Page 143 of Promising You
“Come on.” Garret tugs on my arms until I sit up. “Let’s go upstairs and watch a movie. And later I’ll order something for dinner.”
I yawn. “I’ll probably fall asleep.”
“That’s okay.” He kisses my forehead. “You sleep and I’ll watch a movie.”
“That’s a really boring Friday night. You should go out and do something. Call Decker and see what he’s doing.” My head slumps down on Garret’s shoulder.
“You’re not getting rid of me, sleepy girl. Do I need to carry you upstairs?”
“No, I can make it. But could you grab my pajamas so I don’t have to come down here later?”
He goes to my drawer and pulls out some pajamas, then we head upstairs to his room. I fall asleep right away and stay asleep the rest of the night.
We stay in the dorm all weekend so I can rest and Garret can avoid any photographers. The reality show airs Thursday night so he’s a wanted man. I’ve tried to avoid the Internet, but I have to use it for class and when I do I keep seeing ads for the show. Everyone else on campus has as well, and now the girls at Moorhurst are showing interest in Garret. They did even before all this happened because he’s extremely hot, but now they’re more aggressive. It’s another reason why we need to hide out in his room.
On Tuesday afternoon, Garret takes me to a medical clinic in town to get my stitches out. Dr. Cunningham doesn’t work there, but for some reason he’s allowed to temporarily use their facilities. I don’t ask questions about it because I know I won’t get answers.
“Your knee is healing nicely,” Cunningham says as he removes the stitches.
Garret’s standing there holding my hand like I’m five, but it’s sweet so I let him.
“When do you think I can ditch the crutches?” I ask the doctor.
“Let’s go another few days and then you can try walking without them.”
“I’m dying to run again.”
“No running, Jade. You’ll just do more damage. Wait another month.”
“I’ll have to hide her running shoes,” Garret says. “Otherwise there’s no way she’ll wait a month.”
“It’s true.” I look down at my now stitch-free knee. “I can’t wait that long.”
“Hide her running shoes,” Cunningham whispers to Garret, knowing I can hear.
Garret laughs as he helps me off the table.
Cunningham goes to the sink to wash his hands. “Any spring break plans for you two?”
“I’m staying here and Jade’s going home,” Garret says.
“Back to Des Moines?” Cunningham asks me. I nod as I put my coat on. “I’ll be there as well. I’m checking in on Frank next week. That’s good. I can check in on you, too, and make sure you’re not running on that knee.”
“Great,” I mumble, annoyed but smiling.
He swipes through his tablet, stopping briefly to type in some notes. “Who’s driving you to Iowa? You don’t plan to drive yourself do you? Because I don’t want you driving until you go a full week without any dizziness.”
“I’m not driving. I’m flying.”
He looks up from his tablet. “You can’t fly with your concussion. If you weren’t still having the headaches I’d say yes, but since you are, air travel is out.”
“But I have to fly. I have no other way to get there. And I have to get home. I won’t be there this summer.” I’m talking really fast as if doing so will somehow change his mind.
Garret puts his arm around me. “Jade. Relax. I’ll just drive you.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Cunningham asks him. “I don’t want Jade to be knocked around by a photographer or one of your fans. You know what happened last time.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ll figure something out. Is she done here?”
