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

to major in?”
    You shake your head. “I’m only in high school. I’ll be a junior next year,” you tell him. “I’m not sure yet.”
    He nods. “It’s a serious decision. I mean, not like life or death serious. Actually, that was the wrong word. It’s important, not serious.”
    Now it’s your turn to nod. You decide that you like the fact that Nik searched around until he foundthe exact right word to explain how he felt about the college-major decision. And you like how much he likes animals. And how funny he is. And how he’s incredibly handsome. Sexy even. In fact, he’s one of the all-around coolest guys you’ve ever met.
    â€œDid you always want to be a vet?” you ask him.
    A car goes by, and Gonzo barks like it’s going out of style. Nik rubs him on the head, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference.
    â€œI always wanted to work with animals,” Nik said. “And my dad’s a human doctor, so being an animal doctor seemed to make sense. Though I think my dad’s a little disappointed I don’t want to follow his path.”
    â€œParents get disappointed in the weirdest things,” you say. It’s kind of amazing how much Nik is sharing with you, but it doesn’t feel strange. It feels as if he should be telling you all of this, as if you’ve known each other for ages, not just a few minutes. So you respond in kind.
    â€œI can tell my dad’s really bummed that I don’t like golf,” you say. “Or math. The two things he spends the most time doing are two things that make me so bored I’d rather watch grass grow than talk about them. He pretends he’s not disappointed, but I cantell he wishes it were different. That I was different.”
    Nik nods. “I know how you feel. I think parents want to see themselves in their kids so badly that they forget they’ve created a different, new person.”
    â€œSometimes I wish I had a brother or sister who loved math and golf, and then I wouldn’t feel so bad that I don’t.” You’ve never admitted this to anyone, not even to Tasha, but it feels good to say it to Nik. There’s something about him that makes you want to tell him all your secrets. He seems like he’d understand. And would never make fun of you, even if your secrets were silly.
    â€œThat would be nice,” he says, and you can tell he’s thinking about having a brother or sister who wanted to be a people doctor so he wouldn’t have to feel bad.
    You’ve reached the end of the street, where it runs into a marina. “I guess we should turn around,” Nik says to you.
    â€œYeah, I guess,” you answer, but you’d rather he invite you to have an ice cream cone with him at the marina. You think about extending the invite yourself, but decide not to, mostly because you’d be too embarrassed if he said no. Even if he turned you down in the nicest way possible.
    You start walking back up the street, and another car goes by. This time you crouch and pet Gonzo, trying to calm him down, and it seems like maybe it’s working.
    â€œAre you a secret dog whisperer?” Nik asks, squinting at you.
    â€œYou got me,” you say.
    Gonzo pulls against his leash, trying to jump into your arms. You pet him again and then stand. “Want me to hold that for a while?” you ask, indicating the leash.
    Nik shrugs. “Sure.” He slips the leash off his hand and onto yours. When his fingers touch your fingers, you feel a tingle go through you, like getting splashed with ice-cold water on a crazy hot day.
    You look at Nik and notice the soft pinkness of his lips against his white teeth and olive-dark skin. You wish for a moment that you were a good artist, because if you were, you’d draw him right then.
    As soon as Nik lets go of the leash, you wrap your fingers around it tight, letting Gonzo run a few feet ahead of