Page 23 of Finding Us

“Come on. Let’s go back downstairs and get the guys before they clear out the refrigerator.”

She laughs. “Did you see my mom’s face when they filled their plates? I swear she’s never seen anyone eat that much.”

When we get to the kitchen, Sean is cleaning up the dishes and Harper’s mom is sitting at the table.

“Mom, why are you making Sean clean up?”

“He wouldn’t let me. I tried, I swear, but he insisted so I gave up. He said whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean.”

Harper goes over and kisses him. “Yeah, he does say that. He’s sweet, isn’t he?”

“He’s definitely better than the other boys you’ve brought home.” She says it quietly but we all hear.

“Mom!” Harper yells.

“It’s true.” Kylie laughs and goes over to give Harper a hug. “I need to get going. Call me later, okay?”

“I will. Have fun.”

Kylie looks at the rest of us. “I expect all of you to come back here for my movie premiere.” She’s in a vampire movie that comes out next winter. “Oh, and Jade, be sure to take some clothes back with you.”

“I will. Thanks, Kylie.”

Caitlyn also gets up to leave, saying goodbye before following her sister out to the driveway. They’re going shopping, which is crazy because the last thing they need is more clothes.

Garret and Sean go upstairs and get our bags, then we say goodbye to Kelly before heading out to Harper’s SUV.

Sean drives this time while Harper takes a nap in the front seat. Garret talks sports with Sean, and I rest my head on Garret’s shoulder, thinking about our weekend. It wasn’t what I thought it’d be. On the way there, I was really excited to go to the party and meet Harper’s parents. But then the party was ruined when those men approached Garret. And although Harper’s parents seemed nice, I didn’t like the way her dad treated Sean. And I really hated seeing Harper upset. So all in all, it wasn’t the greatest weekend.

* * *

The next weekgoes by and Garret and I get ready to go to Connecticut for the Fourth of July. I didn’t want to go, but Garret insists I celebrate all the holidays in a big way. This is the last major holiday we have yet to celebrate together and he wants to make sure it’s as great for me as all the other ones were.

Going to his dad’s house doesn’t sound like a great way to spend the holiday, but Garret assures me it’s worth going because his family makes a huge deal out of the Fourth of July. Usually they host an all-day party with their wealthy friends, but this year they’re not having it because Garret and I are coming. Pearce didn’t want his rich, nosy friends around us. They’d start asking questions about why Garret’s with me and why he’s no longer the bad boy he was last spring and why he’s not going to Moorhurst in the fall. The questions would never end and if we didn’t give them answers they’d make up their own.

Katherine is furious that she’s not allowed to host her usual huge social gathering for all her snobby friends. Since Garret and I are the reason for that, I’m sure she’ll be even meaner than normal but I don’t care. I’m not going to get all worked up about her.

We fly out Friday morning for the cross-country flight. With the layover it takes all day and we get into Connecticut at 6. Garret rented a car so his dad wouldn’t have to pick us up.

“I’m getting nervous,” I say as we’re driving to his house.

“What are you nervous about? Katherine?”

“Just everything. Being back here. Being close to Moorhurst. Going back to your house. So many bad things have happened here.”

He reaches over and takes my hand. “And lots of good things happened, too. Think of those things instead of the bad things.”

I nod in agreement, but I still feel nervous being back. My heart’s beating faster than normal, my stomach’s in knots, and I can’t stop tapping my foot on the floor of the car.

I did not at all expect to feel this way. Before I got here I was looking forward to seeing everything again. Maybe itisKatherine making me feel this way. Or it could be the fact that last time I was in this area I thought I’d lost Garret for good. I thought I’d never see him again. Yeah, that’s probably why I feel so sick right now.

“Hey.” Garret brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses it. “I’m right here.”

He keeps hold of my hand, rubbing the top of it with his thumb. He’s trying to calm my nerves because he knows what I’m thinking. We just passed Moorhurst and my mind is replaying the memory of saying goodbye to him the woods.

“We just passed campus,” I say, stating the obvious.

“I know.” He smiles. “I went to school there, remember?”

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