Page 169 of Tides That Bind

“The day is finally here,” Harper reminds me. “After all the times our court date got moved back.”

I bite down on the inside of my cheek because our court appointment didn’t technically get moved. I kept rescheduling it over the past few months, but not because I wasn’t ready. As far as I’m concerned, this is a legal technicality and something I don’t need. But Harper and Lucas do. I postponed our appointment for what I consider a good reason. Harper just doesn’t know it yet.

“There.” She presses her hands against my chest, smoothing out the fabric of my shirt and I instantly relax. “You look wonderful.”

“Like the part of a stand up stepfather asking to get legal authority over a minor?” I ask.

Harper smiles. “You look like Riley.MyRiley. My husband, and Lucas's bonus dad.”

I grab my suit jacket and throw an arm over Harper’s shoulder and we walk downstairs and even with the nerves, I’ve got the biggest god damn smile on my face thinking about being thebonus.I don’t think I’ve ever been called such a nice thing in my life.

A bark sounds from the backyard, and Harper quickly goes to the window above the sink, sliding it open. “Lucas!” She calls out, taking the vase of this week’s tulips in her hands to change the water. “We’re leaving in two minutes! Can you try not to get your clothes dirty?”

Another bark from Tides tells me that’s probably unlikely.

I grab my keys and bypass the coffee machine with its full carafe and decide against it.

“You don’t want a cup?” Harper finishes her coffee, putting the mug in the sink.

I shake my head. “My adrenaline doesn’t need much of a kick,” I half lie before completing it. “Plus you made it. Total sludge.”

Harper looks at her mug and puts it down.

“Let’s go,” I tell her, heading to the mudroom where I grab Tides’s leash and harness from the hook.

“You’re bringing him?”

I pretty much bring Tides everywhere I go.

“It’s afamilyday.”

“It’scourt,” Harper counters.

“Yeah, well, he’s a retired public official,” I quip.

Harper sighs, picking up her bag. “It’s not worth arguing with you, is it?”

“I told you. When we got married, you shouldn’t have saidIdo. You should’ve saidI accept the terms and conditions.”

“Oh, come here.” Harper closes the Jeep door and pulls Lucas to her side, trying to smooth down a cowlick from his hair. She sighs the way she does with every other failed attempt and instead resorts to straightening the collar of his shirt.

Unlike his last time in court, there’s no suit for Lucas today, just a pale blue shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. And it’s fitting in a way, that today, he doesn’t have to grow up more than he already has. Because even though he’s older than the first time he met Judge Pearson, this time, he’s the kid—mykid.

I clip Tides’s harness and lead him out of the backseat before we walk across the parking lot. “You’re sure this is what you want?” I ask Lucas for what feels like the hundredth time.

“Positive,” Lucas says. “Doubly positive.”

“A double positive technically is a negative.”

“Riley,” Harper warns.

I drape an arm around Lucas who walks between me and Harper.

“Is it going to take long?” Lucas asks.

“Probably not.” We reach the entrance and I hand Lucas the leash. “Hold him.”

Lucas looks at Tides. “What if he’s not allowed?”

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