“Don’t worry about him. I’m not.”
He pulls his phone from his pocket and looks at the time. “I have to go. I’m working at the coffee shop today,” he grumbles, stuffing the phone back in his pocket and then running his fingers roughly through the short strands of his hair.nbsp;
“That reminds me,” I sigh. “I need to get a job. I got to thinking—I want to save up and go see those gardens I told you about. The one in Japan.”
His smile is blinding. “Really? I think that’s awesome. Good for you. And as for the job, I can help.”
“Seriously?” I raise a brow. “How?”
“My parents are looking to hire a couple more baristas. I’ll put in a good word for you. Swing by the shop this afternoon and my mom will probably interview you.”
“That would be awesome. Thank you.”
Working at a coffee shop sounds hectic, but fun, especially with Jasper there.
He pulls out his phone and looks at it again. “I don’t have to be there for another two hours—think your dad would let you go to breakfast?”
I shrug. “I can ask. The worst he can say is no.”
Jasper and I make our way to the front of the house and he sits on the steps while I go inside.
“Dad?” I call out and hear a grunt from the direction of his chair.
I tentatively step in front of him and he lowers the newspaper, looking at me over it.
“Yes?” he prompts.
“I was wondering if I could go to breakfast with Jasper.”
He lets out a gruff sigh and I give him a look. Softening, he asks, “Just breakfast?”
“Just breakfast.”
He nods. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I cry, bending to hug him.
He squeezes me tight. “Stop growing up.”
I laugh. “Sorry, no can do.”
He shakes his head. “You girls will be the death of me.”
I have no doubt we will be.
I rush up the stairs and into my room, changing quickly out of my pajamas and into a loose T-shirt style dress and tie a plaid shirt around the waist before ditching my flip-flops for my white Converse—although, at this point they’re far from white, but that’s okay, they tell a story.
Tumbling back down the stairs I call out a last thank you to my dad and dash out the door completely out of breath.
Jasper stands chuckling. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I pant. “Totally fine, why would you ask?” I joke, and he cracks a grin.
“Come on.” He holds out a hand to me.
“Where’s your car?” I ask, noting the bright yellow Jeep isn’t in front of my house.
“I parked down the block in case one of your parents woke up and looked out the window. I didn’t think we were going to fall asleep on the beach and give ourselves away anyway.”