Page 67 of Spring Tide

“Yeah?”

“I like you. For real.” I press onto my tiptoes, find the pulse in his neck, and press the tiniest whisper of a kiss just there. “Was it not obvious?”

He gulps, chuckling, Adam’s apple bobbing as I kiss along the column of his throat. “And I like you.”

I detach my lips from his neck, tilt my face, and smile up at him. “No more hang-ups?”

His body relaxes, head dips. Our lips meet again, grazing at first and then pushing and bruising as he murmurs his response. “None.”

“Good.”

“Harper, can we ... will you come over tonight?” One arm wraps around my shoulders, the other hand still clutching mine. “Once we get back? I’d like to take you on a real date.”

I fall back onto the balls of my feet and tuck my head into his chest. “I thought you’d never ask.”

20

LUCA

I droppedHarper off at her place earlier this afternoon, spent the remaining hours attempting to study, and now I’m scrambling to find something presentable to wear tonight. For our date.

Our first real date.

It still feels like I fell asleep after the game last night and dreamed up this entire scenario. Harper likes me. She asked me to kiss her, practically begged me to, and then we slept cuddled up in bed together. Not once did I have the urge to push her away or take up space solely for myself.

Now, instead, I’ve been thinking about how it felt to be with her all day, during our car ride home, during the short walk up to her apartment, and especially during my numerous attempts at memorizing physics flash cards.

After waking up with her in my arms, I can’t seem to keep my brain straight no matter what I do.

All we did last night was share a kiss—a heated kiss with some minor fondling—but I was too chickenshit to move things forward. Harper was warm and soft and perfect in my hands, pressed against me in all the best places, yet I was paralyzed by my past. She says she understands that I want to take things slow, but I can’t help but feel like I’m always the one she’s making sacrifices for.

She’s been my helper and healer since the beginning. We both used each other, sure, but I was gaining the most out of our arrangement over the past few months. To move forward with our relationship, I want us to start off on the same foot.

I want to be everything for her that she is for me—a best friend, a confidant, a source of motivation. The reason that I feel like smiling when I wake up in the morning now. For the first time in a long time, I have something to look forward to at Coastal other than football.

It feels really fucking good.

“Taylor, does this look okay?” I ask, one hand perched on the doorframe of her bedroom. She’s typing away on her laptop, a stack of engineering textbooks and scattered papers lining her desk. At the sound of my voice, her head darts up.

“Lookin’ good, bro.” She flashes me a toothy grin. “But I thought you were just taking Happy to the beach tonight?”

“Sure, but I want to seem like I put in at least a little effort.” I gaze down at my outfit, a simple button-up rolled at the forearms and a pair of nice shorts. It’s not much, but I tried. “You think this is overkill?”

“Not at all. I’m just used to your old, faded jeans and T-shirt combo.”

“Yeah, well, thanks.”

She draws her attention back to her laptop, scrolling aimlessly through her notes. “Did you get the flowers like I told you to?”

“Yes, Tay,” I say through pursed lips. “I got her some flowers.”

“Good.” She types another few sentences. “I’m staying at Meera’s tonight, by the way. All-night study group.”

“Good to know.”

As I stand in her doorway, a soft knock signals Harper’s arrival. I swipe a bead of moisture from my forehead, rubbing my hands down the side of my thighs. After I back out of Taylor’s room, I grab the small bouquet of peonies from the entryway table. They’re pale and pink and pretty, the perfect fit for Harper.

Plus, according to Taylor, these flowers symbolize happiness and healing.

---