Page 45 of Promising You
“Why is she calling you?” There’s a tightness forming in my chest that’s making it hard to breathe.
Garret shifts in his seat, keeping his eyes on the road. He knows who it was without me even saying her name.
“Garret, why is she—”
A text pops up on the screen. It’s from her.
My heart beats faster as a lump forms in my throat. “How long has this been going on?”
“It’s not like that. There’s nothing going on. She just needed a friend. That’s all.”
“She doesn’t have any other friends? You expect me to believe that?” I turn my back to him and read the text. I swore I’d never be the girlfriend who spies on her boyfriend’s phone, but tough shit. I’m her today.
The text reads:Are you back yet? Can we meet?
I toss the phone on the floor of the car.
“Jade, stop it.” Garret reaches over to hold my hand, but I won’t let him. “She’s just a friend. I swear to you, that’s it.”
“Have you been seeing her? Did you see her while I was gone?”
“No! She doesn’t even live around here.”
“That doesn’t mean she couldn’t drive here. Or take a plane. It sounds like she’s here right now.”
“Why? What did she say?”
“That she wants to meet. Why does she want to meet with you, Garret?”
“Because her fucking father died, Jade! That’s why. Do you seriously think I’m cheating on you?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m being so unreasonable. Your ex-girlfriend, a girl you actuallychoseto date and weren’t forced to date by your family, has been calling and texting you for God knows how long and you don’t even mention it once to me? No, I shouldn’t be mad. Why would I be mad?”
“I’m withyou. Not her. She’s just a friend. I have no interest in dating her now or ever again. She has a boyfriend, Jade. You met him.”
“It doesn’t matter. You should’ve told me. The only reason you’d hide this from me is if you felt guilty. Like you were doing something you shouldn’t.”
“I didn’t tell you because this doesn’t concern you. So I talk on the phone to her. Big fucking deal. Why do you care?”
“Don’t you dare act like I’m overreacting! If I had an ex-boyfriend calling and texting me all the time, you would beat the shit out of him and then monitor my calls from that point forward.”
“What the hell? I would never do that. You can talk to whoever you want. I trust you.”
“I don’t think we should talk right now.” I lean against the door, getting as far away as possible from him.
It starts to rain and I focus on the drops as they hit my window and slide down the glass. It’s a steady rain and the rhythmic sound of it helps calm me down.
We drive in silence all the way to campus. Garret parks the car in front of our dorm. It looks like only about half of the students are back. It’s still raining and dark clouds hint that there’s more to come.
As I start to get out of the car, Garret grabs hold of my coat sleeve. “Wait.”
“I want to unpack. Let’s just go.”
He lets go of my coat and takes my hand. “I’m sorry, Jade. I should’ve told you. I was just being selfish. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to have this fight with you.”
I sigh as I sit back in the car and shut the door. “So are you going to tell me what’s been going on with you two?”
“Yes.” He turns to me, keeping hold of my hand. “Sadie called me right after you left for Des Moines. She was crying and saying how nobody would talk to her about what happened. Her boyfriend wasn’t supportive at all, which doesn’t surprise me. I thought he was a real ass that night we met him. Anyway, he didn’t even go to the funeral with her. He said that a guy who kills himself and leaves his family behind like that shouldn’t have anyone at their funeral, so he refused to go. Sadie was really close to her dad. She always has been. She took his death really hard. She’s still a mess.”
