Page 101 of Spring Tide

“Might as well have,” he grumbles.

“He really doesn’t care about that. In fact, he hasn’t even brought it up once since that day.”

“Really?” He tenses against my back. “Your dad is definitely not what I expected.”

“What were you expecting?”

“Just, I don’t know, maybe a little bit of protectiveness for his one and only daughter.”

“No, my parents aren’t like that at all. I don’t think they really expect too much of me in the first place.”

He hugs both arms around me. “What do you mean?”

“I love my parents, I really do. And I’m not saying that they’re bad parents or that I really have anything to complain about. They’ve always provided for me and supported my decisions in the end, but they just don’t really take me seriously.”

“How so?”

“They think certain things I do are a waste of time, I guess? Like they think I’m living in some la-la land with my head up in the clouds. And they just don’t understand what I’m doing with school and my internship.”

I move my hands from his thighs, twisting them together in my lap as I ramble. “My mom’s forty-four years old, and she’s already ‘retired,’ living off family inheritance and spousal support. And my dad ... he thinks sports medicine is a ‘low-paying field.’ I don’t know, it’s like they just expect me to marry rich or live off their money forever or something.”

He sighs, pressing a kiss to my crown. “At least it’s nice that you’ll always have a fail-safe, though.”

“Yeah, I suppose. I just wish they didn’t act like I’m somehow destined to fall into their safety net.”

“Well, most of us don’t even have the choice.” His tone is soft and nonaccusatory, but it still serves to fracture my conviction.

“Yeah.” I let my shoulders slump, embarrassment washing over me. With everything Luca has going on right now, I should’ve never even brought this up. “Yeah, you’re totally right. I shouldn’t be complaining.”

“Harper, no.” He swallows, voice thick and heavy with regret. Swiping my hair onto one shoulder, he presses his nose to my neck and murmurs against my skin, “I’m sorry, you have every right to complain. And I’m sorry you don’t feel like your parents support your ambitions. They should be so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.”

His words are like a balm to the uneasy feeling in my stomach. “Theyareproud of me, I think. But I’m just not sure it’s for the right reasons.”

“You knowI’mproud of you, right?” He kisses me again, three soft pecks against my shoulder, my neck, the side of my cheek. “For every reason. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re going to make an incredible sports therapist in a few years.”

“Yeah?”

“How could I not?” I can feel his smile against my skin. “You’ve already saved my ass on more than one occasion.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“You’re welcome.” He releases his hold on me, sliding his palms from my knees up to the top of my thighs. “Now, come on, it’s my turn to make you feel better.”

I close my eyes and tilt my head back, letting the warmth of the water and the rough pads of his fingertips bring me comfort. When he finally slides them inside of me, pressing against all my favorite spots, everything but Luca disappears from my mind.

30

LUCA

My nerves are shot.

I’m meeting Harper and her dad for dinner tonight. He’s chosen some upscale restaurant near the water, one of those places where they don’t bother to list their prices.His treat, Harper reassured me. While I’m not entirely comfortable with the idea of him paying, there’s not a shot in hell I’d be able to afford it myself.

Money’s tight, as always. I managed to scrape up the funds for Bentley, but I’ve been living off bags of rice and dried beans ever since.

I’m also worried about making a good first impression tonight. It takes me quite a bit of time to warm up to people and for them to warm up to me in return. I know we’ve already done our initial introductions, but I was flustered beyond belief then. Now, I have no reasonable excuse for being my usual clueless self.

It doesn’t help that I’ve been on the verge of panic for the last few weeks.

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