Page 73 of Spring Tide

“That sucks, Harper. I’m sorry.”

He makes one last turn, steering us down the road toward his and Taylor’s home.

“No, don’t be. I was actually happy for them when it happened. I never thought they were a very good couple. Plus, now they’re living their best non-married lives without each other. Dating lots of different people and traveling. It’s great.”

“Wow, I can’t imagine my parents ever doing something like that.” His eyes widen at the thought. “I can’t even picture them leaving our tiny little hometown.”

“Yeah, but it sounds like you have this big, happy family. I love both my parents, but they were never like that. I’m sure it must be pretty fulfilling.”

“They’re definitely happy, so far as I can tell.”

“And your siblings, are they happy?”

“I think so.” He cautiously flips his turn single with his only free hand. “Elio’s pretty much always whining about something and getting into trouble, but that’s expected from a kid his age.”

We pull into the empty driveway, headlights flashing through the front windows of their home. I catch a quick glimpse of Bentley before Luca slowly drops my hand and cuts the engine.

“Do you think I could meet them someday?”

“You’d want to?” He flicks a mirthful glance in my direction. “They’re kind of a lot.”

“Of course I would.”

His shoulders relax, the slightest smile tipping the corners of his mouth. “Then, yeah. I’ll take you home whenever we can make time.”

My heart swells. “Good.”

“So.”

“So ...”

He nods toward his front patio. “Would you want to come inside? Maybe shower off and watch a movie or something?”

“I’d love to.”

* * *

There’sa pile of Luca’s clothing waiting for me on the countertop—a crisp white T-shirt adorned with the Boyer Pier logo and a set of gray sweatpants. He’s down the hall, finishing up his shower, while I peer at myself in Taylor’s bathroom mirror.

I look beyond tired. My eyes are bloodshot from our late-night swim. My face is scrubbed clean, devoid of every last drop of tinted sunscreen. I’m worn-out from the eventful weekend, recovering from some mild emotional whiplash, but so happy at the same time.

As I gaze at my reflection, I take a moment to pinch some warmth back into my cheeks. I swipe the wet, tangled strands of hair from my eyes, pulling them back behind my shoulders.

I don’t think I’ve ever looked so rough on a date before, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“Everything okay in there?” Luca asks, his deep voice carrying through the wooden barrier. “You have what you need?”

“Your clothes are falling off of me, but I’m good.” I attempt to re-cinch the drawstring on his sweats for the third time, shaking my head as they slip from my hips. “You said Taylor’s out for the rest of the night, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I’m just gonna go without the pants, then.”

I wriggle out of his sweatpants, scoop up my damp clothing, and toss the used towel over one shoulder. When I finally pull open the door, Luca’s eyes go wide.

“Hey,” he says evenly, his heady gaze scraping down the length of me.

“Hey.” I glance down to my partially bare legs. It’s not like the sight is obscene or anything, considering his T-shirt drapes at least halfway down my thighs. Besides, I spent the last few hours wearing nothing but a tiny string bikini. “Hope this is okay? I couldn’t get the pants to fit without falling right off.”

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