Page 32 of Memories By the Shore
I wonder what she’s doing tonight. We’d made plans to see each other every night this past week, but yesterday, I was back-to-back with lessons, and I forgot to check in with her.
“Also, I’ve never seen you absently mix brands either.”
“I’m fine, dude. Back off,” I say, throwing a balled packaging at him.
“It’s Arizona, isn’t it?” He smirks.
I place a stack of board shorts on the last rack, ready to give in. “Fine. It is.”
He laughs. “I figured. You’ve been spending a lot of time with her lately.”
My body heats, thinking about how intense our make out sessions have become on the beach under the trees. “I’ve beengiving her lessons.”
“For free,” Easton states with a chuckle. He pokes his head out from behind one of the rolling racks. “Or maybe she’s paying you in other ways.”
“Fuck you, man. Avery’s not like that,” I say. I would love to go further, but she’s apprehensive, and I’d never want her to feel pressured.
“Maybe she’s a virgin,” he says, more serious this time.
“Who’s a virgin?” My dad walks into the back. Usually, we hear his flip-flops turning the corner, but we don’t this time.
“It doesn’t matter,” I tell him.
“Whoa, Duke. Are those socks and shoes?” Easton pokes fun at my dad.
“Yeah, Dad. Where are you going?”
Walking past us and into his office, I catch a quick roll of his eyes. “I do own other types of shoes besides flip-flops.”
I crinkle my nose, unsure if I believe him. “Do you, though?”
“I’m going to require proof,” Easton says, following me into my dad’s office.
Annoyed with us giving him shit, he turns in his chair and sticks his foot into the air. “Here.”
Easton leans against the wall, crossing his arms at his chest. “One pair means nothing.”
My dad twists back around to face his computer. “Don’t you two have work to do?”
“Yes, since I’m the one carrying all the weight today,” Easton jokingly spats at my expense.
“Have you had a lot of lessons? I didn’t see any on the schedule.” My dad lowers his glasses.
I shake my head, walk over, and slump into my chair parallel to my dad’s. “Don’t deflect. Where are you going in those shoes?”
“I’m hiking with Helen in a bit.”
Easton’s eyes fly over to mine. I flip him off.If my dad is going hiking with her aunt, that will mean Avery will be alone.Glancing at the schedule, I quickly scan to see who’s working this afternoon. Now, I want to leave early so that I can see Avery.
“Speaking of Helen.” My dad turns to face me fully. “I’ve noticed you hanging out with her niece, Avery, a lot lately.”
“I’m giving her surf lessons.” I pause. Easton crosses his arms at his chest, expecting me to say more. “And I’m kind of into her.”
My dad’s eyebrows raise. “You are?”
I nod.
“She’s a cute girl, Jasper. But isn’t she going back to Arizona for college in the fall?” he says like I haven’t thought about it a million times since I hit her with that volleyball.
