Page 6 of Tides That Bind

I beckon him back to the kitchen. “I don’t know.” I try to stay calm as I lift the top again. “You tell me.”

I don’t need to say a thing. The pink-frosted penis cake withHappy Bachelorette, Bitch!written across the top in black icing says it all.

Waiting, I search Riley’s face for any kind of reaction, but it remains unbothered, as if he doesn’t think it’s a big deal for Lucas to blow out candles wedged into a frosted scrotum.

“Oh.”

“Oh?” My voice jumps an octave. “Oh? You bring some dick-shaped”—I pause moving to a whisper—"you bring aphalliccake for a kid’s birthday party and all you have to say is ‘oh?’”

“Nate didn’t say—”

“What exactly does he have to tell you, Riley? Please make sure the cake you grab on your way home doesn’t includetesticles?”

“You know something, Harper—”

“Can’t you two keep it together for a kid’s birthday party? For god’s sake, they are going to be playing pin the tail on the donkey.”

Nate now stands in the doorway. He’s changed out of his uniform and I can smell the freshness of his shampoo, but he still has the imprint of the folded up pillow case on his clean-shaven cheek. His blue eyes bounce between me and Riley before they fall to his side when Lucas squeezes in. Tides sticks his head out from between Nate’s legs.

“Dad, pin the tail on the donkey islame.”

Nate lowers a hand to the top of Lucas's head. “My bad. No pin the tail on the donkey. Maybe we should give Mom and Uncle Riley the water guns and let them have at it.”

Lucas's eyes light up at the thought.

“No water guns. It’s cold.”

Riley rolls his eyes obviously, making sure I’d see the gesture from the moon. “It’s almost eighty—”

“It’sNovember, Riley.”

He puts his hands on his hips. “Would it kill you to have ayesday every once in a while?”

“A yes day?” I ask.

“Yeah. It’s when you sayyesinstead ofno, no, noall day long.”

“Lucas.” Nate sighs. “Go outside and help Nana.”

“Is that the cake though? Can I see it?”

I immediately tell Lucas, “No.”

Riley chuckles.

“Lucas. Go.” Nate taps Tides. He follows Lucas but not before lifting his head at the box as he trots by.

“Can you two cool it for one afternoon? What’s the problem now? Riley got a cake.”

I open the box. “Yes, he got a wonderful cake. Perfect for celebrating our sweet, little boy.”

Nate stands over the counter, his face unreadable as he looks at the giant, hot pink penis. He gives me a quick peek over his shoulder before turning to Riley, who lifts the can of beer to his lips, which sprays out everywhere when he bursts into laughter.

And so does Nate.

I ball my fists. “It’s not funny.”

“Oh come on, Harper.”

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