Page 77 of Summer Ever After
“Exactly!”
Her face lights up with enthusiasm, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. The real Jane is back, tugging at my heartstrings like only she can.
“How did you know about that trope?”
“It was one of the ones I read on your list the other day.”
“Right.” She holds up the radio, shaking it in front of me. “It’s not like I don’t have a way out of this. We’ll just radio to the marina, and they’ll send someone out.”
Stranded with Jane? There’s no other situation I’d rather be in today.
“Can we just wait a little while longer?” My hand covers hers, taking the radio from her fingers.
A flicker of attraction burns in my chest at the feel of her touch. Who am I kidding? That flicker first appeared hours ago when I saw her at the dock, and it's gotten more intense every second after.
I put the radio back on its hook. “Let’s just stay a little while longer, until the U.S. Open is over. Would that be okay?”
She offers me the most adorable smile. “Sure.”
Jane
Eleventh Grade
Dear Diary,
Today in English class, Olive Belacourt said there are so many girls at school who are jealous of me because I get to hang out with Walker Collins all the time. I told her that I never ‘hang out’ with him. He’s just there when I’m at Capri’s house. Then she said Walker is the only good reason to be friends with Capri. I was so mad. I can’t stand Olive. I’m smart enough never to mention that conversation to Capri. It would only hurt her feelings.
But what Olive said made me think.
Everybody loves Walker.
And I do feel lucky to be around him so much. I know he’s not the nicest to Capri. But, to me, he’s pretty great.
I’ve been obsessed with this song lately that Walker has on his iPod, and whenever Capri and I are with him, I always make him listen to it. My parents wouldn’t let me download it from the internet. They believe people should buy physical CDs of each album—consequences of them being musicians themselves. Anyway, I’ve been waiting to go to the mainland to buy the CD so I can play it on my own iPod, but I haven’t done it yet. This morning, I found the CD on the front seat of my golf cart with a note that said,Hopefully, now Iwon’t have to keep playing this song for you,with a smiley face.
He BOUGHT me the CD!
It’s stuff like that that makes it impossible for me to get over Walker.
I’m afraid I’ll have a crush on him my whole life.
Jane
The sun setsbehind us as we lie in the middle of the boat, listening to music over the speakers. We’ve been here for hours, just talking and laughing.
It’s honestly been one of the best evenings of my life—if I don’t think about Capri.
“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane plays next, and I place my hand over my heart in deep adoration. “I love this song!”
“Oh, I know!” Walker laughs, glancing over at me. “I can’t listen to it without thinking of you.”
“Really?” My lips shift into a crooked smile.
“Yeah, you and Capri made me play it over and over in high school until I finally broke down and bought you the CD. Do you remember that?”
How could I forget?
I could live a thousand lifetimes and still never forget that gesture.
