Page 66 of Memories By the Shore
“That sounds fun,” I say friendly.
She loudly smacks her lips together, chewing the gum in her mouth. “My mom said when I’m a senior, I don’t have to come anymore.”
I thought she looked a little young when they walked up together, but now I’m even more curious. “And when will that be? I just graduated this past year.”
“Well, next year, I’ll be a junior, so I have some time.” She turns to Bodhi with butterflies in her eyes. “But if we return here, it might not be such a bad trip.”
My brain quickly does the math. She’s gotto be only sixteen, and I know Bodhi is twenty— a year older than Jasper. I’ve just turned eighteen, but there’s a big difference in two years. I wonder if Bodhi knows.
My eyes fly up to take in the expression on his face.He didn’t know.
“I thought you said you were eighteen?” he accuses, inconspicuously removing his arm.
She pulls her lips to the side and tilts her head upward. “Did I?”
His expression hardens. “Yes.”
Jasper clutches my waist, and I know exactly what he’s thinking. He’s never going to let Bodhi live this down. I can feel the laughter bubbly from inside his chest as Bodhi’s face drains of color.
“Oh, oops.” She giggles. “It doesn’t matter anyway, right?”
“Yeah, it kind of does.” Bodhi scratches the top of his head.
“Well,” Jasper says, breaking the awkward tension. “Bodhi, let’s head over to the stage.” Then he turns to the brunette. “It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy yourself in Coconut Grove, but at this time, we’re going to go our separate ways.”
I rub my lips together, holding in an eruption of laughter.
She lifts her upper lip with disgust. “Oh, alright.”
“Don’t forget to check out all the local vendors while you’re here!” Jasper tosses over his shoulder while the three of us walk away.Always looking out for the town.
“Okay, so in my defense, I did not know she was that young.” Bodhi grabs complimentary blankets from the event staff booth before we get to the open field.
Jasper shoots him a side-eye, grabbing one of the largeblankets from Bodhi’s hands. I follow the two of them toward the middle of the grass. Jasper shakes it out and lays it flat. Bodhi does the same with his.
“You didn’t mess around with her, did you?” I grimace, kneeling next to Jasper. He lies back and clasps his hands behind his head.
“Hell no,” Bodhi answers quickly. “I almost did, though.”
Jasper nudges me down. “Only you would try to hook up with a tourist that young.”
Bodhi sits with his knees bent, facing the band. “What about Arizona?” He cocks his head in my direction. “She turned eighteen like two weeks ago.”
“It’s not the same,” I tell him, knowing it is similar. “Besides, we didn’t hook up until after my birthday.”
Bodhi clicks his tongue and slaps Jasper on the shoulder. “Interesting.”
“Fuck you, man.” Jasper shoves his shoulder, knocking him over.
“My point remains.” He laughs. “I’m starving. I’m gonna go see what everyone else is doing.” He pops up onto his feet. “They’re at your dad’s booth, right?”
Jasper covers his face with his baseball cap and answers Bodhi without removing it. “Yeah, I think Easton is still there.”
Bodhi rubs the top of my head, messing up my hair. “Cool. Later, Arizona.”
“Bye.” I shoo him away.
Jasper and I lay on the grass, cuddling and talking while local bands took their turns on the stage. At one point during the evening, Helen came over to say hello and to tell me she’ll beat Duke’s booth until close. We also saw a few more of Jasper’s friends.
