of the car and attempt to form a snowball, but the snow is too light and fluffy.
We go inside the dorm, stopping at my room. “I’d invite you in but it’s our first date and I don’t want you to think poorly of me.”
He leans against the door. “Are you really sending me home already?” He smiles. “You know, you could come up to my room. I have no problem inviting you up there, even if you do think poorly of me.”
“What would we do up there?” I ask innocently.
“Whatever you want.” His tone isn’t at all flirtatious, so I can’t tell what he means.
“I guess we could watch TV.”
I wait for him to move, but he doesn’t. “Do you want to bring anything?”
I’m confused, but then remember that we recently started a new tradition in which I sleep in his room on Saturday nights.
“Um, no, I don’t think I need anything,” I answer just to see his reaction.
His eyebrows raise. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I can always come back down here if I need something.”
We go up to his room and I race over to open the drapes. “I can’t believe it’s snowing. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.”
Garret comes up behind me, putting his arms around me and kissing the top of my head.
“Speaking of Thanksgiving, when are you heading home? I assume Ryan’s coming to get you?”
“I’m not going home for Thanksgiving. It’s too far a drive and plane tickets are way too expensive. Plus, I don’t really like planes. I’ve never been on one but—”
He turns me around to face him. “So what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“I don’t know yet. Probably catch up on some reading. Maybe start studying for finals. I’m not sure.”
“I mean, like on Thanksgiving day. Where are you going for dinner?”
“I don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving. I’ll just get some groceries for my room. Actually I was going to ask you if you’d give me a ride to the store before you head home for break.”
“You can’t skip Thanksgiving. It’s a major holiday. You have to stuff yourself with turkey and mashed potatoes. You can’t sit here by yourself. Nobody will even be around. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“Why would I tell you this? Why do you care what I do for Thanksgiving?”
“Because I don’t want you here all alone.”
I try to break free from him, but he doesn’t let me. “Really, Garret. It’s fine. I never do anything for Thanksgiving.”
“Hold on. You said the same thing about your birthday. So you don’t celebrate your birthday. You don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. What about Christmas?”
I need to get him off this topic. Holidays are not something I like to talk about. At Christmas, there were no presents. No Christmas dinner. No tree. No decorations. Just my angry drunk of a mother yelling at me until she passed out.
“I kind of skip Christmas, too.” I try to wiggle free again with no luck. “Let’s watch a movie. What do you want to see?”
Garret doesn’t answer. I glance up to see him looking at me like I’ve just told him the saddest story ever. I hate it when people look at me that way. So what if I missed some stupid holidays? There’s no reason for him to feel sorry for me about that.
“Didn’t you have holidays with Frank and Ryan?”
I sigh, wishing he would just let it go. “Yes. We usually went to a hotel for Thanksgiving dinner and to the casino for Christmas dinner. Frank and Ryan aren’t really into holidays either.”
“You need a real Thanksgiving, Jade. The parade, the dinner, football. You need to experience all of it.”
“No, I don’t. I really don’t care about it. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll come up here and watch the parade on your TV.” It doesn’t seem to satisfy him. He’s still giving me that look. “So what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“Going to the Cayman Islands. Ever since Katherine came into the picture, she makes us go to some tropical destination for Thanksgiving. I hate it. It’s just not Thanksgiving when it’s 100 degrees outside. We still have the turkey and all that stuff. We have it all catered in, but it’s not the same as being home.”
“When do you leave?”
“The Wednesday before Thanksgiving.”
“Well, I’m sure it won’t be that bad. You get to swim in the ocean. Hang out on the beach.”
That look is still on his face and it’s starting to annoy me.
“Jade, I’m sure you can go to someone’s house for dinner. It’s still over a week away. I’ll ask around.”
“I’m not going, so don’t ask anyone. I’ll be way happier here in my room. Now can we
just watch a movie?”
Thankfully, he doesn’t pressure me anymore. I don’t want to argue with him about it. I used to get all upset when everyone else had these holiday celebrations and I didn’t, but I’ve finally moved past it. So the last thing I want is to have Garret telling me what I’m missing out on.
After an hour of watching the movie, I check out the window again and see that even more snow has piled up.
“I have to go outside,” I say, putting my shoes on.
Garret gets up. “Like right now? It’s freezing out.”
“That’s okay. I don’t care. You can stay here if you want.”
“No. I’ll go. Just hold on.” He slips his shoes on and grabs his coat.
We stop at my room to get my coat, then hurry outside. The snow is falling hard, but I can still make out each big fluffy flake.
“This is so great.” I scoop some snow up and toss it in the air. “Don’t you love it?”
Garret’s smiling at me. “I love how happy it makes you.”
“Let’s run in the snow.” I grab his hand and drag him down the sidewalk.
“It’s too slippery.”
“No, it’s not.” I let go of him and take off down the hill.
“Jade, wait.” He follows and I hear him laughing at me. I don’t care if he thinks I’m insane. I’m not missing the first snow.
I run for a few minutes, then stop. Garret catches up and hugs me, lifting my feet off the ground. “You’re completely crazy,” he says, out of breath.
“I know I am,” I say, also out of breath. “That’s why I don’t know why you hang out with me.”
“Are you kidding? I think it’s great that you’re crazy like this.” He sets me down. “It’s one of the reasons I—” he stops, “um, like hanging out with you. Let’s go in. It’s freezing out here.”
“I’m not ready yet.” I reach up and grab his jacket, tugging it toward me. He gets the hint and kisses me. Soft sweet kisses, just like at the restaurant. Kissing Garret in the first snow of the year when nobody’s around and the campus is silent. It’s perfect.
Knowing You (The Jade Series #2) Page 6