Garret

by Allie Everhart

  “I’m watching TV. I’m not even looking. And even if I saw something, it’s not like I’d care.”

  “Okay.” I drop the towel and Jade’s head whips the other way. It makes me laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t look.” I finish getting dressed. “All right, I’m done.”

  I go and sit next to her on the bed. “What do you want to do? Sleep some more? Get some breakfast?” I pause, because this probably isn’t the best time to ask but I might as well try. “Or do you want to tell me what happened last night? Because I think we should talk about it.”

  “There’s not much to say.”

  “You wouldn’t show up at that party unless it was an emergency. Last night you said something about your mom and a letter. Where did you get this letter?”

  She hesitates, then says, “The letter was in that box Frank sent me for my birthday. My mom wrote it when I was just a baby. I was only supposed to get it if something happened to her.”

  “Why would your mom even plan for something like that? Why would she think she’d be dead in her thirties?”

  “If I tell you this, you have to swear you won’t tell anyone, okay?”

  “Yeah. Go ahead.”

  “In that letter my mom said she was raped and then she found out she was pregnant with me.”

  I nod. “Yeah, you said that last night. So she never told you that?”

  “No. Never. But that’s not all. She said the man who did it got the police, the people at the hospital—basically everyone to cover up what happened. And then someone called my mom and threatened her. When she told her story to a counselor, her parents died in a house explosion a few days later. She was worried she’d be next.”

  This sounds eerily familiar. Not the part about her mom. But the part about shit being covered up. People being silenced. It sounds a lot like what I’ve witnessed growing up.

  Jade continues. “I don’t even know if I should believe any of it, but why would she make up something like that?”

  “How did she meet this guy? Did they know each other?”

  “She was an intern working on a political campaign. She was a political science major in college. The guy was just a campaign worker from another state. She wouldn’t tell me his name.”

  I’m not sure what to say. I can’t tell Jade what I know or what I’ve seen. And maybe what she’s describing isn’t the same as what my dad’s involved in. But I know that if a person is powerful enough to silence people, you don’t want to be anywhere near that person. You stay away. You don’t ask questions. You pretend you never heard or knew anything about whatever it is they’re trying to cover up.

  “What’s wrong, Garret? You’re too quiet. Say something.”

  “I think you should forget about this letter. I mean, what happened is a crime and the guy shouldn’t have gotten away with it, but there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

  “I know there’s nothing I can do, but I have to talk to Frank. He was friends with my mom back then. I have to know if he knew anything about this.”

  “Why? How does that help you, Jade?”

  “Because maybe she didn’t mean to be that way. Maybe my mom didn’t know how else to deal with what happened to her. I need to know that. My mom hated me, Garret. She looked at me every day with disgust and I never knew what I did wrong.” Jade pauses. Her eyes are wet, but she holds back her tears. “I couldn’t understand how a mother could hate her own daughter like that.”

  I find her hand in the sleeve of my sweatshirt. “It was her addiction. It wasn’t you. She didn’t hate you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I have to know the truth. You told me to face the past so I can move on. And that’s what I’m doing.”

  “I know but—” I don’t know how to tell her this.

  “But what?” She scoots back on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

  “I don’t like this. I don’t like the fact that this guy was able to quiet the cops. You don’t mess with people like that.”

  “I’m not messing with anyone. I’m just asking questions and trying to see if what she said in that letter is true.”

  Rule number one. Never ask questions. After years of overhearing things I shouldn’t have, I understand why it’s a rule. People who ask questions end up hurt. Or dead.

  At Courtney’s party, I heard my dad, my grandfather, and Conlin talking about that girl who knew too much. It sounded like they were going to kill her. All because she knew things. Things she shouldn’t know. She asked too many questions and now she’s probably dead.

  What if that happened to Jade? I have no clue why her mom wrote that letter and told her that story but now I’m pissed that she did. What was she thinking? Did she want her daughter to be in danger?

  Whoever did that to Jade’s mom is obviously mentally unstable, violent, and has way too much power. Crazy, violent, and powerful? That’s a dangerous combination. And I don’t want Jade anywhere near that person. He may be her father, but if he wanted her in his life he would’ve shown up by now. I’m guessing he never wanted to be found. He probably never even wanted Jade to be born. Maybe he doesn’t even know she exists.

  She needs to let this go. I don’t want her searching for this guy or asking people questions or doing anything that might stir up trouble. She has no idea what can happen when you start looking for people who don’t want to be found. Of course, I could be wrong and maybe nothing would happen, but I’m not going to take that chance. I won’t let Jade put herself at risk over some letter written 20 years ago.

  “Asking questions just leads to more questions and then you’ll want to know even more,” I tell her. “Trust me, you don’t want to go digging up the past. It’s dangerous.”

  “Why would it be dangerous? I’m not going to try to find the guy.”

  “Whoever this guy is, I guarantee he’s got people he pays to keep that shit buried. To take care of anyone who starts asking questions. That’s how it works.”

  “And how do you know this? Do you run a crime ring on the side? Are you part of the mafia and you forgot to tell me?”

  When I was younger, I actually did think my dad was in the mafia. But that’s not it. He’s part of something bigger. Some secret group composed of very rich, very powerful people.

  I sigh. “This isn’t funny. I’m being serious. I told you back when we first met that my family does shit that I don’t want any part of, remember?”

  “Yeah, but I still don’t know what that means.”

  “It means that they get what they want. Just like this guy. They do whatever they have to do to cover up stuff they don’t want people to know. They’ll do anything, Jade. Anything.”

  I think back to that night years ago when I saw my dad coming home at 2 a.m., his shirt spattered with blood. And then a few weeks ago, when I overheard him saying he had to take care of someone. To clean up a mess.

  “Okay, stop it,” Jade says. “You’re freaking me out.”

  “I just want you to think about this before you go talking to Frank or looking up stuff on the Internet. Think about if it’s really going to help you.”

  “Fine, I’ll think about it.” She slides her legs to the edge of the bed and sits next to me. “I guess I should go.”

  I put my arm around her shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you last night. Next time, call my cell. I’ll be right over, okay?”

  “Why were you talking to Ava anyway?”

  “My dad called the other day and was asking all these questions about you and if I’d seen you lately. I asked Ava if she’d been spying on us again and reporting back to my dad. She claims she hasn’t but I can never tell if she’s lying or not.”

  “I really screwed up last night, Garret. I promised myself I’d never drink and then I did. I wasn’t even thinking.”

  “You had one drink. That doesn’t mean you’ll be an alcoholic.”

  “I have the genes for it. I can’t risk it. I don’t want to end up like her.”


  “You won’t. So stop thinking that way.”

  She stands up and my sweatpants slip down her legs. She quickly yanks them up, laughing. “I think I need to put my clothes back on. I can’t walk to my room in these.”

  “Your clothes are still damp. I’ll go down to your room and get you some dry ones.”

  I take her key and go downstairs to her room. There’s a piece of paper on the floor by her desk but I leave it there and go over to her dresser. The top drawer is filled with panties and bras. I take one of each, my eyes skimming over the rest. I spot some sexier ones in the back but I don’t pull them out. I’ll wait for Jade to show me those. I hope someday she does. Just thinking about her hot body in sexy lingerie gets me going.

  I shut the drawer and go to her closet and find some jeans and a black sweater. She needs to get some other clothes. Ones that aren’t black or white. I wonder if she’d let me buy her some.

  I go back to my room and hand Jade the clothes.

  “Garret, you went through my underwear drawer?”

  “Would you rather put on wet underwear from last night?”

  “No, but still. That’s embarrassing. Turn around while I change.”

  When she’s done, I look at her. “Much better.”

  “At least I can walk to my room now. But I need to shower. I feel gross.”

  “Then go shower and I’ll take you out for breakfast.”

  “I can’t go. I need to call Frank. I know you don’t think I should, but I have to ask him some things.”

  “Come here.” I’m sitting on the bed. Jade walks over and stands in front of me. “I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to be careful.” I smile. “And I think Frank can wait until after breakfast.”

  “I guess. I’ll go get ready. Come down in 10 minutes.”

  I grab her hand as she starts to leave. “One more thing. Do you think we could do this again?”

  “Do what again?”

  “This sleepover. I kind of liked it.”

  “How could you have liked it? The bed’s so small you probably didn’t get any sleep with me in there.”

  “You’re not very big, Jade. You barely take up any space. And I’ve never slept better. I could use a good night’s sleep like that again. I’d let you wear my sweatshirt.”

  “Maybe. I need to think about it.”

  “What’s there to think about?” I set her down on my leg.

  “Well, for one, it kind of goes against the whole friendship agreement. You don’t usually spend the night with your friend in the same bed.”

  I pause, like I’m pondering this. But I’m not pondering anything. I know what I want. And what I want is for Jade to be my girlfriend. So I put it out there. “Well, what if you weren’t just my friend?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if we were more than friends?”

  “We’re not allowed, remember?”

  “I don’t give a shit about that anymore.”

  “Garret, you made this big deal about how your dad has to approve of any girl you go out with.”

  “I’m sick of playing by the rules. My dad. Katherine. His society friends. They can all go to hell.” I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss it. “So what do you say? Will you go out with me?”

  “I go out with you all the time.”

  “Never on a date. We’ve only gone out as friends. I’m asking you out on a date.”

  “Is this just your way of forcing me to let you pay for breakfast?”

  “I already pay for breakfast per our agreement.”

  “That’s only on Sundays. Today is Saturday.”

  I sigh. “Fine, you can pay for your own breakfast. But breakfast doesn’t count. I want to take you out on a real date.”

  “And you think that’ll make me spend the night here again?”

  I tip my head back. “How many questions are you going to ask before you answer me? It’s just a date. It’s not that complicated.”

  She takes a moment to think about it. “Okay. Yes. I’ll go out on a date with you. One date. That’s it. If you’re not too annoying or I’m not bored out of my mind I might consider another one after that. But I’m not making any promises.”

  She’s insulting me, but the way she’s smiling at me it’s more like flirting.

  I pretend to be insulted and roll my eyes. “I’ll do my best.”

  “And I might consider sleeping next to you again, you know, if I get cold, which is possible because it’s almost winter.”

  “You just can’t give a straight answer, can you? You have to have conditions along with an insult or two.”

  “I’m just keeping your ego in line, pretty boy.”

  “Pretty boy?”

  “Yeah.” She laughs. “That’s what Ryan calls you by the way. I don’t think he’s ever used your real name.”

  “I’m not a pretty boy. What the hell?”

  “Yeah, you are. Perfect face, perfect body, perfect teeth. It’s annoying.”

  “Huh. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be. See? Your ego’s still too high.” She stands up. “I need to eat. I’m really hungry.”

  “Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

  She totally wants to go on a date with me. She got this big grin on her face when I asked. And before that, when I suggested the sleepover? Her lips were turned up even more.

  I think we may be moving out of the friend zone a little sooner than I thought.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Ten minutes later I go down to Jade’s room.

  “You forgot these.” I toss her the still-damp clothes. “And here, you can have this, too.” I hold out my sweatshirt.

  She drops the wet clothes on the floor and snatches the sweatshirt, hugging it to her chest like it’s some prized possession. “But you said I couldn’t have it.”

  “I was joking. Come on, Jade. Like I really care if you take my sweatshirt.”

  “Thank you.” She hugs me. It’s just a quick one, but still. That’s a lot for her. She must really like my sweatshirt.

  “You’re welcome. So where do you want to have breakfast? Do you want to go to Al’s? I know we’re going there tomorrow but—”

  “No, Al’s is only for Sundays. Otherwise it ruins the tradition. Let’s just eat here. We don’t have to go out.”

  “Ugh. I hate the cafeteria, especially at breakfast. Their eggs are like rubber.”

  “The food there is good. You’re just spoiled.”

  I point to the piece of paper on the floor. “Is that it? Is that the letter?”

  “Yes.” She picks it up and stuffs it in her desk drawer. “I’m trying not to think about it right now. Let’s just go eat breakfast.”

  Jade talks me into going to the dining hall. As we’re eating, Ava comes over, wearing a pink tank top and yoga pants that are so tight they look like they’re painted on.

  “What happened to you last night?” Ava sits next to me, sliding her chair over until her body’s touching mine. “You left the party and never came back.”

  “I had better things to do.” I keep my eyes on my plate, picking at my rubbery scrambled eggs. “Why do you care if I left? Did you have something else you wanted to tell me?”

  Ava puts her eyes on Jade as she leans over and whispers to me, “If you fuck me I won’t tell your dad about her.”

  I shove away from her. “We’re done here, Ava.”

  She stands up, leaning over so her cleavage is in my face. “This goes both ways, Garret. You want me to keep my mouth shut to your dad, you better start acting like a real boyfriend.”

  “What’s your problem, Ava?” Jade asks. “Why do you care if Garret and I do stuff together?”

  Ava tilts her head and does that annoying pout she did last night. “Aww. The poor little orphan girl doesn’t understand. Garret, you should really explain how things work around here. You shouldn’t keep leading her on this way. It’s just sad.
”

  I bolt up and get in her face. “Go. Now.”

  She smiles, smugly, then slowly walks away.

  As I sit down again, Jade leans across the table. “How does she know I don’t have parents? Did you tell her that?”

  “You think I’d really tell her anything about you? Or us?”

  “Then how does she know?”

  “Everyone knows. It’s not some big secret. The people around here live for gossip. They always try to dig up whatever they can about people. Not just you. Everyone.”

  Jade glances at the table where Ava is sitting. Sierra’s across from her, checking her phone. “She really hates me, doesn’t she? Sierra does, too.”

  “Just be glad they’ve left you alone. Normally if they decide they don’t like you, they make your life hell. But I’m sick of them pushing people around. They did it in high school, but they’re not freaking doing it here. And they’re definitely not pulling that shit with you.”

  “Are you saying they had something planned?”

  “When you first got here they were going to take you out for dinner pretending to be all nice and then leave you out in the middle of nowhere. In the dark. And that was just day one.”

  “And they told you this?”

  “I overheard Sierra talking about it at that party I took you to. I told her and Ava if they did anything to you I’d come after them.”

  It’s kind of a lie since I didn’t actually overhear anything. But I knew they were planning something so I took a proactive approach and stopped it before it could happen.

  “You didn’t have to do that, Garret. I can handle myself. You should’ve just told me what they were up to and I would’ve taken care of it.”

  “You can’t just take care of it. It’s like I keep telling you. It’s all a game. Bribes. Blackmail. That’s the only thing that gets them to back down.”

  “So you bribed them or what?”

  “I didn’t have to. My family practically runs this school. They donate a ton of money. My dad and grandfather are on all these boards and committees. They have a lot of influence here.”

  Truthfully, my dad is the one who’s involved in the school. My grandfather has no involvement with Moorhurst. He thinks it’s for people who are too stupid to get accepted into an Ivy League college. That’s why he hates that I go here.