Page 125 of Finding Us

“And then what?” He smiles. “Got anything else planned for my birthday?”

I smile back. “It ends the way it started. Except this time I’ll wear a skirt.”

He puts his arm around me and leads me to the door. “Yeah, this is definitely my best birthday ever.”

And it’s only the first of many we’ll have together. We have lots more birthdays to celebrate. Lots more not-so-perfect dinners. Lots more giant sundaes to share. Lots more movie nights. Lots more kisses. Lots more of everything.

In the past year, Garret and I have made lots of memories together, but there are so many more to make. Our life together is just beginning and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

MOVE-IN DAY

JADE

The overfilled garbage bag fights with me as I try to pry it from the other bags wedged into the small trunk of my car. I probably should’ve listened to Garret and just used boxes for the clothes, towels, and sheets, but I didn’t and now I’m left struggling with this stupid bag. I could ask Garret to help me but that would just prove he was right all along and I can’t give him the satisfaction after I insisted, repeatedly, that garbage bags were better than bulky boxes.

I manage to pick up the bag, then try to hold it while shutting the trunk with my elbow, my keys dangling from my fingers. I take a moment to reposition it.

“Need some help with that?” I can’t see Garret, but I can hear his voice and I know he’s laughing at me.

“No. I don’t need any help,” I say, realizing we’re now reliving the scene that played out last year when we met.

“It looks heavy,” he says.

“I can handle heavy.” I say it like I did last year, annoyed. “Besides I used better garbage bags this time. I went all out. Name brand. Double reinforced sides. Even has a handle on top.”

“I see that. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be a gentleman and offer my assistance.”

I feel his hands brush against my shorts as he reaches under the bag. I keep hold of it, my arms tightening around the middle causing two white towels to bulge out the top.

“Jade,” Garret says calmly. “Let go of the bag.”

“I’m perfectly capable of carrying it myself.”

“I know you are, but I’m here and I need something to do.”

“Then go unpack the boxes. That’ll give you something to do.”

“Jade, if you don’t give me this bag, my hands will have no choice but to wander below the bag and do things that are not entirely appropriate given that our neighbors are watching us right now.”

I glance behind him and see an older couple sitting on their porch. “You wouldn’t dare. You know how embarrassed I would be if you—” I stop as I feel his hand extending beyond the bottom of the bag, his fingers touching my shorts.

“Fine. Take it!” I let go and he catches it, then easily transfers it to one arm.

He gives me a quick kiss. “That was easy.”

I shake my head and take a box of kitchen supplies from the back seat and follow him inside. I set the box on the floor and assess our new digs. The house is about the same size as the townhouse we rented last summer but it’s just one level instead of two. The bedroom is down the hall from the living room and looks almost exactly like our last bedroom. It has a king-size bed with a nightstand on each side and a wide dresser along the wall that leads to the bathroom. It’s a large room with lots of windows and a big walk-in closet.

The house has been completely renovated. The kitchen has new white cabinets, light-colored granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. The walls have all been freshly painted a soothing grayish-green color. The bathroom has a new countertop and sink and new tile on the floor and walk-in shower.

It looks like the owners bought all new furniture, too. It has a beachy feel like the furniture at our last place. The living room tables are the color of driftwood and have a distressed look. The overstuffed couch and two chairs are covered in a bright white canvas-like fabric. Light blue throw pillows add some color.

The real estate agent showed us what the place used to look like and it was pretty bad. The people who bought it fixed it up to use as a summer vacation home, but they didn’t want it to sit empty the rest of the year, which worked out perfect for Garret and me. Of course we’ll be homeless next summer, but I’m hoping we can spend the summer with Harper and Sean again, maybe on a different beach.

Most of the houses around us are also summer vacation homes and now that it’s almost Labor Day, people are starting to leave. The neighbors on one side of us are already gone and the ones we just saw outside are moving back to their regular home in a few days, at least that’s what the real estate agent said. So it’ll be quiet around here, which will be good for studying.

“Hey.” Garret comes up behind me, scooping me up into his arms. “Need a break?” He drops me on the couch and lays over me, brushing the loose strands of hair from my face.

---