Page 49 of Tides That Bind

What I also mean to say but don’t isand I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear it.

“Is that your way of saying,thank you, Riley?”

I sigh. “Thank you, Riley, for saying something nice to me. And for coming today.”

“I’d do anything for Lucas.”

I swallow over the lump that has formed in my throat because I believe him. “I know.”

Riley walks around the car while I climb into the passenger seat. Pulling the door closed, I get a glimpse of Margot before she walks into school.

That’s when I remember.

“I have a favor.”

Riley starts the engine. “Another? I just entertained twenty second graders for an hour. Look at Tides. He’s exhausted.”

“I wasn’t the one who asked you to do that.”

“You’re right. Your plan was to entertain them withstretching.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s more to yoga thanstretching. You’d know that if you tried it.”

Riley clicks his tongue. “Oh. Right. Breathing too. Hard to remember to do that sometimes.”

Buckling my seatbelt, I turn to face him. “You can try to talk me in circles but I’m still going to ask you for a favor. It’s for meandLucas.”

“Guess I’m saying yes to half of it then,” Riley says, pulling out of the parking space.

“I want you to teach me how to surf.”

The street is clear from cars and yet Riley fully breaks at the exit and turns his head to me.

“I want to teach Lucas,” I continue. “So, I’d like you to teach me the basics. You know, how to get up and everything.”

Riley returns his attention to the street and finally moves forward. “You can ask Finn.”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I tilt my head back and forth. “I know I could. It’s just…Margot said—”

“Does Margot surf?”

I furrow my brow. “I don’t know. Probably not."

“Then why do we care about what Margot says?” Riley reaches into the cupholder, pulling on his wayfarers.

“Because,” I begin, “she’s been meeting with Lucas and—”

“You already told me she’s Lucas's counselor.”

I’m a bit taken aback by his tone. “Well, since she is thecounselor, she’s been trying to give me some advice on how to handle things at home.”

Riley scoffs. “And she suggested surfing?”

“No. She said it would be nice for Lucas and I to do something together that Nate loved. It might help him get over some of the things confusing him. And since Nate loved surfing and always wanted to teach Lucas—”

“Ask Finn,” he snaps.

I look at his injured arm sitting idly in his lap. “I know you still have to wear that. I didn’t mean we start today.” Clearing my throat, I take a deep breath. “I actually just thought it might be nice if you were involved too.”

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