Page 85 of Memories By the Shore
Lina’s face twists with sorrow and empathy. “Now, what happens?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. There’s so much baggage between us. All the horrible memories I never worked through.”
Piper threads a hand through her tousled red hair. “I know. I’m sorry.”
I startle at the sound of the door opening downstairs.
“He’s back. I have to go,” I whisper.
“Okay, love you,” Bailey replies.
Lina and Piper blow me a kiss before I end the call and toss my phone on top of my pile of clothes. I hear Jasper’s footfalls as he ascends the stairs to the second story. My stomach flutters with anticipation of seeing him. Maybe I should have used this time to freshen up instead of calling the girls.Whatever.Jasper has seen me live without makeup and a bikini. I doubt he’ll care.
“Hey, you’re up.” He walks in shirtless, with only board shorts on, holding two cups of coffee.Fuck, he looks good—better than I remember.
I pick my jaw off the floor and take one of the cups from his hand. “I am.”
He sits on the side of thebed. “How did you sleep?”
Peace washes over me. “Amazing.”
“Good.” He smiles.
“Thanks for the coffee,” I say, taking a sip.
An awkward silence passes between us.
Jasper cocks his head to the side with his eyebrow furrowed like he wants to say something. “So …” He pauses. “Do you want to go surfing with me?”
My gut reaction is to jump with excitement like a lovestruck teenager, but my mind quickly kills it. “I don’t know.”
“Come on, Arizona,” he gently coerces me.
Picking at the cardboard sleeve, I avoid eye contact. “I should head back.”
Jasper raises a hand and pinches my chin between his thumb and index finger. “Just for a little while. For old times’ sake.”
My eyes can’t help but find his lips. Giving into my natural urge, I lean in and kiss him. A light kiss, but enough to savor him and this moment. “Alright.”
“I knew you couldn’t turn it down.” He runs his tongue along his bottom lip. “Can’t wait to see your skills after all these years.”
I lower my eyes, giving him a lopsided grin. “I’ve been in the desert this whole time. Do you think I was able to surf out there?”
“You’re saying you forgot everything I taught you?”
“I’m saying I might need a refresher.”
“Lucky for you, I have time this morning,” he states.
My cheeks burn. “Lucky for me.”
My legs and stomach muscles are sore as I follow Jasper to the shore. With the surfboard tucked under my arm, my body pulses with a different type of electricity. Jasper and I were out on the water for hours. We didn’t speak much, but we also didn’t need to. He was in his element, and so was I.
“I’m surprised by how it all came back to you,” he says, laying his board on the sand. His hair is wet and messy. He looks the same as he always has in so many ways, but with slight differences that have come with age. His shoulders are broader, and his chin is more chiseled than before.
“Me too,” I reply, pulling down the sleeves of my rash guard.
“I’m also surprised you brought your gear.”
