Page 158 of Promising You
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.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
When we getto 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.”
“Hey, you. What’s up?”
“We just stopped for a late dinner and now we’re in the car again. I probably shouldn’t call you every hour for the rest of the night. You need to sleep.”
“I won’t sleep unless I know you’re okay. You have to call.”
“How about every couple hours? Then at least you’ll get a little sleep. Or I’ll text you instead of calling and you can check your phone whenever you wake up.”
“Fine. But I’ll be up until midnight so keep calling until then.”
We talk a few minutes more before hanging up.
“Does he really make you call him every hour?” Carson asks.
“We aren’t talking about him, remember?”
“I’m just saying it seems a little controlling, doesn’t it? You can’t go more than an hour without checking in?”
“We’re only doing the hour thing during the road trip. When I get home we’ll only talk once or twice a day.”
“He doesn’t trust my driving, or what?”
“You’re driving all night without a break, so yeah, he’s worried about it.”
“I’m a safe driver, Jade. I’ve never had an accident. I rarely speed. Never had a ticket.”
“He still worries. Let’s just leave it at that.”
I find a radio station and turn it way up so we can avoid talking for a while. Around midnight I turn it off and talk to Carson to keep him awake. I ask him about his hometown, his family, his friends, what sports he played in school, and other random questions. By the end of this trip I’ll probably know more about Carson than I know about Garret.
By five in the morning I’m really tired, so I know Carson’s even more tired than me since he’s had to pay attention to the road the whole time.
“You want another energy drink?” I ask him.
“No, I’m okay. You know, this lack of sleep is good practice for our residencies after med school. My dad had to do 35-hour shifts when he was a resident, but he said they changed the rules and now they only make you do 16-hour shifts.”
“I haven’t decided for sure if I want to be a doctor.”
“Really? Why? You’re getting A’s in chem and physics. It’s not like you can’t handle the classwork.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I should be a doctor.”
“You’d be good at it. You’d have a good bedside manner. You have a lot of empathy for people. You’re a good listener. You’re easy to talk to.”
This conversation is getting way too personal so I try to change the subject. “The weather seems a lot colder here than in Connecticut, don’t you think?”
He ignores the question. “So why are you changing your mind about med school?”
“I’m not changing my mind. I was never set on going in the first place. It was just an idea. I’m good at math and science so it seemed like I should at least consider it. But it would mean a lot more school and I don’t have the money.”
