Page 38 of When We Are Falling

Carlos is wearing a shirt with his hardware store’s name across the front and he gives me a playful salute, his dark eyes settling on me. “Hey. Ready to get your hands dirty?”

“Always.” I laugh, accepting the croissant from Tom. “Thanks for the pastry. How’s Alex? Did he finish the book I gave him?”

Alex is Tom’s husband. Tom is the main baker at Sweet Current, while Alex manages the place, interacting with customers with charismatic charm. I adore them both.

“Yeah, he finished it and loved it. He’s trying to get me to read it now.”

“Go on, you’ll love it.”

“If you say so, beautiful.”

Ethan stands a bit apart, but his eyes light up when we lock gazes. He winks at me, his expression growing hungry as he swipes a hand over his soft mouth, still staring at me. I look away first, want coloring my cheeks. Why does he have to be so gorgeous?

“Alright, everyone,” Ethan says, thankfully shifting his gaze, his voice carrying easily over the chatter. “Today we’re using the skimmers. We’ll head out to the worst-hit areas on the boat.”

His lean, athletic build is on display under the snug blue T-shirt that hugs his broad chest, and the cargo shorts that rest comfortably on his hips. The low morning sun hits his angular features, casting shadows that accentuate his strong jawline, while his short, curly black hair is tousled by the warm breeze.

“These are the skimmers.” His tone is cheerful as he gestures to the devices already attached to the boat, then looks around the group of volunteers. “They work by pulling in the oil and water mixture, separating the oil, and allowing the clean water to flow back out.”

The devices are about the size of small canoes with wide, flat panels designed to glide across the water’s surface. Ethan demonstrates how to use one, his movements confident and precise.

The volunteers watch attentively, nodding and murmuring.

“Remember to stay hydrated and take breaks when you need to. Together, we can make a real difference.”

Carlos nudges Ethan. “What’s got you in such a good mood, man?”

Ethan laughs, his gaze briefly landing on me, heat pulsing through my core as our eyes meet. “I’m just glad to see everyone here and ready to help.”

We board theFreedomand Ethan takes a moment to walk over to me as I stow my bag. “Morning, princess. Did you have breakfast?”

“I had some toast and a croissant just now. I was running a little late. Someone kept me up past my bedtime last night.”

He shakes his head, reaching into a cooler. “Here, I made you a protein smoothie. You need something more substantial.”

I take the smoothie, our fingers brushing. “Thanks.”

Our eyes meet again, and for a moment, I’m lost in the intensity of the moment. My eyes shift, staring at his mouth, remembering the way it felt on my body. Suddenly aware of everyone else around us, I drag my gaze away: “We better get to work.”

We head out on the boat, using the skimmers tirelessly until lunchtime. It’s fun at first, being out on theFreedom, but the sun beats down on us, sweat trickling down my back, and it soon becomes hot and tiring.

Despite the hard work, there’s a sense of camaraderie among the team, a shared purpose that keeps us going. Although none of us complain when it’s time to bring the boat back to the dock, the smell of saltwater and oil still clinging to us.

“Good job, everyone,” Ethan says, his voice filled with genuine gratitude as he claps people on the back and stops to answer questions.

I say goodbye to the other volunteers, exchanging hugs and tired smiles. The sun is high now and it’s just Ethan, Bandit, and me left. Bandit runs ahead, sniffing around the wooden planks, as Ethan and I walk slowly behind.

“What are you up to today?” Ethan asks, his gray eyes catching the sunlight and making them look almost silver.

“I’ve got a few things to do before opening the bar later.”

He looks at me with a hint of concern. “Have you heard from David?”

A flash of guilt hits me. I meant to try and call him again this morning but got sidetracked. “No, I haven’t.”

We get to Ethan’s office and before I can react, he leans in and kisses me. His lips are warm and soft, and for a moment, I’m kissing him back just as hard.

Then I remember where we are, and break the kiss, glancing around to see if anyone’s looking, but there’s no one around.. It’s not that I want to keep things a secret, necessarily, but gossip is the lifeblood of Harbor’s Edge, and I’m not even sure myself what we’re doing.

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