Page 40 of Memories By the Shore
“Yeah, I guess.” I shrug off her comment, not wanting to share more.
“Catch!” Cassie tries to toss me the old signage, but it floats down, making it hard to grab. “So, you’re here until you move to college, right?”
“Yeah, at the end of August.” I clasp the thick paper with two hands. “I’m excited.”
“You don’t think it will be hard for you to return to Arizona after your parents pass?” she asks, concerned. Sure, it would be difficult for anyone to lose their parents unexpectedly, but I didn’t grow up in a typical household. I need to seem upset. I can’t tell her that I barely knew my mother and father and that they were little more than strangers to me most of my life. That would open up many questions I don’t have the energy or time to answer.
“It’s my home and all I know.” I sigh. “Besides, the college I’m attending is a few hours north of Phoenix anyway.”
She nods with a warm smile. “That’s good.”
I glance up at the clock one more time. “Two minutes,” I whisper, then turn back to Cassie. “I’m heading out.”
“Okay, cool,” she says, descending from the ladder. “Do you work tomorrow?”
I grab my purse from underneath the counter. Swinging it over my shoulder, I quickly type out my employee number on the computer and clock out. “I don’t, but I work Sunday, though.”
“Me too. Day shift?”
“Yep, see you then,” I call out, sprinting toward the door.
When I exit the store, the bright sun hits my eyes, and my sandals step onto the bustling boardwalk. I lower my sunglasses, scouring the crowds to find Jasper.
“Arizona!” Jasper waves from a few yards away. He’s wearing board shorts and a shark tooth necklace around his neck without a shirt. His hair is wet as if he just got out of the water.
“Hey!” I shout to him. Bouncing on the balls of my feet and run over. At full speed, I come crashing into his warm, sticky chest. He laughs, catching me as I wrap my legs around his waist.
“I missed you,” Jasper says, burying his face in my hair. Goose bumps span the back of my neck.
“I missed you too.” I giggle, peppering the side of his face with kisses. He tastes salty from either sweat or the ocean. But I know Jasper. He lives on this water, so it’s most likely from that.
He clutches my hips, holding me tight. “How was your day?”
“Good,” I say, hopping down. “Better now.”
Jasper dips to press a soft kiss on my lips.
“Way better now,” I mumble.
He pulls back, smiling. “What do you say we skip lessons today and hang out at the beach?”
“Isn’t that what we do every day?” I tease, scrunching my nose.
He laughs and swings an arm around me. “That’s true, but I was thinking we could grab some takeout and make a little fire.” He urges me closer while we walk along the shore as the sun sets. “Pick up a few blankets and have dinner under our tree.”
I rub my lips together, swallowing the sheer number of butterflies inside me.
“That sounds perfect,” I say. Keeping my head down, watching the sand kick up from underneath my feet, I realize this is what girls in school used to talk about—these types of feelings with guys. I had to travel to an entirely different state to find it—to experience it. Guys in high school tried to pursue me before, but I’ve never been interested in them.
Especially not like this.
“Cool. I’ll call Joe to place a taco order. Then we’ll stop at my house for blankets and matches,” he tells me the plans.
I nod and go along with it.
Jasper walks me to my car, and we quickly kiss goodbye, with plans to meet back at the beach in an hour. I freshen up at home and check in with Helen. We have a brief conversation about my day, where I tell her I’ll be with Jasper for the evening. She smiles and tells me to be safe. Having a family member to check in with is not something I’m used to, but it feels good.Is this how other kids grew up?
By the time Jasper and I meet back on the beach under our favorite tree, he has the fire already going and to-go containers with our tacos in the middle. I catch my breath with a gasp. Romantic and utterly perfect.
