Page 221 of Promising You
“Why not?” He nudges my leg. “I know you love it.”
“I never said I loved holidays. You’re just assuming I do becauseyoulike them.”
“Maybe you didn’t like them before, but you do now that you havemearound.” His cocky smile appears. I’ve missed it.
I smile back. “Okay, there might be some truth in that.”
“It’s getting dark. You should probably head back. The coyotes and raccoons will be out soon, if they’re not already.”
I jump up on his lap, spilling my sparkling water. “Are you serious? Did you see one?”
He’s laughing at me. “No, I just wanted you on my lap.” He takes my glass and sets it aside, then reaches his hand behind my head and draws me in for a kiss.
When he lets me go, I hold on. “No, it’s too soon. I’m not ready.”
“We’ll do this again. I just don’t know when yet. But next time I’ll tell Harper so you’ll know when to meet me out here.” He hands me the box of chocolates.
“Okay, but it better not be weeks.” I reluctantly get up.
“It won’t.” He stands up and takes my hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to the trail. I parked up on the road in the opposite direction.”
“You left your BMW on the side of the road? But you’re supposed to be out partying tonight. Everyone around here knows your car. They’ll know you were here.”
“I drove Charles’ old pickup truck. He only drives it when he goes fishing. He let me borrow it.”
“What did you tell him for an excuse for why you needed a pickup?”
“I didn’t tell him anything. I just asked if I could use it. I think he knows that I was trying to sneak off and see you.”
“Then he knows what we’re doing? Garret, what if he tells someone?”
“He’d never do that. He wants us to be together. He always tells me what a great girl you are and how I should never let you go.” Garret smiles and lifts my hand up to kiss it. “All stuff I already know.”
The walk up the hill is way too short. I want to go back down and walk up it again, but it’s getting darker and I don’t want raccoons attacking Garret on his way back to the truck.
“Goodbye, Jade.” He kisses me, then gives me a hug.
“Don’t say goodbye. I hate goodbye. Say ‘see ya later.’ That’s all I’ll accept.”
“Okay. See ya later.”
We kiss once more before he disappears into the trees.
CHAPTERFIFTY-TWO
I returnto my dorm practically giddy. Giddy means really happy, right? I think so, but I could be wrong. I’ve heard it used in old movies to describe girls twirling around in their dresses like they’re so happy they can’t help but twirl. I’m not the twirling type, but right now I’m so happy I think I could actually twirl. But instead I walk down the hall with my box of chocolates wearing what I’m sure is a big, goofy grin on my face.
Harper sees me as I walk by. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Why?”
She follows me to my room. “You haven’t smiled like that since—” She stops and lowers her voice to a whisper. “Did you and you-know-who just you-know-what?”
I open my door and drag her in my room. “Yes!”
“But how? Where?”
“In the woods. Like really far into the woods.”
