Page 25 of Promising You
“Let’s go.” I grab Garret’s hand and pull him through the crowd until we’re at the car.
On the ride back to the apartment, my fear turns to anger. “Garret, where were you? I thought you were gone. It’s like you disappeared.”
“I just had to move down a little because the people next to me were so loud. I wasn’t that far from where I said I’d be.”
“What took you so long? How long does it take to call the driver?”
“As soon as I got off the phone with him my dad called so I picked up. He’s been texting me all day.”
“Why? Is something wrong?” I start to panic again.
“He was just checking in. He wanted to make sure we made here it okay.”
“Did your dad sound like he was worried about us? Or did he sound weird at all?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t hear him that well. What’s with all the questions?”
“I’ll tell you when we get back.”
The driver drops us off at the apartment. As soon as we’re inside I tell Garret about the strange old man.
“I’m almost positive he was at the fundraiser,” I say as I take a water from the fridge. “And I know I saw him on TV at least once standing next to Sinclair.”
“Are you sure it was the same guy? It’s dark out and it’s hard to get a good luck at someone in the dark.”
“There were lights all around us. And he stood right in front of me, practically forcing me to look at him. Like he wanted me to see that it was him.”
“But then he just walked off?” Garret gets a bottle of soda, then takes a seat on one of the barstools next to the kitchen island. He’s being much calmer about this than I thought he would be.
“Yes. It was almost like a warning of some kind.” I pick Garret’s cell phone off the counter and hand it to him. “Call your dad. That man was at your house. Your dad might know him.”
Garret holds onto the phone but doesn’t call. “What did the guy look like?”
“Old. Probably in his seventies. White hair. Maybe 5’10 or 5’11.”
“Jade, almost every guy at the fundraiser looked like that. My dad won’t know who that is.” He sets the phone down and drinks his soda.
“Why aren’t you more worried about this? If this guy knows Sinclair, he could be dangerous.”
“But he didn’t do anything, so maybe it’s just a coincidence he bumped into you. Why would Sinclair’s guys come after you? He’s dead. There’s no reason to. If anything, they’d come aftermeto get back at my dad for what he did.”
“Yes! Exactly!” I reach for Garret’s hand and hold it tightly in mine. “That’s why I was so freaked out when I couldn’t find you. I thought they’d taken you. I was sure of it. I thought you were gone.” Before I can stop it, a tear runs down my cheek.
“Are you crying?” Garret asks.
“No,” I say, stubbornly.
“You’re crying because you thought someone took me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I try to turn away, but he won’t let me. He gets off the barstool and pulls me into his arms.
“I guess you really do love me.”
“You know I do. I tell you that all the time.”
“Yeah, but you also push me away all the time so I’m not always sure.”
“I love you, okay? And you scared the crap out of me by hiding from me like that. Don’t ever do it again.”
