She Will Be Loved

Chapter 17

"Mom, do you want me to take Lilah with us?" Jason asked.

"Oh, no. I was going to take her to get a dress."

"Oh, alright." He said. "Well we're going to go, now."

"Have fun! Nice meeting you, Sophie. I hope to see you again!"

"You too!"

We walked out to the car and drove off.

"Your mom is so nice." I said.

"Yeah, both of my parents are."

I sighed.

"Do you think your dad will be able to quit this?" Jason turned to me.

"Yeah, I think he will. He said that he'd do it for me. And it was pretty surprising to see him not drunk. I haven't seen that in ages. I wonder if he's trying to impress someone." I said, thoughtfully.

"I don't know, maybe." He agreed. He looked over at me at the stop light. He took my hand and kissed it. He held it there for a couple of seconds.

"Do you know that you're very beautiful?" Jason asked.

"I wouldn't say that."

"It's true, you know. I mean, I don't think I'd be able to let you off the hook if you decided to break up with me."

"I don't see breaking up anywhere in the future yet."

"Yet?"

"Hmm. Yet."

"Oh, so you don't see me in your future." He said. He was just teasing, though. I could tell by his stunning crooked smile.

"Well, you will be in my future if you want to be. I can't make you in it. But I do want you in it." I said. It was actually true though.

"Well I don't see me leaving you anywhere."

"Good."

"So is that a type of deal then? A promise?"

"What do you mean?"

"I won't leave you if you won't leave me?"

"And I won't leave you if you won't leave me."

"Alright, deal."

We pulled into the beach and it was sunny out.

"So, what is a dress for?" I asked when we walked to the water.

"What dress?"

"Lilah's."

"Oh, she's graduating from preschool in a month."

"Aww, that will be cute."

"Yeah, it will. She's so excited."

"I would be too."

He chuckled quietly. He took my hand and we walked down the beach. We saw surfers.

"I've always wanted to learn how to surf." I said, watching them. I bent down and took my flip flops off, holding them in my hands. My other hand was still interlocked with Jason's.

"My dad taught me years ago. It's fun."

"Oh. Do you give lessons?" I asked in a serious tone. He looked down and smiled at me.

"Well, I've never given a lesson before. But for a beautiful girl, it could very well be on my to-do list."