Page 1 of Promising You
CHAPTERONE
“I should go backto my room,” I whisper to Garret as I push myself up, supporting myself with my hands. He reaches behind my neck and brings me back to him and kisses me.
“It’s the middle of the night, Jade. You don’t need to go back to your room. Nobody’s checking to see if you’re there.”
“Your family will be awake in a few hours. I can’t fall asleep here.”
His lips brush mine as he smiles. “Then don’t fall asleep.”
I hover over him, our breath mingling. “We just did this, like an hour ago.”
“Yeah? What’s your point?”
He kisses me again, harder this time. Then deeper, as he cradles the back of my head with his hand, his fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me even closer.
I never get around to answering him. I’m too distracted. Garret has a way of doing that. Distracting me from all rational thought as I get lost in how good it feels to be with him.
* * *
Hourslater I wake up in the guest room to the sound of tiny footsteps sneaking up to my bed. Then I feel a little hand tapping my shoulder and open my eyes to find Garret’s sister, Lilly, standing there.
“Jade, will you watch cartoons in my room with me?”
I sit up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. The private Christmas party Garret and I had in his room earlier has left me exhausted. Not that I’m complaining. It was definitely worth losing sleep over.
“Lilly, what time is it?”
She shakes her head and her long blond hair flings back and forth across her face. “I don’t know. Will you come to my room?”
How can I possibly say no to those bright blue eyes and that sweet smile? It’s impossible.
“Okay. Let’s go.” I get out of bed and slip on my robe—a white, fluffy robe left for me in the bathroom. In the Kensington household, it’s not proper to walk around wearing only your pajamas, not that I would given that I’m braless, wearing a thin t-shirt and pajama shorts.
Lilly holds my hand and leads me to her bedroom. In the short time I’ve known her, Lilly has decided to make me her big sister. I really don’t mind the role. I’ve never been anyone’s sister and it’s nice to have someone look up to me that way.
“You sit here.” She pats her hand on one side of her twin canopy bed. The bed is all pink. Pink sheets, pink blankets, pink comforter, and pink pillows.
I sit where she tells me to and lean back against the pillows. Cartoon bears are playing on the big, flat-screen TV hanging on the wall. Lilly climbs up next to me, holding two dolls. “This one’s yours. Her name is Katy.”
She forces the doll into my arms. I feel like an idiot holding it. I never had dolls growing up and I have no idea what you’re supposed to do with them.
“Let’s fix their hair.” She hands me a small, plastic brush. “You do braids on yours.”
The door to her room opens. “Lilly, are you—” It’s Katherine, Lilly’s mom and Garret’s stepmother. “Oh. Jade, I didn’t know you were in here.”
Hearing her tone, I get the feeling that she doesn’twantme in here. I set the doll down and swing my legs off the bed.
Lilly grabs hold of my robe. “No. Don’t go. We’re playing.”
“Lilly, you need to go eat breakfast. You have ballet class soon.”
“Can Jade go to ballet, too?”
“No. Jade’s staying here. Now go downstairs. Charles has breakfast waiting.”
Lilly gets down off the bed and slowly walks out, dragging her doll behind her.
“I’m sorry she’s bothering you like that,” Katherine says once Lilly is gone.
