Page 139 of Tides That Bind

“What are you working on?”

Riley types so quickly I don’t have a second to read anything on the screen even though he’s using a larger font.

He saves the document, closing it and turning around. “A big thing,” he says. “A surprise.”

I raise an eyebrow in question.

“Not for tonight’s date, don’t worry.”

I frown.

“What’s wrong?” Riley asks, tilting his head at me. “Oh. You’re standing me up.”

“Not because I want to,” I quickly respond. “I’m sorry. Lucas is coming home early.” I flinch when I break the news to him.

“Why are you sorry?”

“I…we can’t go out now.”

Riley opens his mouth to respond but pulls his lip between his teeth when his phone sitting on the table rings, Caroline’s name running across the screen. “I need to take this.”

He’s quick to rise, heading through the kitchen and out to the backyard, leaving me looking back and forth between the chair he just sat in and the direction he ran off to.

I sigh, and since I don’t have the stress of worrying about what I’m going to wear tonight, I busy myself instead with the copious amounts of laundry and ironing I’m behind on for the next hour until I hear the sweetest giggle coming from the front of the house.

At first, I imagined Lucas might trudge right in and barely acknowledge me. After all, it’s only been a few days.

But the way he so tightly squeezes me makes me realize that even a few days can be far too long.

“I missed you.” I try not to cry, even though the flood of relief flowing through me threatens to pour out of my eyes.

Lucas leans back, but still keeps his arms around my waist. “Did I get bigger?”

“So much bigger.” I run my hand over his light brown hair.

I gently peel back Lucas's arms only so I can help Claire who carries his bag up the path. “Turns out we didn’t need the second first aid kit. Or third,” she jokes.

“You never know with this one.” I take the bag. “Come in, sit down for a bit. Do you want something to drink?”

“Oh, I should get home.”

Lucas looks around. “Where’s Riley?”

Where’s Riley?

My eyes fall to him and it’s this question at this moment—the moment Lucas comes home after a few days away—that lets me know we’re going to be alright.

Forget Silas.

Forget anyone who might look at Riley and me—at us with Lucas—and dare to think there could be something even remotely wrong with it.

But there’s one person who deserves to know before anyone else does.

“He’s outback,” I say, but then shout when Lucas sprints through the house, “but he might still be on the phone!”

Claire chuckles. “To think I thought he was tired.”

“It’s only a sure thing when he’s snoring,” I tell her with a small smile before I set the bag down. “Thank you, for taking him. I know he was looking forward to this.”

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