I watch in astonishment as the cat’s tiny pink tongue flicks out and licks the side of Harlow’s face. She giggles and hugs him closer. The cat’s eyes land on me and I swear he looks at me like he wants to murder me. I shiver in response. It’s silly, but I’m afraid of my sister’s cat. He’s abnormal.nbsp;
When Meredith is finally done getting ready we head to the beach. It’s still a little early, but this way we can sit and have some more girl time before the guys show up.
Meredith and Harlow fight over who gets shotgun—I don’t know why it matters. My car is so small that the backseat is practically in the front. Meredith ends up winning and Harlow slides glumly into the backseat.nbsp;
“Can we get coffee first?” Mere
dith asks, slipping on her sunglasses—some designer monstrosity I think looks stupid but she insists is in fashion. She should know; she’s way more into that stuff than I am.
“Yeah, sure. I wouldn’t mind one myself.”
I head to our favorite place, Cool Beans, because when you want coffee there’s nowhere else to go.nbsp;
I park on the street since there’s an open spot and we head inside. Meredith places her order first and then Harlow and I follow.nbsp;
Since we’re not staying we don’t sit down at a table and instead stand off to the side to wait for our orders.
I feel someone step up behind me and I can’t help but look.
I gasp, and Jasper smiles down on me. “Are you following me?” he asks, his smile turning mischievous.nbsp;
“N-No of course not,” I stutter, shaking my head.
“I’m kidding,” he says, putting me out of my misery.nbsp;
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“It’s the best coffee in town.” He shrugs, shoving his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts. “And my parents kind of own the place,” he adds.
“Oh,” I mouth. “I forgot.”
He chuckles. “Are you guys already headed to the beach?” I nod in answer to his question. “I have to help out here for a bit, but I’ll text you when I’m on my way there. And …” He lowers his voice and crouches down so his mouth is level with my ear. “I promise one of my friends will be there to entertain your friend.”
“Thank you.”
He smiles and tips his head at Meredith and Harlow before heading toward the back of the shop and around the counter.
Meredith bumps my shoulder with hers. “He is so hot, seriously. I’m proud of you, girl.”
I shake my head. “That’s not why I like him, you know.”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course I know you’re all about substance, but it doesn’t hurt that he looks like a Calvin Klein model, either. I mean, those biceps? Damn.”
I’m saved from replying by our drinks being ready. I grab my iced coffee and stick a straw into the cup before taking a sip. Like always, it tastes like heaven. I wonder what they do that makes it so good.
We head out and pile back into my car to go to the beach.
Once there we gather our stuff—the usual, towels, magazines for Meredith, my book, our drinks, and totes we have pre-filled with things like sunscreen, hats, lotion, and a change of clothes if need be.
We walk along the beach, scouting for the best place. It’s busy, but not as crazy as it can be at times. We eventually find a spot and lay out our things. On my one side, Meredith stretches out on her stomach, flipping through a Cosmopolitan magazine. On the other, Harlow lies on her side, facing me but looking at her phone. I wiggle around and get comfortable, lying on my back with my book held above me.nbsp;
I have a little trouble focusing on the book, and if I’m honest it’s because my mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Jasper. While I do want to learn to surf, I honestly just want to spend more time with him. With him I’m myself—a self I didn’t even know existed, but who has been there all along begging to break free.
“Is that book not any good?” Harlow asks from beside me, her brow raised.
I jolt and look over at her. “It’s not the book, it’s me,” I admit.nbsp;
Meredith sits up, tilting her sunglasses down so we can see her eyes. “You’re thinking about lover boy, aren’t you?”