Chapter 10RILEY
CHAPTER 10
RILEY
T he cool morning breeze brushes against my face as I sit on the porch steps, staring out at the quiet street. My coffee cup is warm in my hands, but I haven’t taken a sip in a while. The events of last night keep replaying in my head—Ethan standing up for me, the way his voice steadied me, like he wasn’t just defending me but reminding me of something I forgot about myself.
It’s unsettling, but not in a bad way.
The creak of a gate pulls my attention, and I glance over to see Ethan walking out of his yard, a cup of his own in hand. His gaze catches mine, and he hesitates for a moment before heading toward me.
“Morning,” he says, his voice softer than usual as he approaches .
“Morning,” I reply, shifting slightly to make room for him on the steps.
He sits down beside me, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from him. For a while, we sit in comfortable silence, the only sounds coming from the distant hum of the town waking up.
“You okay?” he asks eventually, glancing at me.
I nod, but it’s a lie. Last night shook me more than I want to admit—not just the snide comments from the townsfolk, but the way Ethan defended me, like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like I mattered.
“Thanks for what you did last night,” I say, my voice quieter than I intended. I stare down at my coffee, unable to look at him when I say it, afraid he’ll see more than I’m ready to admit.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he replies. “They were out of line.”
“I’m used to it,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “People always think they know me, but they don’t.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and when I finally look at him, his expression is serious. “Then tell me,” he says. “Help me understand.”
I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. But there’s something about the way he’s looking at me—patient, sincere—that makes me want to try.
“My parents died when I was sixteen,” I start, my voice trembling slightly. “It was a car accident. They were coming back from one of those little weekend trips they always took. I was supposed to go with them, but I stayed home because of a stupid school project.”
The words feel heavy as they spill out, ones I haven’t said aloud in years. Ethan doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t push. He just listens, his presence steady and grounding.
“Aunt Dotty took me in,” I continue, my hands gripping the mug tightly. “She did her best, but it wasn’t easy. I had to grow up fast—help with bills, run the store, make sure everything stayed afloat. I didn’t have time to grieve. I didn’t have time for anything.”
I pause, the weight of the memories pressing down on me. Ethan shifts closer, his shoulder brushing against mine.
“Riley,” he says softly, and the way he says my name feels like an anchor, holding me steady.
“I guess that’s why I keep people at a distance,” I admit, my voice breaking slightly. “It’s just… easier. Safer. If I don’t let anyone in, I don’t have to feel the weight of losing them. Not again.”
Ethan doesn’t say anything at first, but I can feel him watching me, his gaze warm and unyielding.
“You don’t have to do that forever,” he says finally, his voice low. “You deserve more than that. You deserve to let people in—to have someone who’s there for you, no matter what.”
I blink, my throat tightening as his words sink in. For a moment, I can’t speak, can’t do anything but look at him. There’s something in his eyes—something raw and unguarded—that makes my chest ache.
Before I can stop myself, I lean in slightly, drawn to the warmth of his presence.
Ethan doesn’t move, doesn’t pull away. His gaze flickers to my lips, and I realize just how close we are. My heart pounds in my chest, every inch of me screaming to close the gap, to give in to the pull between us.
But just as our breaths mingle, the shrill ring of my phone cuts through the air, shattering the moment.
I jerk back, fumbling for my phone as the spell breaks. “Hello?” I answer, my voice shaky.
“Riley, it’s John from the warehouse,” comes the voice on the other end. “We’ve got an issue with the delivery. The new shipment just came in, and there’s a mix-up with the invoices. I need you to come down and sort it out.”
I close my eyes briefly, exhaling through my nose. “All right, I’ll be there soon,” I say, forcing my voice to stay steady.
When I hang up, I glance at Ethan, who’s watching me closely, his expression unreadable. The air between us still feels charged, like the moment we almost had is lingering, refusing to dissipate.
“Work emergency?” he asks, his voice softer now.
“Yeah,” I reply. “Warehouse issue. They need me to fix it.”
He nods, rising to his feet as well. “Need help?”
The offer catches me off guard, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. But then I shake my head, managing a small smile. “I’ve got it. Thanks, though. ”
Ethan steps back, giving me space, but there’s something in his eyes—something unspoken—that makes me hesitate.
“Ethan,” I start, my voice quieter now. “About earlier…”
He holds up a hand, stopping me. “You don’t have to explain. I get it.”
I bite my lip, the weight of the interrupted moment pressing on my chest. “It’s not that I didn’t want to…” My words trail off, and I force myself to look at him. “I’m just… I don’t know how to let someone in. Not really.”
“Riley,” he says, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”
His words hit me harder than I expect, and for a second, I can’t move. All I can do is nod, clutching my phone tightly as I turn and head toward my truck.
As I drive away, my thoughts race, the memory of his words and the warmth of his presence refusing to fade. I’m not going anywhere.
For the first time in years, I wonder if maybe—just maybe—I don’t have to keep running.
B y the time I get back from the warehouse, the house feels alive, with the faint sound of laughter drifting through the open windows. I park the truck and pause for a moment, leaning against the door and letting the cool evening air settle around me.
The memory of Ethan’s words this morning plays on a loop in my head. You don’t have to keep everything locked up, Riley.
I shake my head, pushing the thought aside as I make my way up the porch steps. The familiar hum of Aunt Dotty’s voice mingles with Mia’s unmistakable laugh, and I can already tell they’re up to something.
The screen door creaks as I step inside, and their conversation stops abruptly.
“Dotty, I’m telling you, I saw the way he looked at her,” Mia says, breaking the silence after a beat.
“Looked at who?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen with a raised eyebrow.
Both of them whirl toward me like guilty kids caught raiding the cookie jar. Aunt Dotty recovers first, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she leans against the counter.
“Oh, we were just talking about you, sugar,” she says, her tone as sweet as honey.
“Of course, you were,” I reply, crossing my arms.
“And Ethan,” Mia adds, far too casually, while buttering a slice of bread.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What now?”
“Nothing bad,” Aunt Dotty chimes in, her smile widening. “We’re just celebrating.”
“Celebrating what?” I ask, already regretting the question.
Mia grins, clearly delighted to explain. “You and Ethan, of course. Last night at the charity event? You two were practically glowing.”
“Glowing?” I echo, giving her a flat look.
“Yes, glowing,” Mia says, nodding enthusiastically. “It’s about time, too. I was starting to think you’d never let your guard down long enough to let someone in.”
I open my mouth to argue, but Aunt Dotty jumps in before I can get a word out.
“And don’t even try to deny it,” she says, pointing the butter knife at me. “I saw the way you looked at him during the auction. And this morning? Don’t think I didn’t notice how close you two were before you rushed off.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, and I glance away, busying myself with pouring a glass of water. “You two are reading way too much into this,” I mutter.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Aunt Dotty says, her voice full of mischief. “Ethan’s a good man. He’s kind, hardworking, and he clearly cares about you.”
“Exactly!” Mia says, throwing up her hands. “I mean, did you hear him last night? He practically gave a TED Talk about how amazing you are.”
I turn back to face them, narrowing my eyes. “He was defending me. That’s it.”
Aunt Dotty raises an eyebrow. “And why do you think he felt the need to do that, hmm?”
“Because people were being rude,” I reply, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Sure, that’s part of it,” Mia says with a smirk. “But I think there’s more to it. He likes you, Riley. And honestly, I think you like him too.”
I shake my head, trying to mask the flicker of warmth in my chest. “You two need hobbies,” I say, but my voice lacks the usual bite.
“Oh, we have hobbies,” Aunt Dotty says, winking at Mia. “Book club, gardening, matchmaking?—”
“Matchmaking is not a hobby,” I interrupt, glaring at her.
“It is when you’re good at it,” Mia quips, taking a bite of her bread.
I shake my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “There’s nothing to matchmake here. Ethan and I are just neighbors.”
“Uh-huh,” Mia says, clearly unconvinced.
Aunt Dotty chuckles, crossing her arms. “You know, Riley, you can tell yourself that all you want, but actions speak louder than words. And your actions last night? They were saying plenty.”
I exhale slowly, my grip tightening on the edge of the counter. “You’re both impossible.”
“And you’re both perfect for each other,” Aunt Dotty says, her tone light but sincere.
For a moment, the kitchen falls quiet, the weight of her words settling between us. I glance at Mia, who’s watching me with that infuriatingly knowing smile, and then at Aunt Dotty, whose eyes are soft with affection .
I shake my head, grab my glass, and head toward the door. “I don’t have time for this,” I mutter.
“Sure you don’t, sugar,” Aunt Dotty calls after me, her laughter following me out onto the porch.
As I step outside, the cool air wraps around me, but it does little to calm the storm of emotions swirling in my chest.
Because no matter how much I try to deny it, they’re right about one thing: Ethan isn’t just my neighbor anymore. He’s something more. And that thought… it’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.