Page 218 of Promising You
CHAPTERFIFTY-ONE
It’s nowthe first week of April and the weather is really warming up. It also stays light outside for longer, so I’ve started running after dinner. I keep the runs short because my knee isn’t fully healed. And I run on the trail because the ground is much softer than the track.
Tonight the trail is a little wet from the rain we had earlier in the week and mud is splattering up on my ankles. People don’t like using the trail when it’s muddy so I have it all to myself. Plus it’s Friday night and everyone is getting ready to go out.
When I’m about a quarter mile down the trail I hear my name.
“Jade. Over here.”
I look to my right and Garret is standing there under a large oak tree.
“Garret!” I run over and he hugs me so tight he lifts my feet off the ground. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you.” He sets me down but keeps me close. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“What do you mean? We have to stick with the plan.”
“Yes, we’re still doing the plan, but I can’t go another day without seeing you. Or talking to you.” He pulls me off the trail behind a tree and draws me closer. “And I definitely can’t go another day without kissing you.” He gently presses his soft lips to mine and my legs get weak. No joke. Like he actually has to hold me up a little as I sink into him while we kiss.
When he stops I take a breath and stand up again. “Wow. I’ve really missed that.”
“Yeah. I know. ” He kisses me again.
We hear a rustling noise and break apart, but it’s just a squirrel running through the leaves.
I wrap my arms around him again and hug him really tight. “I’m so happy you showed up here. I needed this so bad. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t arrange something earlier. I kept trying, but you haven’t been around.”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with Harper. And Arlin and his wife.”
“Oh, yeah? What have you been doing with Arlin?”
“Having lunch. And I went to their house in the Hamptons last weekend. I have so much to tell you.”
“Then let’s talk. But we need to get off the trail in case someone comes by.”
“We don’t have anywhere to go.”
“We do if you’re up for a hike.” He takes my hand and leads me down a steep hill into the woods.
“How did you know I’d be on the trail tonight?” I carefully step over a fallen tree branch so I don’t trip again and get another concussion.
“I noticed you were going out there every night after dinner.” He glances back at me and smiles. “I keep an eye on you, Jade.”
We walk for a few more minutes, then come to a stop next to a small stream. There’s a clearing in the woods where Garret has laid out a sleeping bag, unzipped so it forms a big rectangle. There’s a picnic basket on top holding it down.
“I’ve been searching for the right spot for a week. What do you think?”
“It’s great. Very secluded.”
“Exactly. It’s just what we need.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m kissing him for the first time—butterflies in the stomach and everything. He parts my lips with his tongue and takes the kiss deeper. He tastes like mint and his skin has the scent of his signature cologne. Even when I close my eyes, I know it’s him. I know his taste, his smell, his touch. And I’ve missed all of it. I’ve missed everything about him.
We kneel down on the blanket, our lips still joined. I lie on my back and he lies over me. Some birds rustle the leaves just above us and I break from the kiss. “Are we really doing this? Outside?”
He sits back on his knees. “Not if you don’t want to. I guess I did say we were just coming to talk so—”
“Are you kidding me? We’ll talk later.”
