Page 54 of Promising You
“Have any of the guys your dad gave money to actually become president?”
“Yeah. Most of them. My dad seems to be able to pick the winners.”
“Are you saying you’ve met the President?”
“Several of them. Last summer when I was interning in DC, I had dinner at the White House. My dad and grandfather were there, too.” Garret says it like it’s no big deal.
“And the President was there?”
He presses the buttons on the dashboard that control the heat. “Well, yeah, along with some other people. The senator I worked for arranged it. All his interns were invited and then we each got to bring two family members.”
“And you never thought to mention this to me?”
“You said you’re not interested in politics.” Now he’s messing with the vents. “Are you warm enough? This air doesn’t seem very warm.”
“It’s the freaking President! I’m interested in knowing that my boyfriend had dinner with the President!”
He gives up with the vents and turns the heat on high. “The dinner wasn’t that great. You sit there and listen to a boring, old, rich guy with way too much power talk about himself.”
“He’s the President of the United States. You’re not impressed by that?”
“When I was younger I was. But then I learned about all the bribes and backroom deals and I lost faith in the whole system. It’s a joke. I don’t have any respect for those guys. And you shouldn’t either after finding out about Sinclair. That guy could’ve been president, Jade. And he was crazy.”
“He never would’ve been president. He wouldn’t have even gotten the nomination.”
“He was ahead in the polls. It could’ve happened.”
“I can’t believe you met a president. Or more than one.” I turn the heat down because now it’s starting to get too hot.
“Hey.” Garret nudges my arm. “Are you staying over tonight?”
“I always stay over on Saturday.”
“Okay. Just making sure you didn’t change the rules for a new semester.”
And just like that he changes the subject. Like he has nothing else to say about meeting the President of the United States. He starts talking about a movie that just came out, but all I can think about is him eating dinner at the White House. With the President!
Back on campus, it’s total chaos. It’s like everyone arrived in the brief time we were gone. Cars are double parked in front of the dorms. Music is blaring from stereos. Drunk people are stumbling down the sidewalk.
“Kensington!” We get out of the car and see Garret’s friend Decker approaching us. “Hey, Jade. When did you guys get back?”
“Earlier today. How about you?”
“This morning.” He removes a silver flask from his coat and takes a swig of whatever hard liquor it contains. He sees me watching him. “Sorry, Jade. I forgot about the no-alcohol thing.”
“It’s fine.” I don’t really care if he drinks around me. It’s a college campus. Everyone’s drinking around me.
He puts the flask back in his jacket. “There’s a party down on Maple Street if you guys are interested.”
“Not tonight,” Garret says. “You go ahead.”
“Okay, see you later.” He starts to walk away, then stops. “Oh, and just so you know. Blake hasn’t left for California yet so you might see him around. Anyway, welcome back.”
My stomach knots just hearing Blake’s name. I’d put the attempted rape incident out of my mind ever since Frank got sick. I was trying to forget it.
Our luggage is still in the trunk, so Garret grabs the bags and we go to my room.
“Why is that asshole still in town?” Garret sets my suitcase by the closet. “He should be gone by now.”
