Page 183 of Under the Waves
“Yeah,” I hummed, biting down on my lower lip. I couldn’t help but smile, brushing my thumb innocently against his cheek.
“I really want to kiss you right now, Wellsy,” Jasper rasped.
“Oh yeah?” The corners of my lips tilted up even higher. I could’ve gotten drunk on the sound of his raspy voice. “What’s stopping you, Spiderman?”
A low growl tore from his throat as he muttered, “fuck it,” under his breath before closing the distance between us. The next second, his lips were on mine and his fingers were gripping the back of my neck, gently drawing soft patterns against my skin.
I knew I was his before but this solidifiedeverything—every hint of doubt, every self-sabotaging thoughtgone. Right there, right then, it was justus.And for once in my life, I was just a stupid girl in stupid love with a stupid boy who stupidly loved her back. I was a drunken fool for the sweet taste of his lips, and a fallen addict to the sound of his laughter.
“You,” Jasper breathed against my lips, “are one fucking hell of a woman, Wellsy.”
I giggled, eyes fluttering open. With one hand, I trailed the side of his jaw with my fingertips as Jasper leaned into my touch. “And I’m all yours.”
He groaned, shaking his head gently. “You can’t be saying stuff like that when my mom is right over there. I’m a strong,gentleman,Poppy, but I’m notthatstrong.”
Laughter trickled out of my lungs, unable to suppress it any longer.
That stupid boy.Mystupid boy.
“Oh yeah, I am clearly the strongest of the two of us,” I jested but Jasper’s eyes locked onto mine almost instantly after the words had left my lips.
“No fucking doubt about that, Wellsy. You little survivor.”
Just as I was about to reply, Jasper’s mom placed two plates of freshly baked waffles coated in maple syrup and strawberries. “Jasper Easton Ridge, if I have to remind you about your language one more time—”
“Sorry, mamma,” Jasper smiled sincerely at her before intertwining our fingers and dragging me down into the seat next to him. “Ti amo.”
“Thank you for the food and for having me, Mrs Ridge.”
Smiling softly down at me, Vienna gently stroked my hair as she said, “of course, sweetie. Anytime. If you ever need anything at all, you can always come to us. You’ll always have a safe space here, don’t ever forget that. And please, call me Vie or Vienna, none of that formal nonsense. God knows those boys of yours, Jasper, what is it they call me again?”
Jasper grumbled, “Mamma Vie.”
Vienna smiled, exhaling softly, and I could see why they called her that—if there was an award for best mom of the year, I had no doubt it would go to her.
“That reminds me, don’t forget to tell Jakson to come by after practice later, I have his surf jersey and the rest of his kit all freshly washed for him.”
“Do I even want to know why you always do this for him, mamma?”
Sadness twinkled in her gaze. “Oh, you know Jakson, honey, he’s always round here doing whatever it is that boy likes to do. I don’t blame him though, it must get lonely in that house of his. And you know me, I can’tnotmake sure that boys alright. There isn’t anyone else in his life who can. Speaking of Poppy, would you like to help me bake this afternoon? I promised Lia I would bring her someSalame De Chocolateand who better to help memake it than you!”
“Because I’m Portuguese?” I questioned.
I didn’t even know if I could claim that. I’d never traveled there, hardly even knew the language, and whatever relatives of minedidlive there, I’d never actually met before.
My mom forbade it.
Genetically, I knew that was a huge part of who I was but I had always felt so isolated from that part of my life. Maybe…maybe now I could learn more about that side of me with her.
Vienna laughed softly. “No, silly, because you aresotalented, and I’m sure between the two of us, we could definitely rock the hell out of that desert.”
Her smile was infectious, just like her golden aura.
“I don’t—” I swallowed the words, and instead, I found myself saying, “I would love to, thank you for thinking of me.”
My mom—shenevervolunteered to do anything remotely like that with me. It was always just crush pills, get high, and cry. Over, and over, andoveragain. I’d taken care of her more times than she’d ever done the same for me. I couldn’t even remember when the last time that was.
“Are you not working this morning?” Jasper asked, glancing worriedly at his mother, who just simply smiled at her son.