“What?” I make sure to sound annoyed. I’m still pissed at him for being an ass to Jade and threatening to tell my dad about her.
He stands beside me, leaning against the bar. “Dek and I are heading to a party later. You’re coming with.”
“You know I have to do this thing with Courtney. I can’t leave.”
“Shit, that’s right. I keep forgetting she’s your girlfriend.” He sets his empty glass down and nods at the bartender, signaling he wants another. “So how’s your other girlfriend?” He gives me a smug grin, reminding me he has shit to blackmail me with.
“She’s not my girlfriend. And neither is Courtney.”
The bartender hands Blake another drink. “But you’re fucking Ohio, right?”
I shove him back. “Don’t call her that. I’m sick of that Ohio shit. Her name is Jade. If you’re going to talk about her, use her damn name.”
“Are you fucking her or not?”
“Just shut the hell up. And stop talking about her.”
He looks at the bartender. “Get my buddy here a couple shots of vodka. He needs to loosen up.”
“I don’t want any shots,” I tell him.
The bartender pours them anyway.
Blake takes one of the shot glasses and holds it in front of my face. “Drink up.”
I push it away. “I don’t want it.”
“Why the hell not? Since when do you turn down shots?”
“I just don’t feel like drinking right now.”
He picks up the second shot glass, still holding the other one in front of me. “Come on. We’ll each do one.”
“I told you I don’t want it.”
He laughs. “Look who’s coming over.”
I turn around and see my dad walking toward me.
“If you don’t do this shot with me, I’m gonna tell him his son is slumming it with his scholarship winner.” He laughs again.
I grab his shirt and yank him toward me, spilling the shots. “Keep your fucking mouth shut. I mean it, Blake.”
“Is there a problem here?” My dad puts his hand firmly on my shoulder.
“No.” I pull away from Blake, keeping my eyes on him. “No problem.”
“Good seeing you, Mr. Kensington.” Blake sets the shot glasses down and flashes the smile he reserves only for parents. An overly wide smile that looks so fake no parent would ever think it’s real.
“Hello, Blake,” my dad says. “I need to speak with Garret.”
“Yes, of course.” He keeps the smile going. “Enjoy your evening.”
When Blake is gone, my dad starts the lecture I knew was coming. “You need to go home and change. Courtney’s throwing a fit inside and now her mother is distraught. Katherine is in there apologizing for your behavior.”
“My behavior? I didn’t do anything! They’re getting that upset over my clothes? What’s wrong with what I’m—”
“Garret! You can’t show up at an event like this without the proper attire. You know that! You’ve done this enough to know what’s acceptable.” He stands back, inspecting me. “Look at you! You’re not even wearing a collared shirt. You’re Courtney’s date and since this is her family’s house and her family’s party, you need to play by their rules.”
I roll my eyes. “This is so stupid.”
“Katherine bought you a suit. It’s in your room. Go home and change. Right now!”
I don’t argue with him. It’s just clothes. I’m not going to waste energy fighting about this.
I go to the house and change into the white shirt and beige linen suit that was waiting for me in my room. Katherine even bought me shoes to wear. Expensive leather loafers that I’m sure I’ll never wear again.
This really pisses me off. I’m not even allowed to dress myself. I don’t know why I put up with this shit.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I leave my house looking like an ad for a country club. I try to think of it as a uniform and this party as a job. Thinking of it that way makes it easier than thinking it’s my actual life.
When I get back to the party, I put on a smile and play the role of Courtney’s boyfriend and Pearce Kensington’s son. That’s what I’m known as here. Nobody knows who I really am. Nobody cares. I’m just playing a role. It’s a job and in a few hours it’ll be over.
I get back to the party just in time for photos. Courtney and I put on our fake smiles and pretend to be a couple for the photographers who are here to take shots for whatever society pages these photos end up on.
A few hours later, I return to my house and put on a gray suit for dinner along with the blue tie Courtney picked out that matches her dress. My dad made me ride in his car with the rest of the family instead of driving my own car, which meant I had to deal with a lecture from Katherine the entire way there and back regarding the proper attire for social events. I just tuned her out, like I always do.
We get back to the party at 6:30 for the cocktail hour. After I endure being dragged around by Courtney for almost the entire hour, I sneak off by the flower gardens and call my room to see if Jade’s there. The phone rings a few times and then I hear her voice.
“Hello?”
“So you are there,” I say. “What are you doing answering my phone?”
“Oh. Sorry. I shouldn’t have, but it kept—”
“I’m kidding, Jade. I don’t care if you answer it, although it probably won’t ring again. Nobody calls that number.”
“Hey, thanks for doing all this. I was so excited when I opened the door and saw this.”
“Really? It’s just some snacks.”
“Yeah, but you went to all that trouble to buy them and set them up like this.”
“Jade, it was no big deal. I just ran out after lunch and got some stuff. I’ve noticed your potato chip addiction by the way.”
“Well, it’s a big deal to me, so thanks for doing it.”
“You’re welcome. Also, that key I gave you is yours. I had it made while I was out. That way you can watch TV or movies whenever you want.”
“Garret, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“I had to. You don’t have a TV. Plus now, if I ever lose my key, I can just come downstairs and get my spare.”
“So that’s the real reason you made an extra key.” She says it jokingly. “How’s the party?”
“Same as it is every year. Blake’s here, but he’s leaving soon to go to some party near campus. Sierra and Ava are here, too. You met them, right?” I know she did, but I’m checking to see if they’ve bothered her since I talked to them or if they listened to me and left her alone.
“Yeah, they live on my floor. Is half the school there or what?”
“Not half, but a lot of them are. This is a huge event. The place is packed. Dinner starts in a few minutes, but I wanted to call you quick and see if you needed anything.”
“I don’t need anything. Thanks again for letting me use your stuff.”
Lilly appears and takes my hand, pointing toward the house. It must be time for dinner.
“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Jade. What’s mine is yours. Use anything in there. I gotta go. My little sister’s pulling me away for dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Mom said you have to sit by Courtney,” Lilly says. “She’s waiting inside.”
“Yeah, I know.” I follow Lilly into the house and take my assigned seat next to Courtney. Normally I’d be in a bad mood having to sit here all night, listening to Courtney’s parents brag about their latest trip or the new yacht they purchased.
But I’m not in a bad mood at all. In fact, after talking to Jade just now, I feel really good. She was so excited about that concession stand. Way more excited than I thought she’d be. And then she kept thanking me for it. She was actually appreciative of my efforts, which is nice.
Nobody ever appreciates me or what I do. Like this party tonight. Will I get any credit or any thanks for showing up here all day and night, pretending to be someone I’m no
t? No. I’ll just get scolded for the earlier incident of wearing a t-shirt to a pool party. I’ll get yelled at for weeks about that.
So yeah, it’s nice to be appreciated. For once.
After dinner, people stick around to have drinks and dance. There’s a band outside and a dance floor set up. The party will go on all night but I don’t want to stick around. The photographers left and Courtney’s hanging out with her friends so nobody should care if I’m gone.
I go to find my dad to tell him I’m leaving. I search the patio and the area by the dance floor but I can’t find him. I’ll just call him. I reach for my phone but it’s gone. I must’ve left it inside. I go back in the house and see that all the tables have been cleared.
One of the servers walks by.
“I left my phone on that table,” I tell him. “Do you know where it went?”
He looks confused. I don’t think he speaks English. I say ‘phone’ again and pretend to hold it to my ear. He nods and points to the kitchen. As I head down there, I hear my dad talking in one of the side rooms. The door is closed and just as I’m about to knock, I stop when I hear my grandfather.
“Pearce, we’ve already discussed this,” he says. “You know what has to be done. It can’t be avoided.”
“Of course it can,” he says. “She’s young. Even if she told her story, nobody would believe her.”
“She has evidence,” another man says. “If that evidence makes its way to the right people, we’d have a lot more than her to deal with.”
“It’s one versus many,” my grandfather says. “You’ve always been on the side of limiting casualties. Isn’t that right, Pearce?”
“Yes, but we could avoid any casualties if we just retrieved the evidence. Why isn’t that an option?”
The other man speaks. “Because the girl will keep prying. She won’t give up. And by this time next year, she might’ve convinced at least a few people that her theory is right. We can’t have that, Pearce. It’s too risky.”
“Then you need to find someone else. I’m not doing it.”
“The order’s already been made,” the man says. “They want you to do it.”
My dad raises his voice. “Tell them I refuse. She’s too damn young. And she’s done nothing wrong, at least not that she’s aware of. I can’t do it.”
“You won’t even be involved,” my grandfather says. “You’ll hire someone, like we always do.”
“Her blood will still be on my hands.”
My grandfather clears his throat, then says, “Conlin, give us a minute, will you? I need to have a word with my son.”
“Of course.”
Conlin. Conlin Atwater. I know him. His son, Leed, went to my prep school. He was on the baseball team with me freshman year but I didn’t know him that well. Last I heard he was going to Harvard.
The door opens and I dart around the corner as Conlin comes out. Then I walk into the hall, pretending I just got there.
Conlin spots me and takes a few steps to catch up with me. “Garret, how have you been?”
“Good. And you?” I smile, trying to hide the anxiousness I’m feeling after hearing that conversation.
“Busy, as always.” He walks slow, forcing me to do the same. “Your father tells me you’re at Moorhurst now.”
“Yes. It’s a good school.” I glance at him. “Although not as good as Harvard. Does Leed like it there?”
“Yes.” Conlin flashes his proud dad smile. “He fits right in. Of course, he always aspired to go to Harvard, just like his father.”
We’re approaching the kitchen so I stop. “Well, tell him I say hi. I’ll see you later.”
He laughs as I open the kitchen door. “Did you get a job in catering, Garret?”
“No. I left my phone on the table and one of the waiters said it’s in here.”
“Very well. It was nice seeing you again.”
“You too.” It’s a lie. That guy freaks me out. He always came to baseball games in a black suit, his dark hair slicked back and a phone to his ear. I don’t think he ever watched the games. He was too busy talking on the phone. And he’d arrive in a black Lincoln Towncar with a chauffeur.
Conlin acted like he knew me just now, but actually that’s the first time I’ve ever talked to him. He’s even been to my house a few times and I didn’t talk to him then, either. I never knew why he was at my house, but I guess I do now. Apparently he’s involved with whatever my dad and grandfather are involved in. Sometimes I think everyone around me is somehow connected to that group.
The kitchen is full of catering staff but I see my phone on the counter and grab it. I go back down the hall just as my dad comes out of the room he was in.
“Garret, what are you doing in the house?” He smiles and pats me on the back. “I assumed Courtney would have you on the dance floor.”
My dad’s face is bright red like he’s about to explode, but he’s trying to conceal his anger with the smile. I glance in the room and see my grandfather standing there, talking on the phone.
“Courtney’s hanging out with her friends. I just came in here to get my phone. I’m tired so I’m going home.”
“Are you going back to the dorm?”
“No, I’m staying at the house tonight. But I’m leaving early in the morning. I have some studying to do.”
“Be sure to say goodbye to Lilly before you go.”
“I will. See ya.”
I take off out the door that leads to the patio. Katherine is there, talking to someone and ignoring Lilly, who’s patiently waiting beside her. Lilly looks cute in her little pink dress and white sandals.
I kneel down so I’m at her level. “Hey. I gotta go but I’ll call you this week, okay?”
She hugs me, then gives me her sad face. “When are you moving back?”
“Lilly, I live at college now. I’m not moving back.”
“Can I go to college, too?”
“Someday, but not yet.” I glance up and see that Katherine’s still talking. She hasn’t even noticed I’m there. I see some girls Lilly’s age near the dance floor and point them out to her. “Why don’t you go play with those girls over there?”
She frowns. “Mom said I have to stay with her.”
Lilly looks bored and tired. I know she’d be way happier at home than here at this party.
I stand up and take Lilly’s hand and nudge Katherine’s arm. “Hey. We’re leaving.”
She stops talking and shoots me a dirty look. “Garret, I was in the middle of—”
“We’ll see you at home.” I start walking away, Lilly by my side.
“Wait. You can’t take her home yet. The party’s not—”
I hear my dad’s voice. “Katherine, I want you to meet Mr. Sullivan.”
I turn back and see Katherine shaking hands with an older man with white hair. I’ve seen him on the cover of Forbes so he’s obviously rich and powerful. Katherine must know that, too, because she’s lost all interest in keeping Lilly at the party.
“Will you read me a story?” Lilly asks, swinging our arms back and forth as we walk to my car.
“Sure. But first, we’re having ice cream.”
“Yay! Ice cream!”
Katherine doesn’t like Lilly to have it, but my dad loves ice cream so our cook, Charles, keeps the freezer stocked. And whenever Katherine’s not around, I give some to Lilly. How can you deny a kid ice cream? That’s just mean.
We go home and have our ice cream, then I read her a story but she falls asleep before I finish it. She was tired from being at the party all day.
I go to my room and watch TV. I don’t like being in this house but I wanted to sleep in a king-size bed for a night instead of the twin bed in my dorm room.
It takes me a while to get to sleep because I keep thinking about that conversation I overheard. I need to stop listening to that shit. I don’t want to know what goes on with my family. It’s bad and it’s wrong and I just don’t want to know.
I wa
ke up early the next morning and drive back to campus. When I get to my room, I find the TV on. I look over and see Jade sleeping on my bed. I didn’t think she’d spend the night here, but I like it. I like seeing her in my bed and in my room.
I want to kiss her awake but I probably shouldn’t. So instead, I sit next to her and lightly nudge her side. “Jade, I’m back.”
She bolts up. “What time is it?”
“It’s 8:30.”
“In the morning? Crap! I didn’t mean to spend the night here. I must have fallen asleep.”
“It’s okay. I don’t care.” I smile. “But you left the TV on all night.”
She gets quiet and her eyes glaze over. And then she starts screaming. “I’m sorry! I won’t do it again! I promise! I’ll never do it again!”
I back away and watch as she cowers like I’m going to hit her or something. She looks scared. Or more like terrified.
I hold her shoulders and look at her, trying to get her attention because she seems to be somewhere else.
“Jade, stop. I was just kidding. I don’t care that you left it on.”
She blushes, her cheeks bright pink. “No. I wasn’t talking to you. I was . . .” Her voice trails off.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Nobody. I need to go.” She tries to move off the bed but I hold her in place.
“Wait. What just happened? Why were you screaming at me?”
“I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. Now let me go.”
“Something’s wrong. You totally changed just now. You were all happy and smiling and then all of a sudden you changed. What happened? Was it something I said?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
She’s pushing on me so I let her up. “Then tell me what’s wrong.”
“I can’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”
She races to the door, but I step in front of her and pull her into my arms and hug her. She just stands there, her arms hanging at her sides.
I probably shouldn’t laugh right now but I do because this arm thing is too damn funny. “Jade, you’re doing the exact same thing you did after the pool that night. Don’t you know how to do this?”
Garret Page 14
