Page 2 of Spring Tide

I soak it all in before padding over to the Surfbreak Grill, the one and only restaurant on Amber Isle. It may be kind of a dive, but it’s located right beside the Boyer Inlet Pier. I suppose convenience, and good-ass burgers, are their only keys to success.

Oh, and I may be biased, but their staff is pretty top-notch.

“Hey, Stell,” I call, scooching my way onto the outdoor patio.

Stella Reilly, my roommate and my best friend, has been a waitress here as long as I’ve been a lifeguard—three whole summers and counting. I’ll never forget that fateful June night when we first met. Stella indulged in a little too much gin after her first double shift and I held her hair back as she retched into the ocean.

It was a tumultuous start to a beautiful friendship.

“Hey, babes, I brought you an outfit from home.” She beams at me, swiping a rag over the six-top between us. “It’s in my bag behind the bar.”

“I have a change of clothes in the beach hut.”

“Yeah, but these arepartyclothes, Harper.” Her lips lift in a teasing grin. “You know, something tight and sexy.”

“It’s a beach bonfire. Cool and comfy seems more up to speed.”

“You’re right. Why don’t you just throw on a new bikini and call it a day?”

I glance down at my uniform, a tight red one-piece and tiny drawstring shorts. “It gets a little cold out there,” I say, an unwelcome shiver dotting up my spine.

“Yeah, that’s when you get some lucky guy or girl to warm you up.” Her eyebrows wiggle. “Speaking of, we really should’ve invited Nate to this.”

“Stella!” I chide.

My gaze darts around the empty patio, scanning for any stragglers who may have overheard. Fortunately, everyone seems to have cleared out for the night. The Surfbreak Grill is closing early, for once, a welcome reprieve as they host their annual End-of-Summer Bash.

“What?” Her brow crinkles. “Is it some big secret now? That’s not the Harper I know.”

“Yeah, but I think this might be an actual crush,” I quietly explain. “Like, the kind where I get to know the real person and not just the one I created in my head.”

She laughs, tucking her dirty rag into the front of her apron. “Oh wow, you mean Nate gets to be areal boy?”

My lips crack with a smile. “Only if he proves himself to be brave, truthful, and unselfish.”

“Alright, Blue Fairy. Let’s—”

A loud boom cuts her short, the unexpected sound ricocheting off the pier. The two of us turn our heads, gazes snapping to the source. Ah, there’s Luca Reynolds, tossing hundred-pound crates around like they’re nothing.

Luca’s a fellow Coastal U student and well-renowned football player. He’s also worked at Amber Isle for years now, but our paths have barely intersected. On weekend nights, when we all stick around to celebrate, Luca slips silently into the night.

He never stays back, never lingers. It’s like the idea doesn’t even cross his mind.

“Stell, do you think Reynolds was invited tonight?”

She snorts, gathering trash from the bin. “He’d have to talk to someone to be invited.”

“Okay,” I say, cautiously stepping over the patio divider. “I’m gonna see if he wants to come, then.”

She gives me a wide-eyed glance, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Good luck.”

My feet quickly carry me across the worn and weathered slats of the pier. There’s a gentle pep in my step as I approach Luca, a tiny buzz of excitement bubbling in my stomach.

“Hey, Reynolds!”

His head tilts in response, a barely perceptible nod. I pause for a beat, unsure of what I’m waiting for.

“The staff at Surfbreak are hosting a bonfire tonight,” I continue, breaking through the stilted silence. “Us lifeguards will be there, too. Would you like to join?”

---