Page 43 of Memories By the Shore
Chapter Thirteen
Then
Jasper
Iwasn’t surprised when Avery was confused about what she wanted to drink. She doesn’t strike me as the type of girl who parties or goes out a lot. The little she has shared about her life made me even more infatuated with her.
It’s heartbreaking to think about how Avery grew up relatively alone—isolated from her parents in a big house and never having authentic friends. My mother passed away when I was young, but I’ve always been incredibly close with my dad. I’ve had the comfort of living in this small town my whole life and growing up with the same group of friends I’ve had since I was a kid—which she hasn’t had the luxury of.
I will keep her forever. She’s mine now. And as long as she continues to choose me, she’ll never know a day without love.
“You want to sit over there?” I point to a more secluded spot on the sand, away from the rest of the people. Clutching her drink in one hand, she nods and follows me.
“How do you like it?” I ask, bending to sit in the sand. Facingthe dark, endless ocean, from the corner of my eye, I see Avery lower next to me. The outsides of our legs touch, causing a spark to shoot up the inside of my thigh and straight into my dick. I adjust myself, so standing at attention isn’t completely obvious.
“Surprisingly, I like it a lot.” She giggles. “The first couple of sips burned on the way down, but the more I drink it, the smoother it gets.”
Leaning in, I run the backs of my knuckles against her cheek. “Good. I knew you would.”
“So, you’ve known these people most of your life?” she asks, rubbing the condensation on the side of her plastic cup.
“Not all of them, but most.”
“I wish I knew what that was like,” she trails off, lost in thought.
“Avery,” I mumble her name before lowering to nibble her bottom lip. She closes her eyes and smiles. “You have it now.”
“What do you mean?” She gently bites me back.I love it.
“Whatever I have is yours.”
She pulls away, her eyes bouncing between mine.
“You don’t have to feel like an outsider. Coconut Grove is your home now.”
Her expression falls. “For the rest of the summer.”
I refuse to think about that right now. Lost in a fog, I enjoy every moment of getting to know her. My days consist of Avery and thoughts of only her. I can’t let my mind go there. I’m not prepared for the spiral of darkness that will follow.
“Let’s not think about that now,” I say, swallowing what we both are thinking.
“You’re right,” she agrees, taking a generous swig of herwhiskey and polishing it off.
My eyes follow the drop of amber liquid rolling over her lip and down her chin. I take my thumb and wipe it away. “It’s going to be that sort of night, huh?”
“Nah, I’m a horrible drunk,” she says, biting the same lip my finger just grazed. “I’m just tired now.”
“Tired?”
“Maybe we can get out of here?” The corner of her mouth quirks up.
“I’d rather be cuddling in your bed anyway,” I say.
“Yes.”
“Besides being tired, I noticed you’re in a better mood,” I say, lifting to stand in front of her. I hold out my hands.
Avery slides her hands into mine, and I hoist her to her feet. “Thanks to you.”
