Page 85 of Finding Us
“Thanks. We’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Harper gives me a sly grin. “Have fun, Jade.”
Garret and I walk back to our place.
“Okay, Garret, what is this all about?”
“Just wait and see.” He scoops me up in his arms. “It’s finally official. I can carry you over the threshold.” He steps through the door.
I laugh. “You and your traditions.”
He carries me all the way up the stairs to our room, then sets me down. I go to kiss him but he turns and walks away.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me? We’re finally alone.”
He comes back over, but only gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “If we start, we’ll never leave. We need to get going. We’ll do plenty of kissing once we get there.”
I don’t bother asking where ‘there’ is because I know he won’t tell me. He helps me out of my dress, then takes off his tux.
“What should I wear?” I ask him as I yank the pins from my hair and remove the clip. My hair falls down to my shoulders and I shake it out a little to loosen it up.
“Harper left you some stuff.” He points to the dresser. On top of it there’s a white tank top, white cotton skirt, and white flip flops with sparkly accents.
I put the clothes on while Garret puts on shorts and a white t-shirt.
“Aren’t we bringing anything?” I ask as I follow him down the stairs.
“Everything we need is already over there.”
We go back outside and start walking down the beach past the other houses. We keep walking for a good 10 minutes. We pass the last house and now we’re on the public beach and there’s nothing around.
“Garret, I’m starting to get worried. It’s really dark out here. It might be dangerous.”
“What are you worried about?” He puts his arm around me. “You’ve got me with you. You know I’ll beat the shit out of anyone who tries to hurt you. You’re completely safe. And we’re almost there.”
I look up ahead and see some flickers of light in a little alcove on the beach. As we get closer I see that the light is coming from a string of torch lights sticking out of the sand. And in the middle of them is a big blue tent.
“Garret, what is this?”
He leads me to the entrance of the tent and pulls the opening aside. “Welcome to the honeymoon suite.”
I step inside. The floor of the tent is covered in sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows. Dozens of flameless candles provide light. There’s a small table topped with chocolates and chocolate-covered strawberries that look like the ones we had on Valentine’s Day. And next to those are two champagne glasses and a bucket of ice with champagne.
“What do you think?” Garret is standing behind me. He runs his hands down my arms and kisses the back of my neck, causing a shiver to run through me. I’ve been craving his touch all day so my skin is super sensitive.
I turn around and hug him. “I love it. It’s perfect. And not at all what I would’ve guessed when you said you had a surprise.”
“What did you think I had planned?”
“I had no idea. But not this.”
He moves around me and sits down, holding his hand out. “Come here.” I sit next to him and see him smiling. “Now we can start the kissing.”
He takes his shirt off and lays me down on my back. As soon as his lips touch mine, my insides get all fluttery like it’s our first kiss. Maybe because I’m so happy right now and the butterflies dancing around my stomach are, too.
I want to feel his skin against mine so I reach down and slip my skirt off, then break from the kiss to yank off my tank top. Garret quickly strips himself the rest of the way when he sees how anxious I am.
I’m left wearing just my white silk-and-lace bra and panties which I bought just for today.
