his mom about my parents and ask the more immediate question. “What’s wrong with your dad?”
He strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “He has prostate cancer.”
“What? Why didn’t I know this before?” I ask.
“You had enough to worry about, Parker. I didn’t want to burden you.”
“Jason, you’re always there for me. You came running when I called this morning and your dad is here. With cancer.”
He straddles the bench. “He survived once, but whatever happens, we’re better prepared because we went through this before. Trust me. When I’m not with you or at school, I’m with him.”
“Is that why you brought me around the house instead of through?”
He nods.
“Can I meet your dad?”
“Today?”
“No. It’s been an eventful day already and it isn’t even noon.”
The crooked grin spreads into a full smile, lighting up his face. He leans in and our lips meet, a twenty-foot wave cresting inside me.
I return his kiss with the ferocity of the wave crashing through my body. He guides my arms around his waist then cups my face with both of his hands as we continue a long tangle of lips and tongues. Jason is always cautious, never pushing for more than I give.
I imagine this is the thrill surfers have in the barrel. Water roaring and rushing over them, salt water spray pelting their face, open air in sight, fingers trailing in the water, riding it out until they emerge victorious.
He pulls away. “Parker,” he says, breathless, touching his forehead to mine. My face still in his hands. “That was just…”
I take slow breaths to steady myself. Even imaginary waves can knock you off balance. “Yeah.”
His head draws back and his eyes pierce mine. “I love you, Parker.”
They aren’t just words he feels he should say. He truly loves me and needs to tell me so. “I love you too,” I whisper.
A wisp of a smile crosses his lips and we unwrap ourselves from each other to get up. Jason interlaces our fingers and strolls to the sliding door, opening it a crack.
“Mom, we’re heading back to Sara’s,” he calls inside.
“Okay, honey! Have fun today!” she calls back.
Arissa drags me away from Jason and into her room as soon as we walk through the front door.
“How did it go?” she asks, plopping us both onto her bed.
“A little awkward, but she’s nice.”
“Awkward how?”
I grab a pillow and play with the edges. “He told her about my parents.”
“He did?” She crosses her legs under her.
“Yeah. But, like he told me this morning, he talks to his parents like you talk to yours.”
“Makes sense I guess.”
“Are you going to talk to Damian?” I pinch a corner and roll it under.
Her expression turns grim. “I know I need to. I just don’t know what to say.”
“Say what you feel, like you always do.”
“No, I always say what I think. There’s a difference.”
“No, you always say what you feel, whether you realize it or not.”
She pauses a moment. “Maybe.”
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Oh, I don’t know. He breaks up with me?” She throws herself back on the bed.
“Don’t be so dramatic.” I hit her with the pillow.
“What the hell, Sara?”
A wide grin spreads across my face. She grabs the other pillow and hits me back.
“Talk to him when he gets here. We can always see a later movie,” I say, climbing off the bed and throwing the pillow at her.
She catches it and drops it next to her.
Arissa whisks Damian into the TV room when he arrives and I take Jason out back.
“What’s that all about?” he asks, sitting next to me on the grass.
“She’s having the talk with him.” I plant my hands behind me.
“Parker, I think it’s a little late to have ‘the talk,’” he says like I’m being ridiculous.
“Not the sex talk. The relationship talk.”
“Oh.” His eyes widen. “Oh.”
“Yeah. She finally admitted her feelings last night after I called her out.”
He grins.
“What?” I ask.
“Let’s just say we won’t be the only happy couple today.”
“I knew it!”
His mouth captures mine swiftly, catching me by surprise. After he pulls away, he moves behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
“I love how I feel when you kiss me like that,” he whispers in my ear.
“How do you feel?” I hook my hands over his arms.
“Like you’re finally breaking down the last of the walls you had up for so long.”
“I just know I can trust you because you love me.”
His cheek tightens in a smile against the side of my head. “I have for