Page 10 of When We Are Falling

“Everything’s fine, really. Just a busy night.”

“Okay,” she says, but I can still hear the doubt in her tone. “Just make sure you get some rest. I’m going to bed now, but we’ll have breakfast together tomorrow.”

“I will. Goodnight. Love you.” I end the call before she can ask more questions.

Taking a sip of water before grabbing both glasses and returning to the bar, the weight of the evening presses down on me. I’m worried about David and need to figure out a way to help him, but I don’t want Mom finding out about him. She’s already dealing with enough since Mama Charlotte left, and the last thing she needs is more stress.

And it’s not just David. I need to keep the Tavern turning over a profit, even with the oil spill driving tourists away during our busiest months.

Just the thought of adding to Mom’s worries makes my chest tighten. The last thing I’ll ever be is a burden—she needs to know everything is under control, that I’ve got this.

Chapter 5

Ethan

Two days after the spill,a meeting is called at the town hall. The room is packed. Mayor Roberts, a former schoolteacher, stands at the front, her round figure and curly auburn hair familiar to everyone in Harbor’s Edge. Despite the angry mutterings and tense atmosphere, she exudes the same calm, pragmatic leadership I’ve always respected.

Patrick is there in his capacity as fire chief, standing beside Sheriff Kyle Donovan. The sheriff, an older man with a silver mustache, grew up in Harbor’s Edge and knows its people well. The Valiant Hearts boys are scattered throughout the room, and Liam meets my gaze.

As I scan the room, my eyes lock with Blake’s across the crowded space. For a moment, everything else fades, the noise and tension replaced by onlyher, and it’s hard to drag my gaze away.

Mayor Roberts clears her throat, bringing everyone’s attention to the front. “Thank you all for coming. We’re here toaddress the recent oil spill and coordinate our response efforts. This is a serious situation, but I have no doubt that Harbor’s Edge can come together to overcome it.”

The room buzzes with murmurs of agreement as well as mutters of frustration. Business owners, environmentalists, and concerned locals all have their own stakes in this crisis, and the atmosphere is charged.

Me? I’m crossing my arms over my chest and hoping this is going to be quick. This whole situation is a mess, and the company responsible for the spill has disrupted our lives and businesses,andput our environment at risk. But we need to focus on the cleanup, not get bogged down in endless discussions and bureaucratic red tape. Bandit stirs at my feet, probably picking up on my irritation, but he settles just as quickly, head on his paws, a light snore wafting up at me in the next second.

Mayor Roberts continues: “The US Coast Guard is currently working on containment, but we need all hands on deck for the cleanup efforts. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will be supporting us, but volunteers are crucial, and they’ll be working under Patrick and the Valiant Hearts. This spill is extensive and has already started affecting our beaches and wildlife. We need to mobilize immediately.”

A man in the back stands up, his face red with anger. “What about the people responsible for this? Are they going to pay for what they’ve done?”

The mayor nods sympathetically, her auburn curls bouncing. “I understand your anger, believe me. The company responsible will be held accountable, and legal action is already in motion. But right now, our focus has to be on mitigating the damage and protecting our community.”

Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd, though the underlying frustration is clear.

“What are the planned cleanup efforts?” asks May Chen, who runs a second-hand bookshop on Main Street.

Mayor Roberts sighs, a hint of weariness in her eyes. “We’re coordinating with several federal and state agencies to handle the cleanup. Unfortunately, there are no quick solutions. The oil has spread more rapidly than we initially thought, and it will take time to restore our beaches and waterways to their former state. We need to prepare for a long month or so.”

Patrick adds his voice to the mayor’s. “The fire department will be working closely with local authorities, but as the mayor mentioned, I’d also like to put out a call for volunteers to work alongside the Valiant Hearts. This is a crisis, but it’s one we can face together. Our community is strong, and we will get through this.”

Sheriff Donovan stands beside Patrick, his silver mustache twitching as he speaks. “This is a tough situation, but we’ve faced tough times before. We’re a resilient town.”

Mayor Roberts glances at the sheriff, lips pursed as she gives a nod, too. “I know this is hard to hear, but our beaches and businesses will recover. We will hold those responsible, accountable, and we will restore our home. But it will take all of us working together.”

The floor opens up for questions and comments. People voice their concerns and anger, and my impatience grows as they start to repeat the same points. This is important, but every minute spent talking is a minute not spent cleaning up the spill.

Finally, the meeting comes to an end, and I make my way to the front with the rest of the Valiant Hearts boys. Antonio and Jake are already busy taking names on the volunteer sign-up sheet. I stand beside Patrick, listening intently as he doles out various responsibilities to get the volunteer relief effort off the ground.

He stops mid sentence as Blake walks up to us, her presence commanding all of our collective attention despite the room full of people and the massive to-do list.

“Hey guys, I just wanted to offer up the Tidal Tavern tonight as a meeting place for the volunteers. I’m happy to put a percentage of all sales toward the cleanup effort.”

A grateful smile spreads across Patrick’s face. “Thanks. That’s generous of you. We appreciate it.”

“I’ll see you all tonight, then.” And I swear her gaze lingers on me just a moment longer than the others. It’s enough to send a jolt through me.

As she turns to leave, my eyes are on her. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. There’s something about Blake that is so fucking magnetic. It pulls me in, a wildness that matches the fire in her eyes.

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