Read Promising You (The Jade Series #4) Online

Authors: Allie Everhart

Tags: #Romance, #Mystery, #New Adult, #Suspense, #Contemporary

Promising You (The Jade Series #4) (8 page)

BOOK: Promising You (The Jade Series #4)
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“I’m going home. But I decided to drive instead of fly because I wasn’t sure when I was coming back. None of my friends will be home and I’m not sure I want to sit around with my parents for a week.”

“That’s a long drive.” I reach down and plug in the power cord.

“I don’t mind. It’s not like when you’re a kid stuck in the back seat. I actually had a good time driving out here.”

Class begins, and I spend the next hour trying to catch up from what I missed. I feel so behind from missing just a couple days.
 

The same thing happens at my classes on Friday. The professors have moved on to new material that builds on what I missed when I was out. It’s like I missed two weeks of class.
 

By Friday afternoon I don’t feel so good walking back to my dorm. My dizziness is back and my head hurts. When I get to my room, Garret’s there, swiping through his phone.

“Hey, how was class?” He kisses me as he takes my backpack and sets it on the desk.

I collapse on the bed. “I’m exhausted. I think I’ll skip dinner and just go to sleep.”

“You’re not skipping dinner.” He comes over and sits beside me. “What’s wrong? Did you overdo it the past couple days?”

“Yeah. I think I did.” I rub my head, trying to make the aching go away.

“Then we’ll have a quiet weekend. What do you want to do?”

I groan. “Study. Write a paper.”

“When’s the paper due? Can it wait?”

“It’s not really a paper. It’s a lab summary for chem. It’s due on Tuesday, but I have to do it this weekend or I won’t get it done on time.”

“Make Carson do it.”

“He did the last one. I can’t make him do this one, too.”

“I’m sure he’d do it, Jade. Just let him write this one and you can write the next two. You need to rest up so you’ll feel better when you go home over break.”

“Yeah, that’s true. I’ll call him quick. Could you grab my phone?”

He brings it over to me and I call Carson. He agrees to do the paper and even seems happy about it.
 

I set the phone down. “Well, that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about.”

“Come on.” Garret tugs on my arms until I sit up. “Let’s go upstairs and watch a movie. And later I’ll order something for dinner.”

I yawn. “I’ll probably fall asleep.”

“That’s okay.” He kisses my forehead. “You sleep and I’ll watch a movie.”

“That’s a really boring Friday night. You should go out and do something. Call Decker and see what he’s doing.” My head slumps down on Garret’s shoulder.

“You’re not getting rid of me, sleepy girl. Do I need to carry you upstairs?”

“No, I can make it. But could you grab my pajamas so I don’t have to come down here later?”

He goes to my drawer and pulls out some pajamas, then we head upstairs to his room. I fall asleep right away and stay asleep the rest of the night.
 

We stay in the dorm all weekend so I can rest and Garret can avoid any photographers. The reality show airs Thursday night so he’s a wanted man. I’ve tried to avoid the Internet, but I have to use it for class and when I do I keep seeing ads for the show. Everyone else on campus has as well, and now the girls at Moorhurst are showing interest in Garret. They did even before all this happened because he’s extremely hot, but now they’re more aggressive. It’s another reason why we need to hide out in his room.

On Tuesday afternoon, Garret takes me to a medical clinic in town to get my stitches out. Dr. Cunningham doesn’t work there, but for some reason he’s allowed to temporarily use their facilities. I don’t ask questions about it because I know I won’t get answers.
 

“Your knee is healing nicely,” Cunningham says as he removes the stitches.
 

Garret’s standing there holding my hand like I’m five, but it’s sweet so I let him.
 

“When do you think I can ditch the crutches?” I ask the doctor.

“Let’s go another few days and then you can try walking without them.”

“I’m dying to run again.”

“No running, Jade. You’ll just do more damage. Wait another month.”

“I’ll have to hide her running shoes,” Garret says. “Otherwise there’s no way she’ll wait a month.”

“It’s true.” I look down at my now stitch-free knee. “I can’t wait that long.”

“Hide her running shoes,” Cunningham whispers to Garret, knowing I can hear.
 

Garret laughs as he helps me off the table.

Cunningham goes to the sink to wash his hands. “Any spring break plans for you two?”
 

“I’m staying here and Jade’s going home,” Garret says.

“Back to Des Moines?” Cunningham asks me. I nod as I put my coat on. “I’ll be there as well. I’m checking in on Frank next week. That’s good. I can check in on you, too, and make sure you’re not running on that knee.”

“Great,” I mumble, annoyed but smiling.

He swipes through his tablet, stopping briefly to type in some notes. “Who’s driving you to Iowa? You don’t plan to drive yourself do you? Because I don’t want you driving until you go a full week without any dizziness.”

“I’m not driving. I’m flying.”

He looks up from his tablet. “You can’t fly with your concussion. If you weren’t still having the headaches I’d say yes, but since you are, air travel is out.”

“But I have to fly. I have no other way to get there. And I have to get home. I won’t be there this summer.” I’m talking really fast as if doing so will somehow change his mind.

Garret puts his arm around me. “Jade. Relax. I’ll just drive you.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Cunningham asks him. “I don’t want Jade to be knocked around by a photographer or one of your fans. You know what happened last time.”

“Yeah, I know. We’ll figure something out. Is she done here?”

“Yes. You’re all set, Jade. I guess I may or may not see you in Des Moines next week. Either way, have a nice break. You, too, Garret.”

We leave and I find myself getting really angry on the drive back to campus. “Who does he think he is telling me I can’t fly?”

“He’s your doctor, Jade. And you need to listen to him.”

“Why? What’s so dangerous about flying? I just have to sit there for a few hours.”

“It probably has something to do with the air pressure. Look it up if you don’t believe him.”

“Maybe I should get a second opinion.”

“That guy is one of the best doctors in the country. I guarantee he’s better than any doctor you’ll find around here.”

“Then what am I gonna do? Frank and Ryan are all excited about having me home and I really want to see them. And Ryan already rearranged his work schedule so he could get some time off while I’m there.”

It makes me hate Ava even more. If it weren’t for her, Garret could just drive me home and this airplane ban wouldn’t even be a problem.
 

7

Back at the dorm, my phone rings just as we walk in my room. I answer without looking to see who it is.
 

“Hey, Jade. Did you get your stitches out?”
 

I recognize the voice. “Hey, Carson.” I glance at Garret who gives me his why-is-he-calling-you look as he closes my door. “Yeah, the stitches are out, but I still have to use the crutches for a few more days.”

“At least when you’re back from spring break you’ll be able to walk to class without them. So when are you leaving?”

“I can’t go now. The doctor won’t let me fly.”

He’s quiet for a moment, then says, “Just come with me. I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No, that’s okay. Besides you’re going to Illinois.”

“Des Moines is only four hours away from my hometown. That’s nothing. I told you I like driving.”

“But then you’d have to pick me up again a week later, unless I got Ryan to drive me to your house.”

Hearing “your house” Garret’s eyes narrow and he starts shaking his head no.
 

Carson’s talking again. “Either way. Doesn’t matter to me. I can easily go pick you up. It’s no problem.”

“Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.”

“Okay. And hey, I’m totally flexible on when we leave and when we come back.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hang up, set the phone on my desk, and turn to Garret. “Now before you get all—”

“Tell me you did not just agree to drive halfway across the country with that asshole.” Garret stands in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest.
 

“He’s not an asshole. And he offered, but as you heard, I didn’t say yes.” I pause. “But it’s not that bad of an idea. He seemed like a safe driver when he drove me to the coffee shop that day. His car is new so it shouldn’t break down. He’s very mature and responsible.”

Garret throws his hands in the air. “And he’s trying to sleep with you! Did you forget that part?”

“He’s not trying to sleep with me.”

“Are you seriously thinking of going with him?”

“Well, yeah. It’s just a car ride.” I go over to the bed and sit down.

“It’s a two day drive! That means you two will be spending the night in a hotel. No fucking way that’s happening.”
 

I hadn’t thought about the hotel issue. “I’ll tell him we have to drive all night. No stopping at any hotels.”

“You can’t drive, Jade. So he’ll have to drive the whole 22 hours or however long it is. He’ll fall asleep at the wheel and then you’ll roll into oncoming traffic and die.”

“That won’t happen. I’ll be there to keep him awake. I’ll make sure he drinks lots of caffeine. Last fall Ryan drove the whole way back without stopping to sleep.”

“Yeah, and that was stupid. He even admitted that himself when we saw him after Christmas. He only did it because he had to pick up Frank at the hospital.”

“I want to see them, Garret. I want to see Frank and Ryan. That’s all this is about. If Carson wanted to try something, he could’ve done it by now. I’ve been alone with him plenty of times.”

“Not alone in his car for 22 hours! This is exactly what he wants, Jade. To get you alone so he can convince you to stop seeing me. He’ll be saying shit about me the entire time while he tries to move in and take my place.”

“Nobody is taking your place. Would you just come over here so I don’t have to yell this across the room?” I wait for him to sit next to me. “You know how you always say I’m stuck with you?”

He doesn’t answer. His mind is still on Carson.
 

“Hey, you. Over here.” I laugh as I push on his shoulder to get his attention.
 

He finally looks at me. “Yes, I heard you. I always say you’re stuck with me.”

 
“Yeah, well, you’re stuck with me, too. Carson can say whatever he wants about you, but it won’t change anything. I’ll still want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. And I don’t mean just now. I mean not ever.”

His expression softens as I continue to say the things I should’ve said months ago.
 

“I know sometimes I say or do things that make you think I won’t stick around, but it’s not how I feel. I
want
to stick around. I want this—us—to be my future. I don’t want this to ever end.”

It takes a few seconds for my words to register with him and when they do, the corners of his mouth tick up a little. “You’ve never said that before. How long have you felt this way?”

“For a while. I was just afraid to say it.”

We’re both quiet for a moment and then he says, “So I’m stuck with you, huh?” He says it like he’s not sure that’s a good thing.

I punch his arm. “Hey, you’re supposed to be happy about this.”

He lays me down on my back and props himself up beside me. “I am.” He gives me a kiss, then runs his hand up and down my arm. “But I’m still not sure about this trip. It’s your decision, but can you just think about what I said before you decide?”

“Yes, but I want you to think about what I said, too. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’ll always worry about you. You know that. And I’m not just worried about Carson hitting on you. I’m worried because I hardly know anything about this guy, and it really does concern me that he’ll be driving the whole time without a break. It’s dangerous and it’s still winter so you might hit bad weather.”

“Okay, I got it. So can we make up now?” I ask with an anxious tone.

He looks confused. “Why? Did we have a fight?”

“Well, yeah. Where were you?”

“That was more of a disagreement, not a fight. Hang out with my dad and Katherine for an hour or two and you’ll hear a real fight.”

“I don’t want us to fight like that. To me, what we just had was a fight.”

His sexy smile appears. “Then let’s make up.” He takes his t-shirt off, then kisses me softly and trails more kisses down my neck to the opening of my shirt. He undoes each button until he’s at the end, leaving kisses all the way down to my stomach. The area just below it is scorching hot and begging for attention. He undoes my jeans and slides his hand down them. Then he kisses his way back up to my mouth as his hand does whatever the hell he does down there that is pure magic.
 

“Garret,” I say breathlessly.

“What?” he says against my lips.

“You’re so damn good at this.”

I feel his brief smile on my lips before he kisses me again. My body is on fire with sensations, the tension building under the direction of his hand until it finally releases.

Garret strips the rest of my clothes off, then quickly takes off his. My body is still reeling with sensation as he enters me. His slow, deep thrusts cause another wave of tension to build. His hand slips under me, pulling us closer as his hips move faster until the tension releases yet again with him following shortly after.
 

He stays there for a moment, his body covering mine, laying soft kisses along my shoulder. “I love you, Jade.”

“I love you, too.”
 

He shifts onto his back and holds me close against his chest. I feel him kiss my forehead before I drift off to sleep.

We wake up a few hours later. Garret stretches his arms out, then relaxes them around me again. “I’m starving. How about you?”

BOOK: Promising You (The Jade Series #4)
8.77Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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