Page 107 of When We Are Falling

A couple of hours later, the Tavern is quieter, the hum of the crowd replaced by the soft clink of glasses and the scrape of chairs being pushed back in place. Blake changed into jeans and a green cardigan, and we move around the bar, cleaning the aftermath of the fundraiser. I glance over at her, and she’s still shaking her head, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I can’t believe it,” she says for the third time, stacking a pile of plates. “I never thought we’d raise this much money. We didn’t just hit the goal—we smashed it. Especially with the skydives and Danny’s baseball...”

I pause, leaning against the bar, watching her as she moves. “I told you it would be big, but even I didn’t expect this. People really came through.”

Blake stops what she’s doing and looks at me, her eyes shining with gratitude. “I know this was a team effort, but thank you. You didn’t just help, you made this possible.”

I shake my head. “You did this. You made people believe in the cause. I just followed your lead.”

Once the Tavern is finally back in order, I grab the broom and rest it against the wall, wiping my hands on a towel. “So, you feel like celebrating?”

She raises an eyebrow, giving me that playful look I love. “Celebrating?”

“Yeah. How about a road trip?”

Blake laughs, folding her arms across her chest as she tilts her head at me. “When did you get so spontaneous?”

“Since you reminded me how much fun it can be. Come on, what do you say? Just the two of us.” I’ve got no agenda. I just want to spend more time with her.

She bites her bottom lip, considering it for a moment, and I can tell she’s tempted. “Where exactly would we go, Mr. Spontaneity?”

I lean in a little, lowering my voice. “How about you let me surprise you.”

A slightly wild look enters her gaze, the corners of her mouth lifting. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

“Let me just drop by the house and feed Bandit. Then we can go.”

Soon we’re in my truck, heading toward my place. The drive is quick, and Bandit’s waiting for me at the door, his tail wagging furiously. I give him some food, scratch behind his ears, and tell him I’m sorry that he can’t come. I glance at the vape on the kitchen counter and quickly shove it in a drawer, out of sight, then we’re off again, the night stretching out before us as we head toward the one place that feels right: our Secret Spot.

The closer we get to our spot, the more I feel that quiet pull in my chest—the anticipation of being back there with her. The night sky is clear, stars dotting the darkness like pinpricks of light, and the breeze carries a hint of the ocean as it shiftsthrough the open truck windows. When we finally arrive, I park and glance over at Blake.

She’s already looking at me. “This place,” she says quietly, her voice laced with emotion.

And I know what she means. I feel it too.

Chapter 51

Blake

I takeoff my shoes and Ethan does the same before grabbing a blanket out of the truck. We head for the water without speaking, him beside me, the soft crunch of our footsteps on the sand the only sound between us. The beach is dark, peaceful, the waves gently lapping at the shore.

We reach the edge of the water and Ethan spreads the blanket on the dry sand, where we sit side-by-side. It’s cool beneath my bare feet, the soft whisper of the ocean filling the space around us. I lay back, staring up at the vast night sky, and Ethan settles beside me.

I take in the scene—the cliffs on either side of the beach, the lush green growing right up to the dunes, the simple beauty of this place, the peace that always comes with being here. The feeling that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

My thoughts drift back to the fundraiser. I still can’t believe we smashed my goal, making the dream I’ve long harbored a reality. And none of it would have happened without Ethan. Itwas his suggestion, and he supported me through it all—utterly dependable throughout everything, without asking for anything in return.

And it’s not just the fundraiser. He’s been here for me ever since that night with David, when he held back and deferred to me, recognizing it was a situation I was best placed to handle.

“It’s strange being here,” I say, my gaze catching on the crescent moon. “After everything we’ve been through... it almost feels like coming full circle.”

He doesn’t respond right away, but I can sense his eyes on me. The sound of the waves fills the pause, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in it—the rhythm, the pull, the calm. Being here again makes everything feel different, like the world is good and filled with endless possibilities.

“Maybe we can do that,” Ethan says softly. “When you’re ready. Maybe we can go full circle, start again. I’d wait a thousand sunsets for you, the rise and fall of a million tides.” He pauses, a breath rolling through the broad of his chest. “Time has no hold on what I feel for you. I’d wait forever, and when forever ends, I’d wait some more.”

“That’s so poetic.”

He laughs a little. “Only for you. And I mean it.”

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