Knowing You (The Jade Series #2) Read Online Free Page A

way, I’m not going to a party.”
    “I still think you should go out and do something.” She gets up. “I have a quiz to study for. I’ll see you at dinner?”
    “I don’t know yet. Don’t wait around for me. Just go ahead and eat.”
    “If Garret blows you off tonight, call me. I’ll skip the party and we’ll do something else.”  
    She leaves and I finish my brownie before heading to class.  
    My only class on Friday afternoons is art history. It’s a great class for Fridays because it’s so easy. The tests are basically nothing more than memorizing stuff, which has always been a talent of mine. For today’s class, the professor must’ve needed some time off because she put in a DVD about famous painters and then sat at her desk. My mind wanders to Garret as the DVD plays. I’ve pretty much convinced myself that he won’t show up tonight.
    After class, I head back to my room. A cold sleet is falling from the dark sky. Of course I forgot my umbrella and my class is way across campus. By the time I’m back in my room, I’m soaked and freezing. I change into dry clothes and towel off my hair. Then I grab a blanket and lie on my bed trying to get warm and end up falling asleep.
    I wake up to knocking sounds. The clock by my bed says it’s 6. I fell asleep at 3. How could I have slept that long?  
    Assuming it’s Garret, I stop at the mirror quick to see how I look. It’s pretty bad. My sleet-soaked hair has dried into a knotted mess. I quickly pull it into a ponytail as the knocking continues.
    When I open the door, Harper is there with some of her tennis team friends.  
    “Hey, Jade. We’re going to dinner. Do you want to come with us?” Harper looks behind me, trying to sneak a peek inside my room.
    “No, I’m not hungry.”
    “Is he here?” she whispers.
    “Not yet.”
    “Jade! Don’t wait around for him.”
    “I’m not. I fell asleep after class. I just got up.”
    “Just come to dinner with us. You don’t have to eat if you don’t want to.”
    I grab a sweatshirt and lock my door and the six of us head to the dining hall. The other girls Harper hangs out with aren’t as friendly as her but they’re still nice. They live in a different dorm but they join us for dinner now and then.
    After dinner, we all walk back to Harper’s room. Garret is standing there waiting at her door. I swear he gets better looking every time I see him. Or maybe it’s just because I haven’t seen him for almost a week. He has on dark jeans, a white polo shirt, and a brown leather jacket. He must have been out in the Houston sun because he has a golden brown tan that makes his eyes an even more vibrant shade of blue.  
    “Jade. There you are.” He smiles and I can almost hear the girls around me sigh. It just confirms that he looks even better than normal. Must be the tan.
    “Did you just get here?” I ask, trying to remain cool. I don’t want to be one of those girls who acts overly eager to see a guy, especially when other girls are watching.
    “Yeah. I called a few times but you didn’t answer so I figured you were with Harper.”
    “Hey, Garret.” Harper doesn’t use her usual friendly tone. She’s clearly still mad at him. “Haven’t seen you around for a while.”
    “I had to go out of town.”
    “So what are you doing tonight?” she asks him. “Got any big plans?”
    I give her a look to butt out but she ignores me.
    “I don’t know yet.” He looks at me as if I should have plans for us. I wasn’t even sure he’d show up.  
    “Well, we should go.” I tug on Garret’s arm. “Have fun tonight.”
    They all say goodbye, with Harper’s friends keeping their eyes on Garret the whole time.  
    “What’s up with her?” he asks as we walk down the hall.
    “Nothing. She’s just in a bad mood.” I unlock the door to my room. I’m barely inside and Garret has me in his arms.  
    “I’ve missed you, Jade.”  
    He hugs me so tight it makes me laugh. “I’ve missed