Page 81 of Promising You
“Oh. No wonder I like it. But I like the black one, too.”
“Just take both of them.”
He hands me the dresses and I place them in the suitcase along with my heels. Then I toss my makeup and hair stuff in a bag and tuck it on the side. “Anything else?”
“Swimsuit. You don’t have one, do you?”
“I do. I just got it. But it’s black, so you won’t let me wear it.”
“If it’s all you have, black is fine.”
I pull out the bottom drawer of my dresser and grab the black bikini Harper gave me last week. It’s another designer freebie her sister got and couldn’t wear. It’s incredibly sexy without being slutty. I tried it on and couldn’t believe how good it looked. I was waiting to surprise Garret with it and I guess now’s the time. I stuff it in the bag.
“Hey, was that a bikini? Let me see that.” He reaches in to get it but I yank his hand away and shut the suitcase.
“You have to wait. I don’t have money to get you a gift, so seeing me in a bikini will have to be it.”
“Works for me.” He picks the suitcase up. “My stuff’s already in the car so just go out to the parking lot.”
Before we leave I take a whiff of my flowers again. “The roses are going to die while we’re gone.”
“They’ll be fine. It’s only a couple days. And if they die, I’ll get you new ones. I made a mental note to buy you more flowers.” He sets my suitcase down and takes his phone out. “I’ll even write myself a reminder.”
I push him out the door. “You don’t need to do that. Let’s go.” I grab my winter coat, but I really don’t need it. It’s been unseasonably warm the past few weeks, even getting into the sixties yesterday. I miss the snow, but it’s nice to not freeze to death every time you walk outside.
After we’ve been driving for an hour I still can’t figure out where he’s taking me. “Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?”
He picks my hand up off the seat and kisses it. “You don’t like surprises, do you, Jade?”
“I do, but I can’t wait any longer. How long before we get there? Are we staying in Connecticut?”
“Nope.”
“Just tell me.” I tilt my head. “Please.”
“We’re going to the ocean.”
“We are? Really?” I say it like a little kid who’s just been told she’s going to the greatest amusement park in the whole wide world.
I’m embarrassed, but my reaction has put a huge smile across Garret’s face and I love to see him smile, so I guess it’s okay I sounded really stupid just now.
“We’re staying at a hotel on Cape Cod that overlooks the ocean. I got us a suite on the top floor. I’ve never been to the place, but my dad has and he really liked it. And he’s picky about hotels. Oh, and there’s a spa there so schedule whatever you want.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather spend time with you. I’m not really into spas.”
“Have you ever been to one?”
“No, but I don’t need to go.”
“We’re at least getting a massage. We’ll get a couple’s massage. How’s that sound?”
“I’ve never had a massage, but I guess I could try it.”
* * *
We arriveat the hotel around 7. It has a traditional New England exterior with dark gray shingle siding and bright white trim. The entrance is lined with tall black lanterns.
Garret leaves the car with the valet and a man in a white uniform takes our luggage while another man ushers us inside.
