Page 112 of Memories By the Shore
“That sounds perfect,” I say, sitting up. I pull my legs close to my stomach, keeping the sheet around my breasts.
“Don’t hide those,” he playfully warns, grabbing at the edge of the sheet.
Laughing, I fall backward, holding the cotton in place. Jasper crashes down on top of me, capturing my face between his two hands. “I don’t want to leave.”
“I’ll be right here when you get back.” I lift my head and kiss his inviting lips.
“Promise?”
“Of course.”
He rolls off me, grabs his pants from the floor, and slides them on. “Be back in a few.”
“I’ll be waiting,” I answer in a high tone, flipping onto my back.
Jasper takes off down the stairs, but not before turning to flash me a knee-buckling wink.
Once I hear the front door shut, I pop out of bed and head for his closet. I’m craving everything about him. My body yearns to be bathed in his scent like it used to be. I finger through his collared shirts, board shorts, and sweaters before I find a simple white button-up. Gently, I pull it off the hanger, then slip my arms through. Bringing both sides of the shirt up to my nostrils, I inhale deeply. Every ounce of my being electrifies under theheavenly nostalgia.
Wearing nothing but his shirt, I make my way around his room. I scan every area of the place he’s been for so many years. The endless nights I stayed up wondering how he was. I thought about his life and whether he’d gotten married or had kids.
I jump at the loud ringing of my phone on the floor to the side of his bed. Scurrying over, I don’t think twice about who it could be and instead bring it to my ear.
“Hello,” I answer.
“What the hell, Avery?” Booms the masculine voice on the other end.
Dave.
I cautiously sit on the side of the bed and cross my pantiless legs as if he can see me. “Oh, hi. Dave.”
“That’s it? Just ahi?” he growls. “I didn’t hear from you again! I almost called one of your friends.”
My eyes drift out the open window, falling onto the steady ocean waves.Stability.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s been harder being back than I expected.”
“What the hell does that mean?” he snaps. The anger in his voice is unmistakable.
I sigh, then pause for a moment to gather my thoughts—and words. “There are a lot of memories here—”
“Oh my fucking god,” he interrupts me. “There’s another guy, isn’t there?”
I swallow. “Look, Dave—”
“Don’t, Avery. I know where this is going.”
Panic shoots up my spine. I care for Dave. He’s stable, and Ican count on him. There’s an unspoken agreement between us. We’re transactional and that works for me.
“There’s no one else. Everything is fine.” I sigh, rubbing my eyes. “It’s just been an emotional weekend. Well, week.”
“What does that even mean?”
I lift off the bed, still in Jasper’s shirt, and walk back to the open window. Closing my eyes, I let the salty mist pepper my face. It feels good, but it also feels like heartache. “This town holds a lot of memories. That’s what I meant when I told you I have unfinished business out here.”
“I’m trying to be understanding.”
“I know. I appreciate it.”
