Boardwalk Summer by meredith jaeger

Author:meredith jaeger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Marisol Cruz

2007

Y ou know,” Jason said, looking around at the giggling kids in Marini’s soda fountain. “Santa Cruz is the perfect place to raise a family.”

Mari smiled, watching the little girls put quarters in the gumball machine. She’d come to this ice cream shop with her abuelo and abuela during her childhood, and loved that the family business was still thriving. The mint chip ice cream still tasted exactly the same, the best she’d ever had.

“It really is. I feel so fortunate to have grown up here, and to be able to raise Lily here. There’s no more beautiful place in the world.”

Jason’s brown eyes twinkled. “I really like you,” he said, twirling the stem of his maraschino cherry. “I hope you don’t think I’m too old-fashioned, but honestly, I’m almost thirty, and I’m ready to settle down.”

Mari’s heart skipped a beat. “Jason, I really like you too, but we’ve only been on one date . . .”

He laughed, looking adorable as he grinned at her. “Don’t worry, I’m not popping the question. Though I could get down on one knee right now to embarrass you.”

“Please don’t.”

“Then listen. What I want to say is, I’m totally over game playing. I want someone I can be honest with. And I feel like I can be honest with you. I don’t want to date anyone else. And I’m hoping that you don’t either . . .”

“Oh, so you don’t know about my other boyfriend, Tyrell?”

“Shut up.”

Mari smiled. “You’re cool and all, but Tyrell lets me ride his motorcycle. He’s got this bad-boy thing going on, and it’s really sexy.”

Before she could continue, he’d placed his lips on hers. The kiss was soft, yet passionate. Mari closed her eyes and the soda fountain faded away. Jason smelled like the forest, like summer. She could kiss him over and over again.

“I could get used to that.”

“Good,” Jason said. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Mari took his hand in hers. “There’s something I want to tell you too.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Tell me.”

“I won the Swanson Grant.”

Jason’s mouth dropped open, then he broke out into a huge smile. “Are you kidding me? Mari, congratulations!”

He wrapped her in a bear hug, and then stood up, addressing the room full of children. “Everyone! You’re looking at the next Swanson Grant recipient right here. This is one very smart lady. Let’s give her a round of applause.”

Mari wanted to cover her face and she tugged at Jason’s hand, but the little girls smiled at her with missing teeth and clapped excitedly.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You’re the worst.”

Jason sat down. “I’m sorry if I’m embarrassing, but I’m proud of you. This is exciting! See, I told you that you could do it. What happens next?”

“I got the idea to create a diorama of the gazebo—well, have artists create it, because I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. I want to record Santa Cruz senior citizens talking about their memories of the gazebo, and play the audio recording.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.