Page 59 of Memories By the Shore
“Fine. Do what you have to do.” His words come out low with frustration. “Just so you know, I’m pissed you’re making me go to this without a date. I thought this was our understanding.”
“I get it and I’m sorry,” I offer, trying to sympathize with him.
“It is what it is.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine, Avery,” he spits, followed by an abrupt end to the call.
I shrug off Dave’s attitude, but guilt about my relationship with Helen hits. I need to spend more time on this short trip. We’ve spoken here and there over the years, but after how much I was gutted that summer, I didn’t want anything to do with this place. She was a reminder of all of it. Maybe one day, I’ll give her the explanation she deserves. But first, I need to handle Jasper.
I watch anxiously as the little surfboard-shaped hand on the clock inches toward the four.
Molding myself into the couch, a thought pops into my mind. I glance down at the sundress I’m wearing and the lace-up sandals.Do I look cute enough? Do I smell good?I shouldn’t care, but I do.
I fly off the couch and sprint down the hall to the bathroom. While giving myself a spritzer of coconut body mist, I take another look in the mirror. A flash catches my eye—Dave’s engagement ring. Twisting it in my finger a few times, I makethe choice to side it off. I’m confident Jasper knows at this point, but I’m not going to rub it in his face. Whether he’s over me or not, it feels disrespectful. I place the ring safely in a ziplock baggie and tuck it into my suitcase. I fluff my hair a few times, and then a light but forceful knock hits the door.
My stomach drops—that intense feeling of riding a roller coaster for the first time. The anticipation, the excitement—the fear.
“You can do this, Avery,” I whisper to myself. “You are a strong, independent woman with money and a career,” I continue to repeat as I shuffle toward the front door.
“You can do it.” I open it to see Jasper with a thin cotton shirt, shorts, and Converse like he’s still nineteen.Fuck me.
“Hi.” He smiles, leaning against the door frame.
“Hi.”
“Are you ready to go?”
I nod, biting my lip. “Yeah, let me get my purse.” He waits patiently on the porch for me to return. “Okay. All set.”
Jasper nods and steps aside.
A few minutes later, Jasper and I are driving down the beach in his car. It’s not long until he pulls off onto a dirt road.
“We’re headed into the middle of nowhere?” I ask, but something about this rural part of town is familiar.Déjà vu?
“I guess I should tell you this now,” he begins, flashing me a quick side-eye.
I cock my head to the side. “Tell me what?”
“I’m kidnapping you,” he states cooly.
A rush of adrenaline zips up my spine. “Funny.”
He laughs. “You’ll see.”
I stare out the window, watching as he turns left out of the forest. A small light blue beach house with a white fence comes into view.It can’t be what I think it is.He pulls his car around to the side—the open ocean right in front of us and not another house in sight.
“Jasper?” I utter his name in disbelief.
“Look familiar?” he says, opening the car door.
“Oh my god,” I mutter as he walks around to my side. I step out and into the tall grass. “Is this—?”
“Yes,” he interjects, taking my hand. Jasper leads me down a narrow dirt path lined with green grass. The high blades reach up to my waist.
“It looks different.” My eyes land on the yellow beach cruiser resting against the front window on the porch.
