Page 129 of The Other Side of Tomorrow

She considers my question, pressing her lips together.

“Yes and no. You’ve been spending a lot of time with him and you both seem to like each other a lot., On that hand it feels like you should be honest with him. On the other, you haven’t known each other that long, and you waited over three years for this kidney. That’s a long time, and you have every right to be protective over your feelings and emotions because of it. I can see how conflicted you feel. You needed that kidney but you didn’t want someone to have to die for you to get it. Unfortunately, that’s how the process works, and it’s amazing that people and families are generous enough to give others life when they lose a loved one. I honestly think you have every right to protect your feelings and emotions on this. I don’t think Jasper’s the type to do this, but some people might make you feel guilty for it, because people can be shitty when they’re grieving. But at the end of the day, no matter whose kidney that is, you deserve it. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live.”

I can’t help it, I start crying.

“Thank you,” I say, choked up, and wrap my arms around her. “I low you.”

“I low you too.” She hugs me back tight. “So much.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve a sister like Harlow, but I will never take it for granted.

nbsp;***

Later that evening, Harlow and I are dressed to go out.

I opt for a pair of ripped blue jeans, a loose tan sweater that falls over my shoulders, and my trusty pair of white Converse. I leave my hair down and wavy and swipe some mascara on my lashes. Harlow wears a flowered romper with her hair pulled back in a low bun. A few stray blonde hairs frame her face.nbsp;

“How do I look?” she asks, spinning in the hallway.

“Beautiful.” I can’t believe how much my little sister has grown up. It seems like only yesterday we were playing on the school playgrounds and now here we are.

“You too,” she says with a smile.

We say goodbye to our parents and meet Jasper outside.nbsp;

“Evening, ladies,” he says with a bow, dressed in jeans and a loose gray t-shirt. He opens the car door for each of us.

We park beside Spencer’s car and Jasper promptly locks the doors so Harlow can’t get out.

Looking at her in the rearview mirror, he says, “No funny business. Don’t do anything stupid that you’ll regret later.”

She laughs. “Thanks for the advice Dad.”

“Just looking out for you.” He cracks a grin and unlocks the door.

; “See you guys later.”

She slips from the car and Spencer greets her with a hug. We watch the two of them disappear onto the beach. Jasper shuts off the Jeep and the two of us head to the pier.

“There’s someone I want you to meet,” I tell him, tugging on his hand and pulling him in the direction of Julio’s shop.

“Should I be jealous?” he jokes.

“Maybe.” Two can play this game.

The sun is beginning to set, and it bathes the boardwalk in a warm orange glow. The lights glitter and sparkle, reflecting off the ocean below as it laps against the frames.

We reach Julio’s shop, the friendly bell chiming above the door.

“Julio?” I call out.

“Ah, my Ms. Willa has come to see me,” I hear him speak, and shuffling.

He moves forward slowly, moving around boxes and display cases easily despite his blindness. Julio is not the type to let a handicap stop him from anything.

“There’s someone I want you to meet, Julio.”