Page 10 of Memories By the Shore
“Why?”
“If you wanted to tell me, you would.”
“Oh.” Avery chews on her bottom lip, looking deep in thought or just trying to explain to herself that I’m not here to judge her. “Okay.”
“So, youwantedto work?” I tease, gesturing for Avery and me to walk around a family building a massive sandcastle.
She coyly tucks a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, giving in my attempt to change the conversation. “What else should I do in a town where I know no one?”
“You could have just hung out at the beach all summer and enjoyed a little vacation before you go back to school,” I say.
“Last time I was on the beach, I was knocked in the face by a volleyball,” she quips.
She’s flirting with me.
I laugh. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“It’s alright.” She looks down, smiling. “Thanks for the ice.”
“No problem.”
We’re still holding hands. Should I let go?I only held my hand for her to follow me, but now I don’t want to let go.
“So, do you have a job?” she asks.
I smile while we slowly walk along the shore. The sun sets over the horizon, and the light rays create a yellow hue, making it impossible for me to stop staring at her.
Whenever she catches me, we both look away.
“I work at my dad’s surf shop,” I tell her proudly. “I also teach surf lessons to tourists.”
She rakes a hand through her windblown hair. “That’s really cool. Do you like it?”
“I love it. When my dad retires, my plan is to take over. I’d also like to buy a few beach properties out here to fix up and rent out.” Without realizing it, my thumb caresses the insides of her palm.
“A man with a plan,” she teases. “Thanks for stepping in with those girls earlier.”
I gently kick the sand at my feet, keeping my focus on theground. I get a little flutter of butterflies when she thanks me, and for a brief moment, I don’t know what to say in return. “You’re welcome.”
“You don’t have to be nice to me just because I’m Helen’s niece.”
Is that what she thinks? Should I admit to her I find her energy intoxicating and her personality intriguing? Not to mention how beautiful she is?
I can’t say any of those things.
I stop walking and turn to face her with a slight smile on my face. “That’s not why I did that.”
Her eyes blink rapidly. “Then why did you?”
“For one thing, Francesca is an awful person.” I pause, capturing her gaze in mine. “And for the second thing, I think you’re absolutely beautiful.”
Under the dusk sky, I can see Avery’s cheeks turn three different shades of red.
“You do?”
She’s blushing. She likes me too. I nod. “Yeah.”
Now what to do with that information, I don’t know.
