I clean my bowl and head back upstairs to shower and get ready. I don’t know what time Jasper will want to meet, but I figure I should be ready to go when the time comes.
Perry follows me to my room and sits on my bed while I go to shower.
When I come out he’s lying on his back with all his paws in the air. I shake my head.
“Perry, you silly boy.”
I rifle through my drawers and find my floral, black and white, one-piece swimsuit. Most girls my age would be wearing bikinis, but my scars aren’t something I like to show off. I’m not ashamed of them, not at all, they show how hard I’ve fought, but the questions are something I can avoid by keeping them covered so I do. I have a couple round scars from my peritoneal catheter and then my scar from transplant surgery is about six inches but crescent shaped. The scars on my chest are impossible to hide. They’re from the catheter in my chest when I first started dialysis, since it was an emergency situation.
I slip on a pair of jean shorts and a loose sweater. I choose to leave my hair down, knowing it’s going to end up wet.
Flopping down on my bed beside Perry, the dog turns to me and smears a wet kiss on my cheek.
“Ew, Perry, that’s gross.” I wipe my face on my sleeve.
Perry gives me a lopsided smile.
I grab my book off my night table and read for a little bit. It isn’t long until my phone is buzzing.
Jasper: Look outside.
I stand and rush to my bedroom window, a smile immediately lighting up my face when I see Jasper’s yellow Jeep parked out front. He leans against the passenger door, his arms crossed over his chest and his legs crossed at the ankles.
I raise my hand to the window and the movement causes his head to rise.
He smiles, his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses.
Turning back around I slip my feet into a pair of flip-flops and rush downstairs.
“I’ll be back later!” I call to Harlow, sprinting out the door before I can hear her reply.
Jasper chuckles as I come to stand in front of him.
“Eager, are we?”
I blush. “I’m excited about surfing.”
I am, but I’m more excited about being with him and he knows it.
“Mhmm. I’m sure that’s all it is.” His dimple winks from his cheek.
He opens the passenger door with a sweep of his hand.
I climb inside, still not used to the height of the Jeep. With my short stature, it’s akin to climbing a damn mountain.
I flop into the seat and he closes the door, shaking with silent laughter.
I can’t even feel embarrassed, because I’m sure it was funny.
When he slides behind the steering wheel, I say, “I figured I’d meet you at the beach. I didn’t expect you to pick me up.”
He shrugs and looks in his mirrors before pulling out onto the street. “This is more fun. I like being with you.”
He smiles over at me and my heart grabs onto his words, cradling them close like they’re precious, because they are.
“Were you able to get some sleep?” I ask him.
He shrugs, his smile falling. “A little.”