Page 181 of Promising You
“I didn’t know about any of this. I swear.”
“Any of what? You’re not making any sense.”
His head drops down to his chest. “If I knew, I would’ve kept you away. I would’ve kept you out of this.”
“Kept me out of what?”
He lifts his head again and I can tell that he’s struggling with something he can’t express. Something painful. And it’s killing me to see him like this. All I want to do is help him, but I don’t know how. I don’t know what he needs. I don’t know how to make this better.
I reach over and hug him tightly against me because whenever he does it to me, it always makes me feel better. And although I don’t think it will help, I don’t know what else to do.
He doesn’t really hug me back but just wraps his arms loosely around my waist.
“I love you, Jade. More than anything. I love you.”
“I know you do. I love you, too.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I slowly pull away from him. “What are you sorry for? What did you do?”
“They did it. I didn’t.”
“Who’s they? Your dad? Katherine?”
His head collapses on my shoulder. I push him up but his eyes are closed like he’s passed out. I lay him on the bed and call his dad again. No answer. Where the hell is his dad?
Maybe his dad is screening his calls and doesn’t want to talk to me. That would explain why he didn’t return any of my earlier calls. I spot Garret’s cell phone on the dresser and use it to call his dad.
Pearce answers on the first ring. “Garret, where are you? I’ve been looking all over town for you. Let’s just talk about this. We’ll figure something out.”
Figure what out? What is he talking about?
I hear Pearce’s voice again. “Garret, are you there?”
“It’s me, Mr. Kensington. Jade. I’m with Garret.”
There’s silence and I’m sure he’s going to hang up, but then he speaks. “Where is he?”
“He’s in his dorm room. He’s been drinking. A lot.”
More silence and then, “Put him on the phone.”
“He’s passed out.” I see Garret lying there and my stupid tears start flowing again. “Can you please tell me what’s going on? I just got back and found him like this. Yesterday morning he sent me a text when I was leaving Iowa. And that was it. No more texts. No phone calls. Nothing. And then I get here and he’s drunk. He never drinks, at least not since he met me. Something’s really wrong and I don’t know what to do. I don’t—”
“Jade, just calm down.”
“Calm down? Garret was fine when I talked to him Thursday night and now he’s passed out drunk! At 8:30 in the morning! What the hell happened? Before he passed out he kept saying he was sorry. Why is he sorry?”
“Just wait there with him. I’m in the car now. I’ll be there in 20 minutes to take him home.”
“You’re not even going to explain what’s going on here?”
“I’ll explain later.” He hangs up.
I set the phone down on Garret’s desk and pick up all the liquor bottles and take them down to the bathroom. It’s the guy’s bathroom but nobody’s in there. Even if a guy walks in I’m not leaving until this alcohol is gone.
I dump the vodka and the whiskey down the sink, turning my head to avoid the smell. But I can’t avoid it. It’s all around me and images of my childhood come flashing back.
