Garret

by Allie Everhart

“Hey, Sadie.”

  “Hey. Are you out tonight?”

  “Yeah. I’m at a party.”

  I have no clue why she’s calling me. I haven’t talked to her since she broke up with me.

  Sadie also had an internship last summer, working for a congresswoman. Sadie still lives in DC and goes to Georgetown. She has her own apartment, but last summer she practically lived at mine, which got really annoying. I wasn’t used to having a girlfriend and I sure as hell didn’t want a live-in girlfriend.

  I met Sadie a few years ago at a fundraiser for her dad, Royce Sinclair. He’s running for president. I can’t stand the guy. He’s a pompous ass, but all politicians are, so I’m not surprised he’s that way.

  My dad’s been friends with Royce for years and he’s very involved with Royce’s presidential campaign. Because of that, I’ve seen Sadie’s family a lot the past couple years. My family’s been to her house in Virginia and her family’s been to ours. That’s how I got to know her, but I never planned to date her. It just kind of happened. One night last summer we were hanging out and started kissing and the next thing I knew we were dating.

  She broke up with me right before I moved back to Connecticut because she said she doesn’t like long-distance dating. I didn’t care. I was more than ready to end that relationship. Sadie was fine as a friend, but when she became my girlfriend she got way too controlling, telling me what to do all the time. What to wear. How to act. We fought constantly.

  We dated for two months and thinking back on it now, I don’t know why I stayed with her that long. I guess because it was easy sex. I hate to admit that, but I feel like that’s what it came down to. And the thing is, the sex totally sucked. She just laid there and did nothing.

  “So how do you like Moorhurst?” she asks.

  “It’s good. How’s Georgetown?”

  “It’s okay.”

  There’s silence and I’m wondering why the hell she called me if she has nothing to say.

  “So did you just call to say hi?”

  “Yeah. And to ask if you’d go to the fundraiser for my dad. You probably already know about it. It’s at your house in November.”

  “No. I didn’t know about it.”

  I haven’t talked to my dad since that night I had dinner at my grandparents’ house.

  “Your dad and Katherine are hosting this big fundraiser and so far, it sounds like most of the people attending are older people. There’ll be photographers there and we can’t have them only get pictures of people in their seventies and eighties. It’ll look bad and turn off younger voters. So do you think you can go?”

  So Sadie’s using me to help her dad. That’s why she called. It doesn’t surprise me. Over the past year, I’ve watched Sadie get sucked into this political world her dad’s in and now she’s starting to act like a politician herself. She’ll probably run for office someday.

  “I don’t know, Sadie. I have to think about it.”

  “Even though we’re not dating, we’re still friends, Garret.”

  Actually, we’re not. I haven’t talked to her for months. I haven’t even thought about her. It’s not like I hate her. I don’t really feel anything at all for her.

  “So could you go?” she asks again. “As a favor to me?”

  “If I go, I’m not going to be your date.”

  “I won’t even be there. It’s too far to go for one night. And I have exams the following week. I have to stay here and study.”

  “I’ll try to go, but I’m not making any promises.”

  “Thanks, Garret. I really appreciate it.”

  “Sure. Bye, Sadie.”

  At the end there, she sounded more like the Sadie I used to know. The polite Sadie who asked for things instead of demanding. But she only acted that way because we’re not dating and she can’t order me around like she tried to do when I was her boyfriend.

  I don’t want to go to that fundraiser but I’m sure I will. If it’s at my house, my dad will force me to go. But it’s just a few hours. It’s not worth fighting over. I fight enough with him as it is.

  Speaking of my dad, on Monday he calls and orders me to attend a party at the house. The party is on Thursday night so at least it doesn’t ruin my weekend or interfere with my plans with Jade.

  I agree to go because I’ve been thinking I need to try to get on my dad’s good side in case news of Jade and me gets back to him. Maybe if I play the obedient son role, he’ll cut me some slack for being with Jade. It’s not likely, but I might as well try.

  The party is for his rich, fake friends and he’s making me go because the senator I worked for last summer will be there. I didn’t even like the guy, but he seemed to liked me. When I left, he gave me this glowing recommendation that he signed and put on his official letterhead. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with it. I didn’t ask for it and it’s not like I want a career in politics so I don’t know why he gave it to me.

  On Thursday night, I get to my house at 6. The house is full of wait staff and maids and Katherine is running around yelling at all of them. I go up to my room and shower and shave and put on my suit. Then I stop by Lilly’s room.

  “Hi, Garret!” She runs up to me and I reach down and hug her.

  “Hey. You staying in your room all night?”

  She nods. “Daddy got me a new princess movie.”

  “Did you have dinner?”

  “Yes. I had chicken.”

  “Here.” I pull a mini candy bar from my jacket and give it to her. Katherine doesn’t let Lilly have candy, but her big brother does.

  She takes it and hugs me again. “Thank you!”

  Sometimes I feel like she’s a prisoner here, stuck in her room all the time. And then I come to see her and sneak her illegal goods.

  “I’ll come up and say goodbye before I leave tonight.”

  “Can you put my movie in, please?”

  “Sure.” I get her all set up, then go downstairs.

  People have started to arrive and some are gathered in groups, talking, with drinks in their hands.

  When you walk in our house, there’s a foyer with my dad’s office on one side and the study on the other. Then there’s a big open area that connects with the formal living room. When my dad hosts parties, this is where everyone congregates for the drinks and appetizers and then they move to the dining room for dinner. We have two dining rooms; a smaller one for family dinners and then one for entertaining, which seats up to 100 people. It’s huge and located down a hallway near the back of the house.

  I go to the bar and ask for a soda and while the bartender’s pouring it, my dad comes up to me.

  “Hello, Garret.” He says it so formally it’s like we’re not even related.

  “Hello, Father.” I say it back in the same tone. He glares at me because he thinks I’m making fun of him. I guess I kind of am.

  He leans down, lowering his voice. “There are a lot of important people here tonight. Don’t embarrass me.”

  “What exactly do you think I’m going to do?”

  The bartender hands me my glass.

  My dad takes it from me. “I don’t want you getting drunk and making a fool of yourself.”

  I nod toward the glass he’s holding. “Go ahead and try it.”

  He sniffs it instead. “What is this?”

  “It’s soda. I’m not drinking tonight.”

  He gives me this confused look as he hands me the glass. “You didn’t drink at Courtney’s party either.”

  I don’t say anything. I’ll let him make his own conclusions about me. I’m done defending myself. I could tell him I stopped drinking but he’d just think I’m lying.

  He hands me the glass back. “Let’s go mingle with the guests. Senator Cantor is right over there.”

  I turn and see him at the side of the room. He’s in his forties with black hair that’s speckled with gray. He’s wearing a navy suit with a white shirt and red tie and a flag pin on his lapel. Red, white, and blue.
It’s pretty much the uniform for every politician in Washington.

  My dad goes up to him first and shakes his hand. “Senator Cantor. Thank you for coming.”

  “Of course.” Cantor smiles at my dad like they share some inside joke. I don’t get it. “And Pearce, call me Nolan. We’re not in Washington. And we’re friends. I kept an eye on your son all summer long.” He turns to me and we shake hands. “Garret, how have you been?”

  “Good. And you?”

  “Same as always. Working all the time. Putting in even more hours now that most of my interns have left. But that’s part of the job, being a public servant.”

  It’s such an exaggeration. I saw his schedule back when I was working for him. His long hours entailed three hour lunches at expensive restaurants, afternoons golfing with lobbyists, and evening drinks with more lobbyists or whatever young intern he was fucking.

  Katherine comes up behind my dad, putting on her best doting wife act. “Sweetheart, Arlin Sinclair just arrived. He said Royce was delayed at an event in Iowa and won’t be able to attend this evening.”

  “That’s a shame. Nolan, if you don’t mind, I need to step away to speak with Arlin.”

  “Of course. Go ahead. I’d like to speak with Garret anyway.”

  When he says it, my dad remains there like he’s hesitant to leave, but then he does.

  Katherine steps up to Nolan, offering her hand. “Senator, it’s a pleasure having you at our house. I’m so pleased you could make it.”

  “You have a beautiful home.” He shakes her hand but she doesn’t let go. Instead, she keeps hold of his hand for a moment and smiles. Is she flirting with him? Or just doing her fake nice thing?

  “Thank you.” She finally releases his hand. “I’ll let you talk to Garret.” She puts her arm around me. “We’re so very proud of him.”

  I almost gag at her lies and her fake tone and the feel of her touching me. I’m tempted to shove her away but she turns and walks off.

  “So, Garret, how is Moorhurst?” Nolan asks.

  “It’s good. It has small classes. Decent professors.”

  “You should really consider transferring to Yale. It’s not too late.”

  “I like Moorhurst. I don’t want to transfer anywhere.”

  “Yale would be better for your future. It’s much more impressive than an unknown school like Moorhurst.”

  “Moorhurst is a good school. Some of your fellow politicians send their kids there.”

  “Yes. The ones who lack potential. That’s not you, Garret.”

  “Thanks, but I’m not interested in Yale. I know it’s a good school. It’s just not for me.”

  Three men approach Nolan and say hello. I go to leave but Nolan stops me. “Garret, no need to rush off. Let me introduce you.”

  I stand there as we go through the introductions, one by one, painfully slow. I just want to get out of here. I want to go back to the dorm and stop by Jade’s room. But by the time I get back, she’ll probably be asleep.

  The four men continue to talk but I’m not really listening. Then I hear Nolan say my name. “Garret was an excellent intern. He’s very smart. Picks up on things quickly. Not like some of these young people, where you’re constantly having to repeat yourself and they still don’t understand.”

  What is he talking about? I was a horrible intern. I didn’t show up on time. I didn’t get my work done. I was hoping to get fired, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.

  “Perhaps you’ll consider coming back to Washington next summer.” Nolan raises his brows as he waits for me to respond.

  There’s no way in hell I’m doing another internship with him, but I can’t find a nice way to say that. Thankfully, my dad shows up, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal my son away. Please continue as you were.”

  As we walk away, my dad says, “What were they talking about just now?”

  “I don’t know. I wasn’t listening. They were talking to each other, not me.”

  My dad stops when we reach the foyer, which isn’t as crowded as the living room. “I thought Nolan wanted to talk to you.”

  “Just to tell me I should be going to Yale. Apparently I’m wasting my potential going to Moorhurst.”

  “Your education is not his concern.” My dad huffs like he’s pissed. I thought he liked the senator. Guess it was all an act. “Moorhurst is an excellent school.”

  “I told him that, but he didn’t agree. And he wants me to intern for him again next summer. But I’m not doing it, Dad. You can’t force me to do that again. I hated it.”

  “Yes. I know. You won’t be going back there.”

  “I’m not working at the company either.”

  My dad sighs. “We’ll discuss that at a later time.”

  So that’s his plan. He’s going to try to force me to work at Kensington Chemical next summer. Well, I’m not doing it. I’m a business major and I’d like to run a company someday, but not Kensington Chemical. I have no interest in chemicals or manufacturing. But now isn’t the time to argue about it, so I don’t.

  “Hello, Garret.” Arlin Sinclair walks past us, smiling at me. He’s an old guy with white hair. Sadie’s grandfather. I don’t know him that well, but in the few times I’ve talked to him, he seems nice. Way better than his son, Royce.

  Arlin goes into the study, his phone in his hand, like he’s making a call.

  My dad waits for him to close the door, then says, “Arlin mentioned you talked to Sadie recently.”

  “Yeah. What about it?”

  “Are you seeing her again?”

  “No. She lives in DC. She doesn’t do long-distance dating, and even if she did, it wasn’t working between us.”

  “She said you agreed to attend the fundraiser I’m hosting for Royce in November.”

  “Why is she telling you all this?”

  “She didn’t. Arlin told me. So can I count on you to attend the fundraiser?”

  “I don’t know yet. I have to think about it.”

  “Garret, I’ve been friends with Royce for years. And you dated his daughter. You need to show up. It’s proper manners.”

  I sigh. “Fine. I’ll be there.” This is why I don’t come home or answer his phone calls. As soon as my dad has me alone, he starts ordering me to do stuff. “How long do I need to stay here?”

  He pauses like he’s thinking. “You’ve already spoken with Senator Cantor, which is why I had you come here tonight, so you’re free to go.”

  “Are you serious? You’re not going to make me stay all night and talk to people?”

  “No. Go up to your room and change, then leave out the side entrance so you don’t disturb the guests. I don’t want you walking through here in jeans and a t-shirt.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I take off before he changes his mind. I quickly change clothes, say goodbye to Lilly, and drive back to campus.

  This is the first time my dad’s let me leave an event like that before it’s over. I don’t know what got into him just now but something did. And although I’m happy he let me leave, something doesn’t feel right about it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  I go in the dorm and stop by Jade’s room.

  “What are you doing back so soon?” she asks as she opens the door. “I thought you said you’d be there all night.”

  “After I talked to some people, my dad told me I could leave, so I did.” I lead her to the bed to sit down with me. “So what should we do? You want to go out to eat? See a movie?”

  She laughs. “What are you talking about? It’s a school night. I have to study.”

  “You study too much. I need to get you out more.” I kiss her cheek. I do this all the time now and she lets me so I just keep doing it.

  “You’re in a really good mood.”

  “Because I got out of having to spend the night with a roomful of boring old men. Which means I get to spend it with you instead.”

  She smiles. “Okay. I guess we
could do something.”

  “Then grab your coat and let’s go.” As we leave her room, I take her hand and keep hold of it as we go to my car.

  I still haven’t tried taking things any farther than holding her hand or kissing her cheek. This is the absolute slowest I’ve ever gone with a girl. I moved faster with girls in junior high than I’m moving with Jade. And this slow pace is nearly impossible to maintain, especially since I’ve never been more attracted to a girl in my entire life. But as hard as it is, I think it’s a good thing. We’re taking time to get to know each other and become friends and we could both use a friend.

  In the weeks that follow, Jade and I spend even more time together. Almost every night, I stop by her room and we talk, or go for a run, or she comes up to my room and watches TV. We eat at least one meal a day together, sometimes with Harper and sometimes just the two of us.

  Every Friday night I meet Blake at a party and stand around watching him get drunk and hit on girls. Saturday I go out with Jade, so it’s become my favorite night of the week. We go to the movies or out for dinner or hang out in my room. Every Saturday we meet a little earlier and I’m hoping soon we’ll just spend the whole day together. On Sundays we go for pancakes, then I play football and hang out with the guys.

  Jade and I have been seen together in the dining hall and around campus, but so far nobody’s bothered us, not even Ava. Everyone must be keeping our secret because my dad hasn’t shown up here or even called much. Then again, he’s been traveling a lot for work so he hasn’t really been around.

  The past few weeks have been great. I’m really getting to know Jade and I love spending time with her. I can honestly say, before Jade, I’d never been friends with a girl, at least not the way I’m friends with Jade. In the past, my relationships with girls have been strictly physical or fake friendships dictated by my family. But my friendship with Jade is real and something I’ve never had before.

  I think back to when I first met her, when she told me she’s not a very good friend. She was wrong. Completely, utterly, 100% wrong. Jade is the best friend I’ve ever had. She’s caring and sweet and funny and I’ve never had anyone listen to me the way she does. She just can’t see that about herself and I wonder if it’s because of stuff her mom said to her when she was growing up. I don’t know because she doesn’t talk about it. She avoids talking about anything having to do with her past.