Page 39 of Spring Tide

My gaze trails across her face, taking note of the open vulnerability in her features. She’s joking with me now, but there’s an underlying sense of insecurity behind her words. “I do like you.”

Her lips curve with the hint of a smile, a dusting of peach coloring her cheeks. “You do?”

“Is it not obvious?”

“I mean, I thought we might be friends now. But I wasn’t one hundred percent sure how you felt, ’cause you’re always so ...”

“Unfriendly?”

She taps her fingers against her chin, resting it in the palm of her hands. “Broody, contemplative, private.”

“Well, I like you, Harper,” I repeat, the words rolling easily off my tongue. “There, now you don’t have to doubt it. You’re one of the few people at this school I actually enjoy being around.”

That earns me another blush, a hint of warmth camouflaging her freckles. “I like you, too, Luca.”

“Well, good, then.” My chest feels lighter, weightless now that she’s officially agreed to be my date. “We shouldn’t have any trouble faking it.”

“Except for the physical part, right?”

“What?”

“How much PDA do you like to do when you’re in a relationship?” she asks, that weightless feeling suddenly disappearing. My chest is tight again, heart pattering against my breastbone. “Just so I know how much to touch you on Friday.”

“We don’t ... I mean, none?” I sputter, subtly pushing against my sternum. “Like you said before, I’m a private person. We don’t need to worry about how much to touch each other in front of my friend and his girlfriend.”

“Not even holding hands? Or, like, a quick kiss on the cheek?”

“Maybe ... maybe the hand thing,” I relent. It doesn’t seem like a terrible idea, holding hands with Harper in front of Danny and Sofia. I’m sure they’ll be doing much more than that themselves. “I don’t know, can we just play it by ear?”

“Sure, Luca,” she says brightly, popping up from her seat and nudging me on the shoulder. “Friday night. Me and you, playin’ it by ear.”

“Great.”

“Enough chitchat.” She rubs her hands together, grabbing a few bands and gesturing for me to lie down. “Let’s get to work.”

I shake my head, attempting to relax my erratic heartbeat. This is what I’m here for—relaxation, rejuvenation, and recovery. Harper’s my wellness coach, my physical therapist, my fake girlfriend, and I guess now ... one of my only friends outside of Daniel.

And she already touches me all the fucking time, so that was a fairly innocent question. There’s no reason, none at all, that it should’ve rattled me down to my bones.

13

HARPER

It’s beenages since I’ve slipped into something this fancy. In fact, I can’t recall the last time I wore this tight satin dress or these little black heels. I even curled my hair and spent more than ten minutes on my makeup. Sure, it’s only some extra lipstick and eyeliner, but I swear I feel like a whole new woman.

I may be anxious as hell for this fake date—for another evening filled with lies—but at least I’ll look good while we’re at it.

“Are you okay?” I ask Luca, taking note of his stiff posture. His grip on the steering wheel is tight, knuckles blanching a stark white as we pull into the lot behind the restaurant.

“I’m fine,” he says, as expected.

“Are you sure?” I try again, attempting to break through his aloof outer shell. I know he’s not fine because he’s been jittery and distant the entire half-hour drive. “Because I’m feeling pretty nervous myself.”

He cuts the engine and shoves the keys into the pocket of his black trousers.

“Why?” he asks without turning to face me.

“I’m about to meet someone important to you, plus I have to lie straight to their face.”

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