Page 29 of Memories By the Shore
“What can I do for you?” She opens the door wider, allowing him to step inside. “Is your dad okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine. I’m here for Avery,” he says as I walk over, a smile beaming from ear to ear.
“Oh.” A surprised look flashes on my aunt’s face. Her eyes bounce from me to Jasper. “Okay.”
“Hi.” My voice hits the air with a firm tightness from biting back the uncontained grin.
“Hi, Avery.” He smiles, and my knees go weak.
Helen steps back, letting me walk in front of her. “What, uh,” she stammers. “What are you guys going to do today?”
Glancing at Jasper, I shrug my shoulders. He still hasn’t told me yet.
“I’m just going to show Avery around the town.” His voice is smooth.
Helen’s eyebrow raises. “Oh, that’s nice of you. When will you be back?”
“I don’t know.” He winks at her playfully. “I’m kidding. Before dinner.”
Helen sucks in a deep breath, seemingly confused about whether she should be more curious or not. “Alright,” she says, aggressively nodding. “I have a few errands today. Just text me if you need anything.”
“I will,” I say, slipping past her and out the door.
“Bye, Helen.” Jasper waves her off while we both step off the patio and onto the sand.
“Have fun,” she calls out, but her tone is low.
When we get closer to the break, I turn to Jasper. “I thinkHelen was a little shocked we’re hanging out.”
He chuckles. “Probably.”
Sitting halfway between Helen and his dad’s houses, I notice the two surfboards in the shade. They’re propped against the two large trees we sat under last night.
Oh no. Jasper’s not expecting me to surf with him, is he?Shit. I can’t surf. I’m going to make a fool out of myself.
“Wait.” I stop, placing a hand out in front of us. My palm lands directly on the warm moistness of his skin.Fuck.Blushing, I yank it away. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he says, flipping his longer top hair away from his eyes.Who would have thought surf guys would be so hot?
“We’re not going into the water with those, are we?” I point to the boards in front of us—one more weathered than the other.
He laughs. “That is what you do with surfboards.”
“I know that,” I say. “I meant, you’re not expecting me to ride one, are you?”
Jasper walks over and runs his hand along the smooth, firm foam. “Yes. I’m going to give you lessons.”
“Who said I wanted a surf lesson?” I scratch my head, playfully giving him a smirk but second-guessing every choice I’ve made this morning.
“You can’t live here, on the beach”—he licks his bottom lips—“hanging out with me and not knowing how to surf.”
“We’re hanging out now?”
“Do you want us to hang out?”
Tapping my finger on my chin, I glance up at the sky, then back to Jasper. “Let me think.”
“It’s going to be like that, is it?”
