Page 13 of Tides That Bind

Nate snorts. “You might be the only surfer I know who took the Bar just because.”

“What can I say? I like being an anomaly.”

“Caroline must be excited.”

I shrug. “What’s it matter anyway? I’d sooner die than ever get into corporate law. I already spend enough time with sharks.”

“There’s more to law thancorporatelaw. You might find you can do something meaningful and still make a good living.”

“I do make a good living,” I remind him. “I just choose to spend my money differently than others.”

Nate presses his lips together and looks over at me. This is the silent way of calling me out on my own shit.

I shrug one shoulder. “Okay, maybe not rent. I did give you some checks, though.”

“Yeah, well, after the first one bounced, I never bothered trying to cash the rest.” He sighs. “And for the record, I don’t really care if you live above our garage until the end of time—“

“ButHarperdoes.”

Nate stops at a light and turns on his signal while we wait. The rain pounds the damn car with a damn vengeance. It reminds me of the way Harper knocks.

“It’s not that she cares. It’s that…” Nate shakes his head.

I raise an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

Slowly Nate drives forward when the light changes. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Yeah,” I agree before joking, “only if you’re moving.”

I don’t expect Nate to stay silent, but he does. So much for joking around.

“Well.” I lift my wrist to look at my invisible watch. “I guess we’re due for this conversation.”

Once a year, Harper starts dropping hints about a possible move back to the East Coast. Itneveramounts to anything, but it always puts me on edge, like she’s forcing Nate to entertain the thought and he kind of does. But I guess that’s what happens when you get married. And even though I know Nate, Lucas, and Harper won’t be changing time zones anytime soon, I like the thought as much as the whitewash of rain disrupting my views. Both things make me uneasy.

“North Carolina is just something we’re thinking about. We both lived there. It’s a nice place to raise a family. Andifwe do,” Nate says, “you’re more than welcome to come with.”

The one thing more ridiculous than Nate leaving California willingly forever is Harper being okay with me tagging along. “Let me know if your wife agrees with that.”

“I wish the two of you would just get over your shit.”

“What shit? I don’t have a problem with Harper. She has the problem with me. Many of them, actually.” I pause. “I’m sure she has a list and they’re alphabetized and color coordinated with tabs and sticky notes.”

Nate shakes his head.

“I’d hate her if she made you move to North Carolina though.”

“She isn’t making me do anything.”

“Uh-huh. You wear the pants well, Nate. I forgot.”

When the light changes, Nate grips the steering wheel tightly as he merges onto the ramp for the bridge. “Don’t be an asshole, Riley.”

“I’m just saying,” I hold my hands out as if I’m making peace. “What’s with the North Carolina stuff?”

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