Page 213 of Finding Us

“Yes.”

“Do I get popcorn?”

“Yes.”

“Do I get a cold beverage of my choice?”

“Yes.”

“What about candy?”

“No, just popcorn.”

“Why can’t I have candy?”

“Movie, popcorn, a cold beverage, and me. I think I’ve offered enough here, Jade.”

He always makes me laugh when he’s so serious.

“Just one more request before I’ll go on a date with you.”

“You can ask, but there’s a good chance I’ll say no.”

“You won’t say no.” I kiss him.

“What is it?”

“Can I take you home after the movie and have my way with you?”

“I think I’ll need you to define what that means before I agree to it.”

I rub my hand over the front of his jeans and whisper over his lips. “I’d like you to strip me naked and—”

He kisses me before I can finish. “Forget waiting until after the movie. We’re doing it right now.”

We end up going to the late show. Date night heated up fast and the sex portion of the night went on a little longer than planned.

I love date night. I hope Garret asks me out again.

* * *

Over the weekendI force myself to do homework and study. It’s really hard to stay focused when the sand and the ocean are right outside my window and I just want to lay out in the sun. And then Garret keeps breaking my concentration by watching TV or doing stuff in the kitchen or kissing me or luring me to the bedroom for sex.

It’s Sunday and I asked for buttermilk pancakes this morning because the price of five kisses was more affordable timewise than the price of the other pancakes. But then we ended up doing it this afternoon so I didn’t really save any time.

Now it’s 7:30 and we just finished dinner and I know I should study some more but I can’t. I’m too tired. I can’t believe how much work my professors assigned the first week of the semester.

“Why do I have so much homework and you don’t have any?” I ask Garret as I wash the last pan in the sink. Garret made spaghetti and since he made the meal, I’m on clean-up duty. That’s the deal we have, but he always ends up helping me.

“I have homework. I just don’t have as much as you.” He takes the pan from me and dries it. “Speaking of that, I need to do some reading before class tomorrow.”

“Then while you’re doing that, I’m going to call Frank and Ryan before it gets too late there.”

“Tell them I said hi.”

I take the phone out to the deck and call Frank. Ryan answers. “Hey, Jade. Sorry I missed your call the other day.”

“It’s my fault. I called at the wrong time. I keep forgetting the time difference.”

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