Page 29 of When We Are Falling

“Aged out?”

“He turned eighteen—legally an adult.” A heavy stone settles on my chest, the same stone that always settles there when I think about the fate I narrowly escaped. “Tens of thousands ofkids age out of foster care every year, and they’re often left with no place to live, no permanent family, no support.”

I pause, searching Ethan’s face, but there’s only quiet attention. “Anyway, he stayed with her for another five years or so after I left. And he was hurt by her in that time.”

The words taste bitter in my mouth, and there’s an intense need for retribution tightening the knot in my stomach. I want so badly to find a way to help David and punish Sylvia for what she did to him. I just don’t know how.

“So why is he here now?”

“He wants me to present evidence against her, but... I don’t remember ever being hurt by her. At least, not in the way he’s talking about.”

Ethan’s eyes darken with understanding. “And now he’s back, wanting you to remember something you can’t.”

“Yeah.” A lump forms in my throat. “He’s struggled with homelessness and addiction in the past, and I think he could be using again.”

Ethan moves closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You don’t have to deal with this alone. We’ll figure it out together.”

I shake my head, pulling away slightly. David is never going to trust Ethan, especially not when he’s like this, paranoid and angry with the world. Besides, I do need to deal with this alone. Leaning on others is never a good idea. “No. I have to handle this myself.”

“I’m here for you,” he insists. “We’ve been friends for a long time.”

Sitting up suddenly, a new worry races through my mind. “You have to swear to me. You have to keep the fact David was here, and what he wants, a secret. It can’t get back to my moms.”

He looks taken aback, his brow furrowing. “Your moms would want to help you.”

“No,” I say firmly. “They’ve got enough on their plates. I can’t add to their stress. Please? Promise me.”

I can’t burden Mom or Mama Charlotte with this. Mom especially doesn’t need my problems added to her own—she needs to know that I’m handling things, that everything is okay.

I straighten up, meeting Ethan’s gaze with as much resolve as I can muster. “Promise me. This is important to me.”

He hesitates, clearly torn. “Alright. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Part of me wants to believe him when he says I don’t need to deal with this situation alone, but the fear of pushing Mom away, of being too much for her to handle, is too strong. So the walls around my heart stay firmly in place. It’s better this way, safer.

Ethan’s brow is still furrowed, and he keeps glancing at the door David just walked out of. “If you’re not going to tell your parents, you should at least consider going to the police. Just in case things get out of control. David seems like a pretty unstable guy. It might be a good thing if the sheriff is keeping an eye out for him.”

I shake my head. “He’s harmless. He’s just hurting right now. But he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me or anyone else.”

Ethan’s eyes search mine, trying to gauge the truth of my words. “I get why you don’t want everyone involved in your business,” he says finally, his voice softer. “I hate people knowing my business, too. I prefer to handle things myself.”

Some of the tension releases in my shoulders. “Exactly. It’s just easier that way. I don’t need Mom worrying about me. And I definitely don’t need the whole town talking about it.”

He leans back against the bar. “Yeah, I get that. But just because you can handle things on your own doesn’t mean you have to. I’m here for you, okay?”

His words hang in the air between us, lingering. “I appreciate that. Really, I do. But David’s my responsibility. I’ll figure it out.”

He doesn’t push further, just gives me a long, measured look. “Alright. But promise me you’ll be careful. If things start to get out of hand, you’ll let me know. I can help.”

I smile, the first real one I’ve managed since we got to the bar. “I promise. And thanks. For everything.”

Ethan’s expression shifts, and he reaches out, his gentle fingers brushing my cheek, feather-soft. “Anytime. I’m here for you. Just remember that.”

And long after he drives me home, after I climb into bed alone, that touch lingers.

Chapter 14

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