Page 70 of Promising You
“Then I guess I’ll see you later.” Garret takes off across the quad.
“Garret, wait.” I race after him. “He’s kidding. I’m not showing him around town. I don’t even have a car.”
“We’re taking my Jeep.” Carson is next to me again. This guy is really pissing me off. “You want to come with us, Garret?”
“Nope. I’m busy.” Garret stares straight ahead, walking so fast it’s practically a run.
When we get to the dorms, I follow Garret to ours while Carson goes to the building next to us.
“We’ll just do the tour another time,” Carson calls out to me. “See you guys later.”
I follow Garret up to his room and try to explain. “I swear I was not going anywhere with him. The guy is crazy. He made all of that up. I told him I couldn’t show him around.”
Garret sets his backpack down. “Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Couldn’t implies you won’t go with him because I won’t let you. Wouldn’t implies it’s your choice. That you didn’twantto go with him.”
“Ididn’twant to go with him, so stop making this into something it’s not. I had a talk with him and told him how my free time should be spent with you, not some other guy.”
“And what did he say?”
“He thinks you’re being a possessive boyfriend. And he said that he’s not trying to date me. He just wants to be friends.”
“I really don’t like that guy.” Garret strips his jeans and t-shirt off and starts sifting through his drawers.
“He’s not that bad. I think he’s just lonely. His girlfriend dumped him. He’s at a new school. He’s really far from home.” I go over and stand behind Garret while he tries to find whatever he’s looking for in his dresser. “I was thinking we could introduce him to some people. That way he’d make new friends and leave me alone.”
“What are you suggesting?” He turns back, wearing only his tight, black boxer briefs. He’s so damn hot. Broad shoulders. Strong arms. Ripped muscles running the length of his v-shaped torso. How could he even think I’d be interested in someone else?
I rub my hands along his abs. I can’t help it. They’re begging to be touched. “I was thinking we could go to a party on Friday night. Introduce him to some people, like Decker, and some of the other guys you know.”
Garret takes my hands off his abs and holds them in front of him. “You hate parties.”
“I was thinking about that and I think we should go to a few this semester. I mean, it’s part of the whole college experience, right? And you like parties. You used to go to them all the time. It’s not fair you don’t go anymore because of me.”
“I don’t need to go. I’ve been to plenty of parties in my life. They’re pretty much all the same. It gets boring after a while. Plus, you hate being around all that alcohol.”
“I’m better with it now that I know what really happened to my mom. I’m not saying I’ll drink, but I’m not afraid to have it around me, especially if you’re with me.”
He lets go of my hands and sighs. “So you’re making us go to a party because of Carson. A guy who’s trying to date you. A guy I can’t stand.”
“You don’t even know him. And it’s just one party. We’ll introduce him to people and then we’ll leave.” Garret looks so freaking good I just have to touch him again. I wrap my arms around him and kiss his bare chest. He smells good, too. “Plus once Carson sees us together and realizes how in love we are, he won’t even consider trying to date me.”
“Yeah, right.”
“So will you go?” I look up at him and smile.
“You seem to really want to do this, so yes, I’ll go.”
“Do you know where the parties are this weekend?”
“Decker’s been texting me asking me to go to the one on Beech Street. I’ll text him back and tell him we’re going. But that guy, Carson, is driving himself. We’re not taking him.”
“That’s fine. I’ll tell him. Thanks for doing this.” I reach up and kiss him. “By the way, why are you undressed?”
“I’m going to the gym to work out. I was trying to change clothes, but someone’s making it very difficult.” He kisses me. “It’s like that someone doesn’t want me to get dressed.”
