Page 50 of When We Are Falling

I giggle, rolling my eyes. “Oh, now I see. Blackmail and extortion. Very romantic.”

“Hey, whatever it takes.” His expression grows serious for a moment. “I just want to make you happy.”

My heart flutters again, and I reach across the table, taking his hand. “You’re doing a pretty good job so far, Mr. Boss Man.”

The evening unfolds like a dream. The food is exquisite, and I savor each bite of my coq au vin, the rich flavors bursting in my mouth. Across the table, Ethan watches me with a satisfied look, while the restaurant is warm and intimate, the gentle hum of conversations and the clinking of silverware in the background.

Just as I take another bite, a familiar, slightly grating voice reaches me. “Well, if it isn’t Blake and Ethan! Isn’t this a surprise?”

Dot McLellan, the town’s notorious gossip, has stopped by our table with a knowing smile. Her gray-streaked blond hair is pulled back into a tight bun, accentuated by dangly, colorful earrings that swing with every nod, and her big, busty chest is draped in one of her trademark bold, floral prints, matching the sweet scent of her perfume that has a tendency to linger long after she’s gone.

“Hi,” I reply, forcing a polite smile. “We’re just enjoying a nice dinner.”

Dot’s gaze flicks between Ethan and me. “Two of our most eligible young people, drawn together through true love and circumstances I’d love to know more about. I’m sure the whole town will be talking about this tomorrow! How did this get started?” She moves her finger back and forth between Ethan and me, just in case we didn’t know what she was talking about.

A twinge of anxiety hits me at Dot’s words. I’m not used to being the center of gossip, and I know she’ll be on the phone to her friends the minute she gets back to her table, reporting anything we say. The knot in my stomach tightens a little as I glance at Ethan, who seems unfazed.

“I’m sure the town has better things to talk about. How have you been? Fill me in.” He leans back in his seat, giving Dot a dazzling smile.

Even Dot’s not impervious to Ethan’s charms, but it isn’t enough to deter her. “I’m fine. But enough about me. Tell me, Mr. Carter, how did you land last year’s Miss Harbor’s Edge?” Her earrings make a soft clinking sound as she laughs.

I’m cringing inside. Patrick’s younger sister, Nora, roped me into entering the Miss Harbor’s Edge pageant last Christmas at the Founder’s Day Festival. Somehow, I won the thing.

Ethan shrugs, his expression calm and composed. “Clearly it was my good looks.”

“So, you two are dating?” Dot’s hungry eyes go wide.

“We’re just two old friends enjoying each other’s company.”

Dot’s eyes narrow slightly as she looks between us before deciding she’s not going to get anything of substance tonight. “Well, you two have a lovely evening.”

She heads back to her table, glancing once over her shoulder at us. When she turns away, Ethan reaches across the space between us, taking my hand in his. “Don’t let her bother you. Sheloves gossip more than anyone in this town, and that’s saying a lot.”

I nod, but the anxiety is still there. How do I explain it to Ethan? Being the subject of gossip feels a lot like being the difficult kid, the one that’s surrounded by trouble, that the caseworkers talk about in low voices, the one who gets moved to another placement. The one who can’t stand on her own two feet. The one people walk out on.

Part of me knows it’s irrational—it’s just Dot McLellan—but these reactions were hard-wired over years.

Ethan’s still looking at me, waiting.

“I just… I hate people talking about me.”

Ethan’s grip on my hand tightens, his expression becoming serious. “I don’t care what people think. Let them talk. What matters is how we feel about each other.” He pauses. A swallow moves down his throat. “I want to be with you. Really be with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want you to be mine. My girlfriend. A real relationship.”

He stares at me and my heart stutters, my thoughts racing. “I thought we were just taking things one day at a time. I really don’t have space in my life right now for a relationship. And what if things don’t work out? I don’t want to lose you as a friend. What if—”

Ethan interrupts gently. “What if they do work out? What if we make each other happier than we’ve ever been? I want to be everything for you. I want to support you, care for you.”

Unexpected tears prick at the corners of my eyes and I wipe them away roughly. I’ve been so afraid to let anyone in after losing Danny. Standing on my own two feet is infinitely safer. But the way Ethan’s looking at me sends everything around me spinning.

The butterflies in my stomach never seem to settle when I’m around him. It’s a sensation of being unbalanced, as if I’m standing on shaky ground that could give way at any moment. But the weirdest thing? Part of me is desperate for it to give way, desperate to fall.

I squeeze his hand, my voice soft. “I won’t lie… I’m falling for you. Despite everything else going on, despite my best intentions not to, I’m falling for you.”

“Then let’s give this thing between us a real shot. We’re in a relationship. No more holding back.”

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