Chapter Ten
Then
Jasper
My mind struggles to stay focused on the new merchandise as Easton and I unload the recent shipment. I have been giving Avery surf lessons every chance I get. We hang out multiple times a day, with me sometimes squeezing her in between my paid sessions.
She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met—raw and self-aware. It’s intoxicating.
“Jasper.” Easton arches a brow, confused. “Volcom can’t go with Billabong.”
Startled, I look down to see I’ve mixed two branded T-shirts. “Oh yeah, I know.”
“Distracted today?” Easton tosses a box of newly licensed products on the floor.
I push one of the rolling-back stock shelves. “Nah, I’m fine.”
“Hmm, well, how do you explain getting the schedule wrong this morning? Or trying to start a team when we already had our meeting on Monday?” he points out.
I scoff him off, climbing to the told shelf. “I’m fine.”
“Or what about how you forgot your call with the payroll company before lunch?” he continues with confidence and a stupid grin.
“Simple mistakes. Not a big deal.”
“I’ve been working here since before it was legal for me to be working.” He chuckles. “And I’ve never seen you mess up anything.”
Easton has been hanging around my dad’s shop since we were kids.
It didn’t take long for my dad to give us little tasks around the place.
In exchange, he’d let Easton shop whenever he wanted.
His dad left when he was young, so it was just him and his mom.
She worked long hours and struggled to afford things for them.
He spent a lot of time at my house and at the shop.
“Nah, I’m good,” I say in a last attempt to dismiss my best friend. I don’t want to admit I can’t stop thinking about Avery. He’ll tease me about it.
I wonder what she’s doing tonight. We’d made plans to see each other every night this past week, but yesterday, I was back-to-back with lessons, and I forgot to check in with her.
“Also, I’ve never seen you absently mix brands either.”
“I’m fine, dude. Back off,” I say, throwing a balled packaging at him.
“It’s Arizona, isn’t it?” He smirks.
I place a stack of board shorts on the last rack, ready to give in. “Fine. It is.”
He laughs. “I figured. You’ve been spending a lot of time with her lately.”
My body heats, thinking about how intense our make out sessions have become on the beach under the trees. “I’ve been giving her lessons.”
“For free,” Easton states with a chuckle. He pokes his head out from behind one of the rolling racks. “Or maybe she’s paying you in other ways.”
“Fuck you, man. Avery’s not like that,” I say. I would love to go further, but she’s apprehensive, and I’d never want her to feel pressured.
“Maybe she’s a virgin,” he says, more serious this time.
“Who’s a virgin?” My dad walks into the back. Usually, we hear his flip-flops turning the corner, but we don’t this time.
“It doesn’t matter,” I tell him.
“Whoa, Duke. Are those socks and shoes?” Easton pokes fun at my dad.
“Yeah, Dad. Where are you going?”
Walking past us and into his office, I catch a quick roll of his eyes. “I do own other types of shoes besides flip-flops.”
I crinkle my nose, unsure if I believe him. “Do you, though?”
“I’m going to require proof,” Easton says, following me into my dad’s office.
Annoyed with us giving him shit, he turns in his chair and sticks his foot into the air. “Here.”
Easton leans against the wall, crossing his arms at his chest. “One pair means nothing.”
My dad twists back around to face his computer. “Don’t you two have work to do?”
“Yes, since I’m the one carrying all the weight today,” Easton jokingly spats at my expense.
“Have you had a lot of lessons? I didn’t see any on the schedule.” My dad lowers his glasses.
I shake my head, walk over, and slump into my chair parallel to my dad’s. “Don’t deflect. Where are you going in those shoes?”
“I’m hiking with Helen in a bit.”
Easton’s eyes fly over to mine. I flip him off. If my dad is going hiking with her aunt, that will mean Avery will be alone. Glancing at the schedule, I quickly scan to see who’s working this afternoon. Now, I want to leave early so that I can see Avery.
“Speaking of Helen.” My dad turns to face me fully. “I’ve noticed you hanging out with her niece, Avery, a lot lately.”
“I’m giving her surf lessons.” I pause. Easton crosses his arms at his chest, expecting me to say more. “And I’m kind of into her.”
My dad’s eyebrows raise. “You are?”
I nod.
“She’s a cute girl, Jasper. But isn’t she going back to Arizona for college in the fall?” he says like I haven’t thought about it a million times since I hit her with that volleyball.
I enjoy being around her, and I refuse to let it steal the joy I feel now. And for someone like me who has battled depression for the last few years, it’s energizing being around someone I don’t have to mask.
“I know. It’s extremely casual,” I lie. There is nothing casual about how infatuated I’ve become with her.
The bell to the shop door chimes. Easton heads onto the floor to help the two employees already there.
My dad sighs like he does when he’s about to tell me something I don’t want to hear. He leans forward and bends one leg over the other. “I would hate for you to get too involved and trigger an episode when she leaves.”
He’s seen me through some rough times these last few years.
I can’t remember the first time I realized what I was going through was depression.
The first time my body turned itself off, I felt confused and alone.
I wondered why I was hit with this sort of numbness that I couldn’t shake.
It was an overpowering and painful sensation that came out of nowhere.
“Thanks, but it will be fine.”
“You’ve said that before,” he softly argues.
“I know, but I’m learning to deal with it,” I say, rotating to give him back, hoping to drop this conversion.
“Are you still taking a break from your meds?” my dad asks as if I’m a child. I get a flash of irritation because I’m not a child anymore.
“I am.” I rise from my seat. He’s not going to let this go that easily. I slap a hand on his shoulder. “Look, the meds will always be there. If I feel like losing control, I can start them up again.”
He sighs. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to go off and on medication like that, Son.”
“I understand your concern, but I got it,” I say reassuringly. My dad’s one of my best friends—I can’t lose my cool.
I recently stopped taking the medication because I wanted to prove that I could handle it myself. Being chained to a bottle for the rest of my life is daunting and not something I’m going to do unless I have no other options.
Being able to pacify my dad this time doesn’t feel like a success. He’ll bring it up again like he always does.
A short time later, I’m sitting at my desk sending over a contract for an artist we commissioned to create custom boards for the store. Easton is in the stockroom adjacent to the offices. I overhear him briefing a few employees about what has to be done during their shifts tonight.
I glance at the clock for the third time in ten minutes. I’m anxious to see Avery, but I must finish this before leaving.
Easton suddenly walks into the room. “How long are you staying today?” he asks, rolling his chair over.
“I’m leaving as soon as I get this contract sent over.”
His face beams. “That’s for the artist, isn’t it?”
I hit send, then turn to face him, clasping my hands together on the back of my head. “Fuck yeah.”
I’m proud of this business deal because it’s the first one I’ve developed, negotiated, and coordinated.
“Dude, it’s going to be so sick to have him here,” he says.
I close my laptop and then slide it into my backpack. “I know, I’m stoked.”
“You leaving already?” He gestures toward the door.
“Just sent it over. I’m out of here.”
“Going to see Arizona?” he asks, knowing my answer already.
I smile proudly. “I am.”
Easton folds his arms across his chest, leaning back in his office chair. “Good for you.”
“See you tomorrow morning out on the water,” I toss over my shoulder before heading out.
“I’ll be there.”
By the time I get to Helen’s house, I’m jumping out of my skin to see her. I can’t wait to touch her, hold her, and dive my tongue down her throat.
“Hey, Jasper,” Avery answers with a tight little skirt, crop top, and hair thrown into a high ponytail. Fuck.
I slide my arms around her waist, urging her into me. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she says, threading her hands through my hair. “I thought we wouldn’t hang out until late tonight.”
“Well.” I lightly kissed the tip of her nose. “I didn’t want to wait that long.” Whispering, I trace the outline of her lips and down her jaw. I feel every accelerating inhale and exhale of her sharp breath against me.
“Helen’s not here,” she tells me, sliding her hands into the front of my shorts. Her smooth skin is heavenly. My length grows into her small hand, begging to be stroked more.
“I know. She’s with my dad.” Avery tightens her grip. I gasp, craving to be inside of her finally.
She stares up at me, a smile playing on her lips. “Want to go to my room?”
“Of course.”
Avery loosens her grip on me while sliding her other hand into mine and leading me down the hallway. I’m hot on her heels, buzzing with a wild desire. She’s everything to me. I’ve become completely obsessed.
When we get to the doorframe of her bedroom, she turns. Possibly wanting to say something, but I don’t give her the chance. I’m on fire, and I can’t contain it any longer.
I slide a palm along her cheek and grip her on the back of the head, bringing her lips to mine.
“I want to taste you,” I murmur into the warmth of her mouth. That’s right, I’m going to do this.
She pulls back, her eyes wide with shock. “You do?”
“Lift your skirt,” I gently command.
She falls to the side of the bed. “I’m nervous.”
I don’t care. It’s frustrating to wait for her to be ready, but I will as long as she needs me to. But that doesn’t mean, in the meantime, I can’t do all the other dirty things that I want to do to her.
I fall to my knees. “I don’t think you understand. I want to kiss you more.”
“We are kissing,” she says, blushing. Her hair is tousled around her face.
I take a few loose strands and twirl them around my finger while shaking my head silently.
“No?”
My mouth waters with a desperate need. Something I’ve wanted to do since the moment I saw her in that tiny bikini on the beach. I can go without sex for a while, but I’m about to fuck her with the next best thing—my tongue.
“I want to kiss you down there.” I gesture between her legs.
The color drains from her face, but I go feral the second I see her nipples harden through her thin T-shirt. “Lift your skirt.”
“I, um—” Her breathing picks up.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but I have a feeling you’re going to like it.” Giving her a chance to change her mind, I lean back on my bent legs.
To my utter joy, she nods and lies back but still frozen in place. She’s letting me, but she’s nervous.
Bringing my fingertips to the inside of her thighs, I glide them along her creamy skin, spreading her knees apart one at a time.
“Oh, Jasper,” she moans. I’m sure in anticipation.
“Lay back and enjoy, Arizona.” I move up her skirt, inch by inch.
“I’ve heard it’s a nice place to visit.” I lower myself closer, pushing away the tiny triangle fabric of her panties to expose her.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. I can’t wait to devour her and spend the rest of the night here.
“But I have no plans on just visiting because I’m about to live down there for fucking eternity,” I say, then take one long lick across the seam of her core.
Avery gasps. “Ohh.”
She’s all mine.