Read Online Summer Love by Jill Santopolo - Free Book Online Page A

says, as he lifts you up in his arms. “Amphitrite, that was perfect!”
    You wrap your arms around his shoulders, and he kisses you on the cheek before he puts you back down again.
    â€œThat felt fabulous!” you tell him.
    He looks at you out of the corner of his eye.“Riding the wave, or being in my arms?” he asks.
    You laugh. “Both,” you admit.
    â€œI thought perhaps you would say that,” he says. “But I want my arms to feel better than surfing, so let’s try again.”
    Your heart hammers in your chest as he lifts you up once more, but this time he presses his mouth to yours and catches your bottom lip between his teeth. He teases you with his tongue, and then slides it into your mouth. You wonder if in addition to being a sea god, he’s also a kissing god.
    Tasha was right, you only live once, and you’re so glad that during this one time you live you get to be wrapped in the arms of a sexy French surfer and kiss him on the weekend after your sixteenth birthday.
    CONGRATULATIONS!
    YOU’VE FOUND YOUR HAPPYENDING!
    Click here to go back to chatting with Tasha at the beach.
    - - - - -
    Click here to go back to the beginning and start over.

“SURE,” you say. “I’ll keep you and Gonzo company. But I hope we don’t run into too many cars.”
    Nik smiles. “Me, too,” he says. His grin is wider than it was before, and you notice that his teeth are remarkably white and straight. You wonder for a second if he wore braces and decide that he probably did. Then you decide that you like that. Braces humble a person. Make it so a person never gets too cocky.
    â€œLet me just quickly text Tasha, in case she wakes up while I’m gone,” you say. You pull out your phone and write:
    Found boy to flirt with. Neighbor. Nik.
    Be back sometime.
    Then you unlatch the lock on the gate and letyourself out. Gonzo jumps up on your legs and grabs the hem of your bathing suit cover-up in his teeth.
    â€œGonzo! Stop it!” Nik says, tapping the dog on the nose.
    Gonzo lets go of your cover-up.
    â€œHe’s feisty!” you say, and Nik blushes again.
    â€œI’m sorry. Really, I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” Nik wraps Gonzo’s leash around his hand a few times so that the dog can’t move more than a few inches away from him.
    â€œSo how long have you had Gonzo?” you ask, figuring that’s as good a place to start as any.
    â€œActually not that long,” Nik tells you. “He’s an old guy—seven or eight, they think—but he was a rescue. A car must’ve done something bad to him, or maybe his previous owner did, I don’t know. Sometimes I wish there was a doggie therapist he could talk to who could help him out.”
    You laugh. “I love that idea! When I was a kid, I had a crazy hamster. He could’ve used a hamster therapist, I bet.”
    â€œI’ve met quite a few crazy hamsters,” Nik tells you as you walk down the street. “Maybe it’s the wheel. You know, going round and round and round and getting nowhere might make me a little crazy, too.”
    â€œPoor guys,” you say, holding in your laughter. “And don’t forget about the goldfish, swimming in circles all day!”
    Nik has a very serious look on his face. “I know! They must get so dizzy. And exhausted!”
    You look back at him equally seriously. And then the two of you burst out laughing.
    â€œAre you into animals?” you finally ask after the laughter subsides.
    He stops to scratch Gonzo behind the ears before he says, “Yes.” And adds, “Actually, I’m going to major in animal science in college next year. I want to be a veterinarian.”
    â€œNo way,” you say, mostly because that’s one of the coolest future job plans you’ve heard.
    â€œWay,” he says, with a laugh. “What about you? Do you know what you want