Page 131 of Tides That Bind

“I’ve got you.” I crouch a little more, pushing Harper to do the same.

She doesn’t object, doesn’t fight me. Our bodies grow closer the lower to the board we go. Even though I’ve now been inside her, I don’t think we’ll ever be as close as we are in this moment as her heart beats through her back and into my chest. We’re together, navigating the break between the dawn of a new day and yesterday’s dark waters.

But with each second, more sun hits the ocean, and the waterI reach out to and skim with my fingertips grows lighter, but never as light as when Harper does the same, her voice heightened with squeals of delight.

I drop my head to her shoulder, wanting to save the rest of the short ride, to hold onto the amazing moment that is walking through the break and finally feeling how good it feels when light shines through the crack.

If Harper wasn’t freezing, I’d stay out in the ocean with her forever.

“Stay here.”

I drop the board onto the sand and run back to The Shack in search of towels. When I return, Harper sits on the board, her eyes cast out on the water so intently she doesn’t look away even when I drape a towel around her shoulders.

I sit behind her on the board, pulling a towel around myself and caging her in my legs.

“Are you awake now?”

Harper turns, smiling. “I never want to sleep again.”

I laugh, pulling her closer to me, sighing at the indescribable fullness that hits me when she leans back into my chest.

“You’ve been holding out on me,” she teases. “That’ssurfing. I’ve been cheated.”

“You’ll get there.” I push her tangled hair to the side before I ditch the towel, the warmth from the sun enough. I lean back and she slides with me, tilting her head up for a kiss. It’s light, unhurried, but Harper’s mouth simply lingers for a minute against mine and now I realize there’s something better than surfing entirely.

It’s the feel of her smiling against me as we share the same breath, knowing I’m the reason for her happiness. That’s a drug stronger than the ocean.

Harper finally pulls back. “Do we have to practice?”

I look out at the water. “It’s kind of choppy. Maybe we take today off.”

“Is that your way of telling me you’re tired?”

I kick sand up onto her feet. “Whose fault is that?”

Like Harper, I never really want to sleep again. I don’t want to miss out on one second of this life that feels like one big, walking daydream.

But our reality has a few things that might pull our heads from the clouds soon.

“Actually, I have to tell you something. We can’t compete.”

Harper looks up at me. “Did they change the rule about amateurs?”

“No. We’ll be in court next Friday.”

Harper gasps.

“We can still do something with Lucas. I’m sorry. I requested an emergency hearing and—”

“We’ll figure it out,” Harper professes, giving me a small smile. “The court date is most important.”

It’s most important because Tides is the most important thing for Lucas. If he has his dog back, everything might be easier, including getting him in the water. But there’s more he’ll have to deal with.

“Maybe we should wait a bit before we tell Lucas. About us.”

As much as I want no barriers, no moments of grey area between the two of us, there’s a kid involved and kids can be…messy.

Harper pushes off me and turns between my legs, and I can’t really read the look on her face when she sits back on her knees.

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