Page 43 of Finding Us

The next day,Sean and Harper leave for San Francisco. Garret doesn’t want to surf alone so we’re spending the entire day together, which rarely happens. We usually spend the day with Harper or Sean or both of them.

We have breakfast out on the deck. It’s a beautiful morning, bright and sunny with a light breeze. I got up early and did laundry and cleaned so I wouldn’t have to do it later. Then I showered and dressed, all while Garret was still asleep. When he finally woke up, he made breakfast like he always does, but we didn’t get to have our morning tradition and now I’m really missing it.

He’s sitting next to me, shirtless and wearing the gray drawstring shorts he wore to bed. His hair is tousled and looks all hot and sexy. I have this urge to reach over and run my hands through it.

“Jade, you should learn to surf so we could go together.” He takes my empty plate and sets it aside, on top of his.

“No, thanks. I don’t want to be eaten by a shark. The news always shows people on surfboards getting eaten by sharks.”

He laughs. “So every time I out go out there, you think I’ll be eaten by a shark?”

“Nah, I don’t worry aboutyougetting eaten.” I take a sip of my water.

“And why is that?”

“I just don’t think they’d find you appetizing. And obviously they don’t because they haven’t approached you all summer.”

He slides my chair closer to him. “I’m very appetizing. They just know better than to come after me. I intimidate them with my large stature and big muscles.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.” I lean over and kiss him.

He pulls me out of my chair and onto his lap. “So I think we should discuss the honeymoon thing again.”

“We’ve already discussed it several times. It’s not a good idea. Like your dad said, you need to hide out for a while. Let people lose interest in you. Otherwise we risk having cameras following us around.”

“So we’ll go to Europe. You told me you always wanted to see a real castle. Europe is full of castles. We can see as many as you want.”

“Rich people travel to Europe. I’d be worried you might run into someone from the organization. Just seeing those men at Harper’s house had me in a total panic.”

He runs his hand up and down my arm. “That’s over, Jade. You can stop worrying about it.”

“I’ll never stop worrying about it. What if they change their mind and try to take you away from me again?”

“It’s not going to happen. They have no interest in me.”

“Then why were they bothering you at Harper’s house?”

“Because they know my dad. They were just saying hello.”

“They weren’t just saying hello. Those guys surrounded you and I didn’t like the looks they were giving you.”

“How about Italy? Or France?” he asks, changing the subject.

“Next year I’d love to go. But not this year. I just can’t do it, Garret. I want to be able to relax during our honeymoon, not be stressed out. We’ll go next summer for our one-year anniversary.”

He sighs. “Fine. I guess I can’t really argue with you about it since you’re the one who’ll be paying for it.”

“It’s notmymoney. It’s our money.”

“It’s still strange how you’re the one saying that now instead of me.”

“Hey, you just mentioned money so you know what that means. You owe me.” I adjust myself on his lap so that I’m straddling him.

He puts his hands on my butt and tugs me closer. “Whatever you want. I’m all yours.”

“I’m thinking a massage would be nice.”

“I can do that.” His hand moves behind my neck and he pulls me in for a kiss. “I love giving you massages.”

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