Page 152 of Tides That Bind

When I manage to securely sit on Riley’s shoulders and scooch up to stand, I gasp in surprise as if it’s the first time. I’ll never get used what the world can look like when someone lifts you up.

And I know it’s Lucas's first time seeing us really do this. He must be gasping too. I wiggle my fingers in a wave as he, Finn, and Caroline come into clearer view.

Riley squeezes my ankles. “Give it a try, tink.”

I center myself for just a second and I throw myself off Riley’s shoulders and land feet first into a safe spot in the water.

I think about the first day we completed this trick, and how I wanted to stay below the surface the same way I just wanted to stay high above it.

But I have a kid who I know is scanning the water, looking for me to pop out of it.

And when I do the cheers come. It’s not a big crowd. But the loudest noise comes from the one clapping the smallest hands and callingmommywith a voice that comes from the tiniest chest that holds my favorite heart.

Riley is breathing heavily not far in front of me, fighting the tide to wait for me to join so we head to shore together. When I make it to him, his hand snakes around my waist giving me a hug below water.

“I told you. Justtry.”

I don’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around his neck for a second until we’re pushed by a bigger wave closer to the sandy beach. We stumble as we get out.

Lucas hasn’t been close to the ocean in almost a year. But he runs into it to get to me and jumps into my arms.

“You canfly!” He exclaims and I want to memorize the innocence of his voice so I can hear echoes of it forever. “Was it scary?”

“A little,” I answer honestly, still catching my breath. I dip closer. “But do you know what it also was?”

Lucas shakes his head with anticipation.

I press my nose to Lucas's. “Fun.”

He grabs my face. “How did you learn?”

“Riley taught me.”

Lucas's eyebrows arch. “Taught you a backflip move?”

“Definitely not,” Riley says from beside us.

“He taught me how to surf. So I could learn how to properly stand—”

“Pop up,” Riley chimes in.

I smile. “He taught me so I could teachyou.” I lower Lucas down. “What do you think? Do you want to try?”

Lucas peeks around me and out at the water, pressing his lips together in careful thought.

“You can just sit on the board if you want,” I gently offer. I don’t want to push, but on the inside, I’m pleading for Lucas to just get in. “We can sit together.”

He snaps his head back to me. “Sitting isn’t surfing.”

Riley snorts.

“No.” I laugh as well. “It’s not. But if you want to—”

“I want tosurf,” Lucas cuts in, matter-of-factly. “I want to surf like you guys.”

Finn steps forward, placing a hand on Lucas's shoulder. “I’ve got a wet suit that might fit you. Caroline, will you help me find it?”

I watch Caroline’s eyes float between me and Riley before she nods, turning to follow Finn and Lucas up to The Shack.

---