Page 141 of Finding Us

“Are you kidding me? You stormed out of here after we got back from the grocery store, then you yelled at me for getting home late from my run, and now you’re mad because we’re not at some party.”

“I’m not mad about the party. I didn’t want to go. I already told the guy that, so I don’t know why he’s calling me.”

“Who is this guy?”

“Kyle something. I don’t know his last name.”

“Why is he on campus so early? Is he from around here?”

“He’s on the football team. They get here early for practice.”

“Was the whole team at the gym?”

“No, just him.”

“Why don’t you want to go to his party? Because of me?”

“Jade, why would we go to a party with a bunch of drunk people?”

“Not everyone drinks. And even if they do, it doesn’t mean they’ll get drunk.”

“This is college. Everyone drinks. Everyone gets drunk.” He reaches behind me for the remote but I bury it under the pillow.

“Garret, I want us to do normal things that college students do. Just because we’re married doesn’t mean we have to sit at home watching TV every night. This isn’t Moorhurst. I can go to a party without having to worry about running into Blake or Ava or Sierra. We have a fresh start here. And I think we should get out and do stuff.” I pick up his hand and thread our fingers together. “And if you want to drink now and then, I’m okay with that.”

“Can we stop talking about this party?” He raises his voice. “I don’t want to go. Just drop it.”

I give him a moment to calm down. Why is he getting so angry? We’re just having a conversation.

“I don’t want you to be mad at me for missing out on stuff, or. . . or regret getting married when we did.”

“Jade.” His voice softens and he pulls me over onto his lap. “I’ll never regret that. Don’t you ever think that. I love being married to you. I don’t care if we sit and watch TV or go out somewhere. It doesn’t matter what we do. I just want to be with you.”

“Are you sure?” I smile a little.

“I married you, Jade. I’d say that’s a pretty permanent way to say I want to be with you.”

“So you’re not mad at me?”

He kisses me. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“I don’t know. I just get this feeling that you are.”

“It’s not you. I’m just tired from the move. I guess it put me in a bad mood. I’m over it now. Let’s just watch a movie.” He lifts me off him and sets me on the couch, then gets up and goes to the metal stand that holds the movies. “You pick.”

“Can it be a scary one? Like a horror movie?”

“Whatever you want.” He stands there, waiting.

“Let’s watch Carrie. The original, not the new one.”

He shakes his head as he takes it from the rack. “I don’t get why you like these movies. Don’t they give you nightmares?”

“No. Never.”

He puts the movie in, then slumps down on the couch. It’s clear he’s dreading this movie.

I kiss his cheek. “We can watch something else.”

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