Page 69 of Promising You
“Female friends are fine, but male friends are a different story.”
“I’m not trying to date you, Jade. I just want to be friends.”
“You’ll make other friends. It just takes time. Hey, I know who you should meet. This guy, Decker. He’s really nice. He’s one of Garret’s friends. He’ll be at the parties this weekend. Just look for a short guy with light brown hair and black-rimmed glasses. Sometimes he wears a bow tie.”
“Would you and Garret mind going with me to one of these parties and introducing me to some people?”
“We could probably do that. Let me ask Garret and I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“You really have to ask him? You can’t just make a decision?”
His question really pisses me off, but I let it slide. “Garret might have plans for us. We haven’t talked about the weekend yet.”
“So he can make plans without telling you, but you can’t do the same?”
Okay, that’s just plain rude. He knows nothing about Garret or me and yet he’s making all these assumptions about our relationship. I glance at the door. “Where is everyone? Class should be starting now.”
“We’re not having class. Didn’t you see the sign? It’s cancelled. The profs sick.”
I turn to see a piece of paper taped to the glass on the door. I saw it when I walked in, but didn’t bother reading it.
“If you knew class was cancelled, why did you come in here?’
“To say hello and share my chocolate. You want any more?”
“No, thanks. I have plenty.” I shove my book in my backpack and get up to put my coat on.
“Since we don’t have class, do you want to show me around town? I haven’t even been off campus yet.”
“I don’t have a car.” I start walking out. “I’ll see you later.”
Carson catches up to me. “I have a car. We can take mine.”
Okay, maybe Carsonistrying to date me, given his repeated insistence that we spend time together.
“That’s probably not a good idea,” I say as we leave the building.
“Why? Because your boyfriend would get mad?”
“It’s just not a good idea. Besides, this is a really small town. It’s easy to find your way around.”
He walks with me across the open quad toward the dorms. He’s quiet now and I’m sure he’s thinking Garret is a controlling jerk. But if it were the other way around, I wouldn’t want Garret showing some girl around town.
“Jade.”
I turn back and see Garret walking up to me, with Carson standing right beside me. Great.
“Why aren’t you in class?” Garret asks me.
“The professor was sick so it’s cancelled.”
“Hey, Garret,” Carson says. “Good to see you again.”
“Yeah.” Garret nods at him, then focuses back on me. “Are you two headed somewhere?”
Before I can answer, Carson does. “Jade’s going to show me around town.”
Garret looks at me, waiting for me to deny it, but I’m too stunned to say anything. I can’t believe Carson just lied like that!
