Page 111 of Memories By the Shore
“Maybe try to call her in a couple of days,” he says.
I let my head hang between bent legs and drop my phone. “She left me.”
Easton sits at my side, with his back against the house. “I’m sorry, man.”
Soon, my dad takes the spot on the other side.
“What do I do? I love her,” I plead to my best friend and dad for answers—ones they can’t give me.
“I don’t know.” My dad’s kind voice does nothing to comfort me. “You need to take care of yourself right now.”
“I love her,” I mutter. With my heart shattered and my mind facing a whirlwind of emotions, I try to think about my future, but there isn’t one without Avery in it. How can I convince her to be with me? How can I ask her to choose a life with a broken person like me? I couldn’t even support her during one of the most traumatic events of her life. What type ofman—husband—fatherwould I be if I’m incapable of putting the people I love first?
“Do you want to go after her?” Easton asks more like a suggestion under his breath.
Go after her?
But Avery chose. She wants more.She deserves more.She never was supposed to be a young wife and mom. Avery wantsother things. She wants independence and solitude. It was selfish to ask her to marry me, and I could have done more to prevent the pregnancy. But I didn’t. I was caught up in being in love. I know she is the one for me, but what if she isn’t sure I’m the one for her?
I shake my head, swiping a tear from my cheek. “I can’t go after her.”
“Why?” Easton challenges. “Get her back. Tell her you’re sorry.”
Swallow hard. “I can’t.”
I hear an audible sigh from my dad. “Just give her some space. You need to get your depression under control before you think about anything else.”
“I thought I had it taken care of,” I say.
“I know, Jasper. I did, too, but it’s alright. It’s going to take some time,” he replies.
“I get it.” Easton runs a hand through his hair. “It’s just that you’re my best friend, and I’ve never seen you that happy.” He fights on my behalf. “There’s more to her than just summer love.”
I smile and hook an arm around my friend. “You’re a good guy, Easton. Thanks for being my friend. But right now, I need to accept her leaving, which I have no idea how to do.”
How do I move on? Will I ever?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Now
Avery
“Breakfast?” I ask, running my hand through Jasper’s hair.
He flips the cotton bedsheet from over his head. “I think I’ve just had my breakfast.” He emerges from between my legs and crawls over my torso. “But.” He pauses, his lips are now on my collarbone. “I’m still hungry.”
“I need real food.” I giggle, grabbing his bare ass. “And I’m sure you’ll need some energy if we ever want to leave this bedroom.”
Jasper raises his head, arching a brow. “I have no plans on leaving this bed, let alone the room.”
My belly rumbles with a laugh. I would love to stay in bed all day, our limbs intertwined with one another, but I am extremely hungry. “That sounds like the best idea, but I’m starving.”
He lifts above me, looking down with a smile. “I forgot how much you eat, Arizona.”
Every time he calls meArizona, it hits me with a cyclone ofemotions. “I can eat a lot. And with how much late-night cardio we’ve been engaging in this weekend, I will need it even more.”
“You got it.” He lowers to kiss the tip of my nose before pushing off the bed. “I’ll order us breakfast and then pick it up after I catch a few waves.”
