Page 66 of When We Are Falling

He shoots a look at me, and I nod, both of us sharing a smile.

“The other day,” Ethan continues, “Carlos and his brother decided they’d show off theirsurfing skillson an old piece of driftwood. Let’s just say it didn’t end well. Carlos ended up being dumped by a big wave face-first in the sand, and none of us could stop laughing.”

Mom swallows a mouthful of risotto and laughs softly, the sound a little forced but genuine. “Sounds like you’ve got quite the crew.”

“They keep things interesting,” Ethan says. He takes a sip of the wine, his eyes on me. “And Blake here, she’s been amazing. Couldn’t have done it without her.”

“She’s a wonderful person,” Mom replies.

“And how have you been, Mrs. Summerton? What have you been up to lately?”

Mom straightens in her chair. “Oh, you know, keeping busy. I’ve been volunteering with Patrick’s group, helping out with the clean-up efforts. It’s good to stay active and feel like I’m contributing, especially seeing as Blake has the Tavern under control.”

I work hard to keep my expression neutral, nodding to confirm everything’sfine. We continue to chat about the clean-up until Mom excuses herself, pushing her chair back slowly. She gives Ethan a soft smile before disappearing down the hall. My heart tightens as I watch her retreating figure.

Turning to Ethan, lowering my voice. It’s gotten a lot easier to open up to him, but there’s still a bit of hesitation before I speak.

“Mama Charlotte called earlier.” My fingers play with the edge of the tablecloth. “She didn’t want to speak to Mom. Just called to check in with me.”

Ethan’s brow furrows, concern etched in his beautiful gray eyes. “Yeah, your mom didn’t seem herself. I’m sorry about that. I really hope they can work things out. It must be tough on both of them. And on you.”

I bite my lip, feeling the truth of his words. The tension between my moms has been a constant shadow, and the uncertainty gnaws at me. I hate seeing Mom so down, and not having Mama Charlotte around is agony. Some days I feel like I’m a kid again, the constant worry over whether I’m going to be moved, and if so, where.

Ethan’s looking at me and I force away all the fears I know are so damned irrational. I’m a grown ass woman. I invited him over for dinner, not a therapy session, and tonight I don’t want to dwell—what I need is a distraction, something to shake off the heaviness in my chest. A sudden burst of inspiration hits me.

“You know what? I’m sick of thinking about all of this. How about a night swim? That first beach we stopped at on our last adventure is only about a half hour drive from here.”

Ethan looks at me, eyebrows raised, a skeptical expression in his eyes. “A night swim? We have an early start tomorrow. We’re too busy, princess.”

I finally laugh, the sound light, some of the tightness easing in my chest. “Come on, Mr. Boss Man. You know how good it feels when you let go and do something a little wild. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

He hesitates, glancing around as if weighing the pros and cons. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, his instinct to stay in control battling with the temptation of spontaneity. And I know he’s remembering how much fun we got up to last time. It’s time to change tack, really convince him this is a good idea.

“Look, I know you’re worried about tomorrow, but we’ve been working nonstop. We deserve a break. And I need this. I need to feel like everything isn’t falling apart for a little while.”

His expression softens, analysis giving way to understanding. “Alright,” he says. “Let’s do it. But you owe me for dragging me out on a crazy adventure when we should be getting an early night.”

“Deal. Now let me grab a couple of towels and let’s get out of here.”

I let Mom know I’m heading out and we walk to his pickup. The night air is cool but refreshing, and the slight chill pricklesmy skin in a way that feels exhilarating. It’s just what I need to take my mind off everything.

As we drive, the familiar sounds of the town fade away, replaced by the soft hum of the truck’s engine, the landscape around us dark and shadowed. We pull off the main road and turn onto a dirt road, the tires crunching over gravel and kicking up small clouds of dust behind us. The way is narrow and potholed, flanked by dense bushes and tall grasses.

Ethan navigates the twists and turns with ease, and soon we reach the secluded beach. It’s a hidden gem, small but picture perfect. The moon hangs low in the sky, its silvery glow casting a magical light over the sand and waves, the ocean shimmering, each wave catching the light and reflecting it back like a thousand tiny mirrors.

“I remember this place from our adventure. You’re right, it’s beautiful. What’s this beach called?” Ethan’s looking around like he finally thinks this crazy swim idea isn’t actually so crazy.

“I don’t know. Let’s just call it ourSecret Spot.”

“I like that.”

We park the truck and step out, kicking off our shoes and walking barefoot toward the water, the cool sand crunching beneath our feet. The beach is deserted, and the only sounds are the gentle lapping of the waves and the distant call of a night bird.

“Come on,” I say, letting go of his hand and running for the water.

Chapter 29

Blake

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