Chapter Eight
Then
Avery
Ithought getting a job would help me make friends, but the last two weeks have done nothing to further that cause.
When my aunt Helen mentioned her friend Mel was hiring for her sought-after bikini store on the boardwalk, I jumped at the chance.
Staying cooped up inside my bedroom was not something I wanted to do for the next three months.
It’s a benefit that Helen knows almost everyone in town, but that also comes with the bonus of local catty girls, who conveniently found and sniffed me out in this small town.
I assumed I’d left that sort of behavior in high school.
Of course, the ones out here in Coconut Grove have found me.
They sense I’m different. Girls like that always do.
I know it.
“So, how’s it going?” Cassie is one of the employees here at the bikini shop and the only other girl my age who doesn’t seem to pick up on my insecurities. She’s been …not overly friendly, but kind. I’m not sure if it’s genuine or just curiosity on her part.
“Fine,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
Cassie cocks a brow. “Sorry, Francesca’s a bitch.”
“I really don’t care.” I keep my focus trained on the box of new sandals in front of me.
“Francesca has been trying to get a job here for a while, as most of the girls in town do,” she tells me like it’s some type of consolation for the way she acts.
“I don’t get what’s so special about it. It’s literally just a bathing suit store.” I roll my eyes.
“It’s a hot spot around here.”
“So it seems.” I stand in front of the mirror with another black sundress over my bikini. I’m not like these blonde, bubbly beach girls who surround this town like the plague. I feel like a black fly in a glass of chardonnay.
“Only three months,” I whisper to myself, subconsciously counting down until I can return to Arizona for college.
“I saw you the other night after work with Jasper Collins.” Cassie bends over the counter of the cash wrap, continuing to speak even though I’m disengaging.
“Yes,” I respond vaguely, moving on from the sandals to the new palm tree swimwear line.
She squints her eyes, lowering her head to meet mine. “Avery, I feel like you have more to say.”
My blush deceives me, creating a burn on my cheeks. I can’t hide the flutters in my chest at the mention of him. She’s the closest thing I have to a friend right now. I might as well gush to her.
I drop the hanger and turn. “What do you want to know?”
“What were you guys doing?” Cassie’s eyes grow wide, and a grin forms on her face. “Are you into him? Your aunt and his dad have had this thing for years,” she trails off.
“I don’t know. Um …” I suck in a deep breath. “He pretended to be my boyfriend a few days ago when Francesca and her friends were being bitchy to me and then asked if I wanted to meet on the beach after work. So, we did.”
“Jasper is ridiculously hot. And he like never dates anyone seriously. Not even when we were all in high school,” she shares with me. I can’t lie. Her information about him makes me happy.
I chew on the side of my cheek. “You went to school with him?”
“Yeah, he and my brother were friends. I think he’s about a year or so older than us.”
“Helen mentioned that he’s going to take over his dad’s surf shop, and that’s why he decided not to leave for college last year,” I recall.
“Yeah. It’s insanely successful too. He’s inheriting a gold mine,” she says, gliding her tongue along her pearly white teeth.
I nod, more interested in what she says than ever. “Interesting. He doesn’t seem like someone who has a lot of money.”
“It’s just him and his dad. They’re both beach bums.” She laughs again. “Living the life, I guess.”
“He’s modest,” I mumble with a smile.
I respect that. I have no plans on telling anyone in this small town how much I’m worth. I’m not making that same mistake again. Growing up, people were just friends with me for my money. It’s not worth the fake friendships they used to be when I was younger.
She takes my silence as a cue to continue. “If my family had that much money, I wouldn’t want to go to school either.” She chuckles, flipping her hair back.
It’s funny because I want nothing more than to do the complete opposite.
“Avery, your raw juice is ready!” Helen’s voice is muffled from the kitchen. She juices twice a day and insists I drink at least one.
I finish changing out of my bikini from work and quickly slip into a pair of drawstring pants and a tank top. Heading down the hallway, the sea breeze from the open balcony doors dusts my face with a light mist. I could get used to this. The ocean is the best part of this town.
“Do you remember Jasper?” my aunt asks, handing me a cup of green liquid. I grimace, weary of what’s in it.
“Yeah,” I casually answer, sipping my drink. Of course, I remember Jasper—the sexy, dark-haired surfer who knocked me out with a volleyball and whom I also had a long walk on the beach at sunset with the other night. I definitely fucking remember him.
She leans against the counter. “Well, his dad and I are …” An uncertain looks sweeps across her face. “Friends.”
I roll my eyes, chuckling. “You mean you two are hooking up?”
Helen blushes. “Um, yes.”
“You don’t have to be embarrassed. I get it.” I wink. “You’re a single lady. You should be able to play with whatever men you want.”
“Oh my god, Avery!” She laughs and tosses a napkin at me. “Stop it!”
I laugh, catching it and throwing it aside. “Anyway, so what about him?”
“They’re coming over for dinner tonight.” Her grin is wide. “I hope that’s okay.”
Flutters fill my stomach at the thought of seeing Jasper again. My hand hasn’t been the same since being tucked safely into his, only a few nights ago. “Of course, I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure? I want to give you as much space as you need,” she says thoughtfully, reaching her hand over to rest on top of mine.
“It’s fine. Thanks for asking.”
Helen gives me her back, turning on the sink to rinse out the juicer. “We’ll be eating outside, so please don’t feel pressured to join us if you’re not up to it.” Her kindness is refreshing.
“No, I don’t mind. Thank you for being understanding, though.”
“Of course.” She smiles, then walks over to the fridge. Helen’s eyes dart around the shelves for a few minutes. “I was thinking we could barbecue, make a salad and some fruit.”
I shrug. “That sounds great, but aren’t you a vegetarian?”
“Oh, honey, we’ll have black bean burgers,” she assures me, then closes the door and pulls out her phone, seemingly to make a list of items we’ll need. “Duke makes the best grilled watermelon too.”
“Grilled watermelon?”
Her eyebrows bounce with excitement. “It’s good. You should try it.”
“I don’t know, maybe.” I catch sight of the clock on the wall. Realizing what time it is, my posture straightens. It’s almost dinnertime. “Wait, what time are they coming over?”
She continues puttering around in the kitchen, going back and forth between cleaning the juicer and the fridge. “They’ll be here any minute.”
Oh no! I look sweaty and tired from work. The last time Jasper saw me after work, I was embarrassed about my appearance. Thank god the sun was setting when we spent time on the beach.
“I’m going to freshen up really quick,” I stutter before bolting back down the hallway to my bedroom.
I fluff my hair a few times, touch up my makeup, and then head into the adjoining bathroom to brush my teeth.
My nervous appearance apparent in the mirror.
What am I doing? I’m only here for the summer.
I can’t get myself hung up on my guy—that may or may not be into me.
Suddenly, I hear the light vibrations of voices outside my door. They’re here. I let out a heavy breath and then leave the room.
“Hey, Avery.” Jasper’s voice zips up my spine as I round the corner into the living room. He’s sitting on the couch with one arm propped behind him. Heat scorches my cheeks. Does he own any other clothes besides board shorts and T-shirts?
Fuck, he’s hot.
“Hi.” My voice shakes.
Helen and his dad, Duke, walk out of the kitchen. “This is my niece, Avery,” she says, introducing me to Jasper’s dad.
He gives me a warm smile and extends his arm. “It’s so good finally meeting you. I’ve heard wonderful things from Helen and my son.”
Jasper talks about me? My eyes fly over to Jasper, now with his leg bent and his ankle resting on the opposite knee. He’s unbothered and simply smiles at me.
“It’s great to meet you as well.” I shake his hand.
“Avery, my sweet, you are in for a treat tonight because I make the best black bean burgers.” Duke clasps his hands together. “And my son decided to join us tonight, so I’m sure he can keep you company while we cook.”
No wonder Helen likes Duke. His energy is infectious. “Fabulous.”
A few short hours later, Jasper and I are sitting in the sand under a tree, watching the sunset for the night. “Dinner was a lot better than I expected it to be.”
“Eating healthy is simple when fresh produce is easy to come by,” he says.
“Are you teasing me about coming from a landlocked state?”
“Those were your words, not mine,” he retorts, shooting me a smirk.
“Funny.”
Jasper leans back onto his elbows. “How was work today?”
“It was good, I guess,” I say, brushing hair away from my face.
“You don’t need me to pretend to be your boyfriend and scare off the mean girls again, do you?” he jokes.
I dip my head down, trying to hide my cheeks’ redness. “No, that won’t be necessary.”
His eyebrows raise. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
“I’m used to girls like that.” The phrase slips out of my mouth, and I instantly regret admitting it.
“What do you mean?”
I slap the sand off my linen pants, keeping my head low. “It’s nothing.”
Jasper leans forward, now resting his arms on bent knees. He turns his head, capturing my eyes in his. “Tell me.”
I briefly pause before speaking. “I grew up more well off than the average kid, let’s just say that.” Rapidly blinking, I look away. “I was often used for my parents’ money.”
He nods. “Interesting.”
“What do you mean by interesting?”
“Nothing.” He scoots closer to me. “Then who was there for you when your parents died?”
A little forward of him to ask such a personal question, but I go with it. I can hardly admit to myself I’ve had no real friends, so why not a guy who I barely know?
“No one.”
“Really?” He keeps his voice low, but it’s impossible to hide the shock it’s laced with.
Maybe if I tell him the truth that I never needed anyone anyway, then he’ll drop the conversation, and everything will make sense why I’ve never had real friendships either. Or I could lay it all on the table, but admitting that I prefer to spend my time alone?
“I’ve never had any real friends.” I pull my lip to the side, a little embarrassed about my submission, but whatever.
“I find that hard to believe.” He smiles, then nudges my shoulder with his.
“I prefer to spend my time alone.” I look away, avoiding the impending scrutiny for being different.
“But you’re so friendly.”
“Again, funny,” I say.
“I am, aren’t I?” His smile grows wider. The dull hue from the sunset casts a shadow across his perfectly sculpted chest. “I bet you’re funny too.”
“If you like dry humor?” I quip.
Jasper scoots closer to me once again, my leg is now flush with his. “I like whatever type of humor you have.” What does he mean by that?
My breath hitches. “Maybe it’s not just humor, maybe it’s that I find being around people draining.”
“I respect that. I’ll try not to drain you …” From the corner of my eye, I see his arm come up to the side of my face. His fingertips graze my cheek before he tucks a few loose strands of hair behind my ear. “If you’ll let me be around you more.”
I swallow cotton. My eyes locked on his. My mind goes blank, so I say the first thing that pops up. “The wind is going to loosen it again.”
The side of his mouth quirks up. “Then I’ll just have to keep brushing it away.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Our lips are less than a couple of inches away from one another, and I can’t help but part mine with the anticipation of him kissing me.
Jasper leans closer. The tips of our noses touch.
I tilt my head to the side, letting my eyes fall closed, but the feeling of having his plump lips on mine doesn’t come.
Instead, I feel a light dusting off his breath. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
I pull back, licking my lips. Thoughts of confusion swirl around my thoughts. Oh my god. He wasn’t going to kiss me. With my chest in a tight grip, I force out a response. “I don’t work, so nothing.”
His Cheshire smile lights me up inside. “Good. I’ll be by your house around nine am.”
I’m getting his signals wrong, but I will see him again in the morning.
This doesn’t make what just happened seem too much like an embarrassment.
He just wants to be my friend—probably because his dad is fucking my aunt?
I can live with that. Having another friend might make the summer go by faster.
“What are we going to do?” I ask.
“You’ll see,” he tells me, rising to his feet. “Make sure you’re wearing a bathing suit. And don’t worry, we don’t have to talk much. We can just enjoy the energy if you want.”
“Okay?” I look up at him, unsure of what I’ve just agreed to. I’m anxious, but also excited.
“Awesome.” He starts walking away. Wait. What?
“Wait!” I climb to my feet. “Energy? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t worry. It’s good for your soul,” he dismisses me with confidence.
My palms meet the air between us as the distance grows larger. “You’re not going to tell me what we’re going to do?”
Jasper looks over his shoulder. That sharp smile could cut glass. “Nope.”
Maybe this summer won’t be so bad after all.