Page 211 of Promising You
They cut to the fake footage I watched earlier in Pearce’s office. An old man with a deep tan and white hair says, “That kid broke everything in my house and left the place uninhabitable. I won’t be able to rent it out again for months. And then he doesn’t even apologize. His parents should be ashamed.”
The host appears again. “We contacted Kensington’s PR rep but haven’t received a response. Stay tuned for more updates.”
I flip the channel and find an old movie to watch just as my phone rings.
“Jade, are you okay?” It’s Frank. I totally forgot to tell him the story I told Harper.
“Yeah, why?”
“Chloe just called Ryan and said that Garret was in Bermuda destroying some guy’s house.” Frank doesn’t mention the girls.
Ryan picks up the other phone. “That asshole’s cheating on you! I swear, I’m going to kill him!”
“Both of you need to calm down and let me explain.”
I tell them the made-up story I told Harper.
“We didn’t realize the fans and the photographers had become so aggressive,” Frank says. “I know it’ll be tough for you to be away from Garret, but I think it’s for the best, honey.”
Once I’m convinced Frank and Ryan bought the story, I say goodbye and watch the rest of the movie. But my mind wanders to the situation I’m now stuck in. It’s hard to fathom that just a few days ago everything was going great, and today I’m part of a conspiracy to make Garret one of the most hated men in America. Not to mention the fact that I’m one of the few people who know that our presidents are chosen by a small group of rich, powerful people and not the public. It’s a secret I wish I didn’t know and one I can never tell anyone. Doing so would definitely get me killed. Not that anyone would believe me.
* * *
Monday morningI check my phone and find three messages from Carson. I’m sure he heard the Garret news by now and can’t wait to ask me about it. Or more accurately, he can’t wait to gloat. This is like a Christmas present for him. Garret misbehaving? I’m surprised Carson didn’t text me ‘I told u so’a thousand times.
I arrive at physics class with not a minute to spare hoping to avoid any pre-class conversation with Carson. But then the professor is late. Of course.
“I’m sorry about Garret,” Carson says when he sees me. He doesn’t sound the least bit sorry.
“It’s no big deal.” I pull my laptop from my bag and set it up on the table.
“No big deal? Did you hear what he did?”
“Yes. But he can do whatever he wants. We’re not together anymore.” I don’t look at him as I get my laptop fired up. “I broke up with him last week. That’s why Garret is acting this way. He didn’t want us to break up.”
Carson is quiet and when I glance over at him, he’s staring at me like he doesn’t believe me.
“Listen, Carson. I didn’t tell you about this during our road trip because I didn’t want another one of your lectures about Garret and how I never should’ve dated him. So on the drive back here, I just pretended to be calling and texting Garret but I really wasn’t.”
“You could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have lectured you. I swear. Do you want to go somewhere after class and talk about it?”
“No, I’m okay. I had a lot of time over the break to think about things and although part of me still loves Garret, it just wasn’t working. I don’t fit in his world. He knows that. He just doesn’t accept it.”
“Are you still talking to him?”
“I haven’t since we broke up, but I’m not going to ignore him. If I see him on campus I’ll still say hi and be friendly. It’s not like I hate him.”
“Even after what he did last week?”
“I knew he was like that when I met him. You’ve heard the stories about him from high school. He likes to drink and party and be with lots of different girls. He gave that up when he was with me, but now that I’m gone it makes sense that he would do that stuff again. I can’t worry about what he does.”
“Sorry I’m late everyone.” The professor appears, hurrying to the front of the room. “Bring out today’s notes and let’s get started.”
After class Carson walks back to the dorms with me. “You want to have dinner with me tonight?”
He’s asking me out already? Wow. I thought he’d at least wait a couple weeks.
“I’m not ready to start dating again.”
