Page 207 of Promising You
“August 22.”
He kisses me and keeps his lips on mine as he asks another question. “My favorite color?”
“Green.”
It earns me another kiss, this one longer.
“Sports I played in high school?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Swimming, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and lacrosse.”
“Correct.” He gives me one last lingering kiss. When he starts to break away I hold on, not ready for it to end. Because what if this really is the end? We have to be apart from now until that group makes their decision, and what if their decision doesn’t change?
“Jade.” Garret pulls back. “We’ll be here all day if we don’t stop.”
“I know. But what if this is it?”
“Don’t start thinking that way. You need to stay positive. And we’ll still see each other. We live in the same dorm. Eat in the same dining hall.”
“But I can’t talk to you or touch you or—”
“Yeah, it’s gonna suck, but we can do this.”
I nod, then look up at him. “One more kiss?”
We come together for one final kiss and I feel us both struggling to end it. Eventually he does. “Now get out there and drive your new car.”
He turns me around and opens the door and there it is all shiny and new. “I’m so excited I can finally drive it!” I step outside.
“You forgot your coat. Wait here. I’ll go get it.”
When he returns I’m in the car, buckled in and ready to go. I roll the window down and he hands me my coat. “So I guess a final goodbye hug is out.”
“Oh, just a second.” I undo my seatbelt and get back out to hug him.
“I love you.” He squeezes me tight, then lets me go.
“I love you, too.”
Garret holds the car door open. “Okay, now you can go.”
I get back in and drive away. The parade of girls is gone, just like Mr. Kensington said, along with the photographers.
Back at Moorhurst, I go to my room and find my suitcase still sitting unpacked next to my closet. As I’m putting my stuff away, I call Harper.
She answers on the second ring. “Jade, come down to my room.”
“I didn’t know you were here. I thought you were still at Sean’s.”
I wait for her to respond but she already hung up the phone, so I walk down to her room. Her door is open and as soon as I walk in she grabs me for a hug.
“Hey, neighbor!” She lets me go and I shut the door. “I still can’t believe we’re going to be living next to each other all summer. My parents can’t wait to meet you guys. They have the greatest summer parties. Full of A-list stars. We’re totally going to at least a couple of them.”
“You look great, Harper. You always do, but today you’re almost glowing.”
“Because I’m in love.” She spins around with her arms out which makes me laugh, but also makes me sad because it reminds me how much I love Garret and how I can’t be with him.
“Sean is so great.” She stops spinning. “You know how taking a trip with someone can be super stressful? You’re tired. You get on each other’s nerves. You start fighting. We didn’t do any of that. Even at the airport when that asshole delayed our flight, Sean was so cool about it. He kept me calm the whole time and made up these silly games every time I complained about being bored. God, I love him.” She gazes dreamily at a spot on the wall behind me.
