Spring Tide (Coastal University Book 1)

It’s been ages since I’ve slipped into something this fancy. In fact, I can’t recall the last time I wore this tight satin dress or these little black heels. I even curled my hair and spent more than ten minutes on my makeup. Sure, it’s only some extra lipstick and eyeliner, but I swear I feel like a whole new woman.

I may be anxious as hell for this fake date—for another evening filled with lies—but at least I’ll look good while we’re at it.

“Are you okay?” I ask Luca, taking note of his stiff posture. His grip on the steering wheel is tight, knuckles blanching a stark white as we pull into the lot behind the restaurant.

“I’m fine,” he says, as expected.

“Are you sure?” I try again, attempting to break through his aloof outer shell. I know he’s not fine because he’s been jittery and distant the entire half-hour drive. “Because I’m feeling pretty nervous myself.”

He cuts the engine and shoves the keys into the pocket of his black trousers.

“Why?” he asks without turning to face me.

“I’m about to meet someone important to you, plus I have to lie straight to their face.”

“Harper, if you don’t want to do this . . . I can take you home right now.” His fingers clench against the sides of his thighs, eyes squeezing shut as he pastes on a phony half-smile. “I’ll just tell them you weren’t feeling well.”

“No, no, it’s not that,” I reassure him, reaching for my door handle. “I just . . . you know I’m not the best liar.”

“Just be yourself. That’s all I need from you tonight.”

His words instantly relieve some of the tension bubbling in my gut. Be myself? I guess I can manage that.

“Okay.”

He pushes his door open, walking stiffly around to the passenger side. When he pulls open my door next, I swing my legs out and keep my knees clenched together, hoping to God I don’t flash him in the process.

“If they ask us for any details, just leave it to me.” He stands beside me, brushing out the wrinkles in his button-up shirt.

“I can do that.”

He finally spares me more than just a quick glance, eyes subtly shifting over my outfit. His gaze doesn’t linger too long, but I think I notice at least a single spark of appreciation. “Okay, you ready, then?”

My fingers tap against the sides of my thighs, that nervous energy returning in full force. “Maybe we should do that hand-holding thing we talked about?”

He pauses for a beat, taking a step or two closer until we’re standing side by side. Without another word, his hand slides into mine, strong fingers interweaving through my slender ones.

I smile up at him, an immediate sense of comfort warming me from the inside out. “Okay, now I’m ready.”

As we enter the restaurant, hand in hand, I spot a young couple seated in a booth directly across from the entrance. I assume they must be who we’re meeting since Luca’s gaze inconspicuously narrows in that direction. His grip on my hand tightens, his left thumb pressing sharply against my trapezium bone. I can almost hear the first joint pop before I’m wincing in pain.

“Ouch,” I whisper-shout, wiggling my arm in some sort of distress signal.

His vise grip loosens, but he keeps ahold of my hand. “Sorry.”

His fingers flex twice before he gently rubs his thumb against the outside of mine. It’s a silent form of apology that seems to soothe the sudden jolt of pain.

After a few quick words with the hostess, we maneuver toward the back booth together. The two lovebirds are seated on the same side, heads ducked as they whisper and laugh and sneak in a kiss or two. It’s sweet, really. Luca’s best friend and his girlfriend seem like they’re so in love, at least from a distance.

Once we reach the table, both of their heads abruptly shoot up. It’s as if they were lost in their own little world and we’ve somehow interrupted. When our eyes connect, there’s an awkward hint of tension that fills the room.

They’ve been staring at us for a beat too long, wide-eyed and silent, as I attempt a casual smile. Luca’s friend shakes his head, a grin of his own finally taking hold. He hastily scoots away from his girlfriend, sliding out of the booth to wrap both arms around us.

The hug is short-lived, but he squeezes us tightly, patting both of our shoulders before he steps back. I’ve never seen a man so excited to meet his friend’s newest fling.

“Danny, Sofia.” Luca tosses a quick nod in her direction. “This is my Harper.”

“It’s nice to meet you both,” I offer, finally dropping Luca’s hand.

Danny reclaims his seat, and we join them in the booth. Now that Sofia’s sitting directly across from me, it’s nearly impossible to ignore her beauty. She has striking features—a perfectly angular nose, light brown skin that seems to glow, and long, dark hair that sits in waves across her shoulders.

There are a few more friendly introductions before our server appears. Luca and I both order different iterations of some fancy burger, while Sofia and Danny opt to share a pasta dish. Apparently, it’s some cutesy tradition they co-opted during their summer abroad together.

I think it’s sweet, mostly because it reminds me of Lady and the Tramp.

“Luca mentioned that you’ve been friends since pre-K,” I say, directing my attention toward Danny. “I think that’s really cool.”

“That’s right.” Danny chuckles, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “And now he’s stuck with me for the rest of his life.”

I shift my attention toward Sofia, nodding between her and her boyfriend. “And how did the two of you meet?”

“Actually, the three of us have all been friends since middle school,” Sofia chimes in, a sudden quirk to her brow. She looks confused, unsettled as she bites down on her full bottom lip.

“Oh, wow,” I murmur, impressed. “So are you high school sweethearts, then, or did that part come later?”

“No, we, uh . . . we didn’t get together until sophomore year of college.”

“I think that’s so sweet,” I reassure her with a soft smile. “Your relationship’s built on the foundation of a strong friendship.”

“Yeah.” Danny coughs into his fist, quickly gulping down a drink of water.

Luca awkwardly clears his throat beside me. All three of them seem stiff now, somehow uncomfortable with the current topic, so I opt to change course.

“So, um, you two go to Dayton?” I ask, shifting in my seat until my thigh makes contact with Luca’s. It grounds me a little bit to know that we’re physically connected. “How’s that?”

“We love it,” Danny says, instantly perking up. “I wish Luc was able to join us there, but it seems like he’s pretty happy at Coastal these days. Especially since he met you.”

“Oh, you were supposed to go to Dayton?” I nudge Luca with my elbow, tilting my head to gauge his expression. “You never mentioned that.”

“Oh, yeah.” He shrugs, a distinct lack of emotion on his face. “I was planning on it a long time ago.”

“But you changed your mind?”

“They actually gave away his scholarship,” Danny cuts in after a stilted pause. “It was pretty fucked-up when it all went down. I mean, he was only, like, one day late on putting down his deposit. Right, Luc?”

“Right,” Luca confirms, jaw tight.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Oh man, that really sucks,” I say, attempting to provide him some comfort with my words. My hand itches to rest on his knee, to press a soft squeeze against his thigh, but I fold my hands together in my lap instead. Just because physical touch gives me reassurance, it doesn’t mean it’s the same for Luca. “I guess, selfishly, I’m happy you ended up at Coastal.”

“It worked out the best for everyone, didn’t it?” He mutters the question to no one, but his gaze seems to be pinpointed on Sofia. I glance from Luca’s stony expression to Sofia’s soft blush to Danny’s obvious embarrassment.

There’s clearly some unspoken tension between these three. Honestly, I’m starting to regret my decision to join Luca tonight. I canceled on Nate because I wanted to help my friend. But now, I’m the odd one out, wading through a decade of unresolved issues that don’t belong to me.

“Excuse me,” I murmur, sliding out of the booth. “I’m just gonna go freshen up.”

As I make my way toward the back of the restaurant, my heels click loudly against the linoleum. My body is jittering, hands shaking as I turn the lock on the restroom door.

I lean against the back wall, the cool tile pressing into my neck and shoulders. It’s alerting at first, but then it works as I intended. All my attention is suddenly refocused on the sensation. It’s uncomfortable, but it rewires my chaotic thoughts.

I can finally stop fretting over all the ways I’ve blundered tonight. It’s not even my fault, considering I have no clue what’s got them all in a funk. If I said the wrong thing, then that’s on Luca.

He should’ve warned me.

Once I’m calm, I slowly push myself away from the wall. Sighing, I turn the faucet to its warmest setting, scrubbing my hands and forearms under the steaming water.

When I finally finish up, Luca’s waiting for me in the hallway, his back pressed against the adjacent wall.

“You okay?” he asks, gaze locked onto the heated, pink blotches that decorate my arms.

“I should be asking you that question, don’t you think?”

He schools his expression. “I’m fine.”

“Really?” I cross both arms over my chest, brows raised in disbelief. “Because I feel like there’s some big, unspoken secret that I’m not a part of. Why is everyone so tense tonight?”

He releases a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Probably because Sofia’s my ex.”

“What?”

“We dated first, before she and Danny got together,” he quietly explains, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “Two years in high school, then we broke up during our first year of college. We tried the long-distance thing, and it didn’t work.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I toss my hands up, frantically glancing toward our booth. “I just sat out there and asked them all those embarrassing questions.”

“You’re right, I should’ve told you.”

“Luca . . .”

He winces, a clear apology in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“How did those two even end up together?”

His gaze shifts from my face to a spot on the wall behind me. “We should probably get back to the table.”

“So you’re just not gonna tell me?”

“Not tonight,” he urges, stepping a fraction of an inch closer. “Not here. I promise to tell you some other time, okay?”

“Did you ask me to come here because you wanted to make your ex jealous?”

His eyes meet mine. “No.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“It’s not about jealousy.” His lips purse together as he wrestles with the truth. “I guess, I just, I wanted them to know that I’ve moved on. That I don’t care that they’re together anymore so Danny can stop treating me like I’m some sort of wounded animal in a cage.”

“Yeah?”

He gives me one sheepish nod, his posture finally relaxing as if he’s been holding back these feelings all night. I suppose I could hold a grudge, but I know this wasn’t intentional.

I didn’t ask, so he didn’t tell.

In Luca’s mind, it’s as simple as that. Plus, I think he’s a little embarrassed by the truth. No matter what happened between them in the past, his best friend is now dating his high school sweetheart. That shit has to hurt.

“Then we’ll have to do a better job of proving it,” I say earnestly.

It’s true. I want to help Luca because that’s what I’m here for. If we have to amp up the lovey-dovey stuff, then that’s what we’ll do.

“You’re not upset?”

“I wish you’d been honest with me from the start, but I’m here for you. And I think we can do better than this.” I link our hands together in a silent form of solidarity. “You do have to let me touch you, though.”

He chuckles, gently squeezing my hand. “Whatever you need.”

“And you also have to stop acting like you’re constipated.”

There’s a shocked snort of laughter, followed by a contented half-smile. “I might be able to do that.”

I tug him behind me as we weave through the restaurant. Once we slide back into our seats, I release my grip on his hand, shooting an apologetic smile across the booth. “Sorry we took so long. He just won’t keep his hands off me.”

Danny’s uneasy smile melts into an ear-splitting grin. “Oh, that doesn’t sound like the Luc we know.”

“Hm, he’s always been like this with me.” I lean against his side, pressing a gentle squeeze to his upper arm. “Right, baby?”

“Uh-huh,” he murmurs, visibly flustered. “Harper just, uh, she brings out a different side of me, I guess.”

“That’s so sweet,” Sofia chimes in. “Your parents must really love her, huh?”

“Oh, they don’t, uh—we haven’t—”

“You have met Gia and Greg, right?” Sofia asks, one perfect brow quirked in my direction. “They’re the absolute best.”

“She hasn’t met the whole family yet, actually,” Luca cuts in, patting the back of my hand. “Just, er, we’ve just had dinner with Taylor so far.”

“Oh my gosh.” Sofia’s eyes light up, her tone filled with excitement. “So you haven’t met the twins or Elio yet, either? They’re all just so funny. And little Giorgie—she’s gotta be, what, at least seven years old by now?”

“She is,” Luca confirms.

“Aw, and does she still call you Lucky?”

“Yes.”

“I miss her so much. So does Danny. He talks about your family all the time.” Sofia nudges her boyfriend. “Right, babe?”

“Yeah.” Danny nods his agreement. “We both miss them.”

“Right,” Luca murmurs. I can sense another oncoming flash of irritation. This time, I don’t hesitate to curve my palm around his thigh, urging him to mask his temper. “Well, my family can’t wait to meet Harper. I talk about her all the time.”

The couple is quiet, seemingly stunned by his response.

“You two seem like a great match,” Danny says, finally managing to find the right words. He’s being sincere, but it comes out as slightly condescending. “We’re so happy for you, Luc.”

Our attempts at chitchat finally die out, replaced by the sounds of quiet chewing as we enjoy our meals. I take every opportunity to touch Luca during this time—to act like a truly domesticated couple—just to rub it in their faces.

I swipe the corner of his lip with a napkin. I hold his hand on top of the table. I lean against his shoulder and take a bite off his plate. And to top it all off, I take a long sip from his fresh beer, stealing the thin layer of foam. We both ordered the same type of ale anyway—something smooth, sweet, and fruity.

I usually wouldn’t be so over-the-top, but the circumstances have propelled me into action. It’s too difficult to give these two the benefit of the doubt. Not after what they’ve done to Luca. Not after how they’ve made him feel.

By the time we finish up our dinner, it’s nearly nine o’clock. The four of us shuffle out of the restaurant together, lingering under the awning as we say our goodbyes.

Sofia pulls Luca aside, right out of earshot, as she wraps her arms around him. She leans onto her tiptoes and whispers something into his ear. It may be painstakingly difficult, but I manage to tear my prying eyes away to focus on her boyfriend beside me.

“I’m so glad we all got to do this tonight,” Danny says, pulling me into a friendly side-hug.

“Me too.”

“I hope we can come back and visit sometime soon,” he says eagerly, balancing on the back of his heels. “Maybe you could help convince Luc to let us visit the fam?”

I raise one brow. “If he wants to do that.”

“Right, yeah, of course.” Danny nods his head emphatically, as if I simply misunderstood his meaning. “He seems really happy, you know?”

“We both are.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

It’s not long before the ex-couple rejoins us. Danny gives his friend the ultimate bro-hug, and Sofia wraps me up in her slender arms. They’re very touchy-feely people, these two, at least in comparison to Luca. It’s usually my MO, but something about all this hugging tonight is making me cringe.

While I’m lost in my own head, Sofia takes that as her cue to whisper some nonsense into my ear. “Treat him right,” she says, and I almost spit up my entire dinner on her designer dress.

As we break apart, Danny and Sofia head across the street while Luca and I wander toward the back of the building. I’m not sure why, or who initiated it this time, but we’re holding hands as we walk through the parking lot.

“Well, that was really something,” I murmur, cutting the silence.

“Thank you for that,” Luca says, squeezing my hand as we stand in front of his car. “For tonight. For everything.”

I squeeze back. “What are friends for?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, um, did you know that it’s only nine o’clock?” I prompt, unsure of where I’m headed with this. Maybe I could ask him to come over tonight, to watch a movie or something, or maybe we could even get a drink downtown.

Just as friends, to debrief this wild night.

Before I can offer up a useful suggestion, he drops my hand and takes a step back. “Right, I forgot you had plans with Nate. Did you want me to drop you off at the bar or something?”

“Oh,” I sputter, confused.

I honestly had forgotten about my second pseudo-date with Nate. Plus, I already canceled on him at the last minute, so I’m not even sure the offer still stands.

But maybe I should try and honor my original plans? At least, Luca seems to think I should.

“Yeah, um, okay,” I murmur, moving toward the passenger door. “Thank you.”

“What are friends for?”