Chapter 14RILEY
CHAPTER 14
RILEY
I step out of the back room, the weight in my chest a little lighter than when I walked in. The store feels different now—not because of the renovations, but because of the people filling it.
Frank’s wiping down one of the new workbenches, Mrs. Harriet is stacking the last of the cleaned-up tools, and even the butcher is still here, chatting with a group of volunteers near the door.
They all stop what they’re doing when they see me, their expressions shifting from focused to expectant. My throat tightens as I glance around the room, taking it all in.
“This…” I start, my voice catching slightly. “This is incredible. I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say thank you,” Mrs. Harriet quips, her eyes twinkling .
I smile despite myself, shaking my head. “Thank you. All of you. For giving up your time to do this.”
Frank steps forward, crossing his arms. “Don’t thank us,” he says with a grin. “Thank Ethan. He’s the one who rallied us all together.”
The room hums with agreement, and my gaze shifts to Ethan, who’s standing near the counter. He looks a little awkward under the attention, one hand rubbing the back of his neck, but he meets my eyes and offers a small, hesitant smile.
Harriet steps closer, her expression warm. “You’ve done so much for this community, Riley. We all wanted a chance to give back, to show you how much we appreciate you.”
The words catch me off guard, and I blink rapidly, fighting the sudden sting of emotion behind my eyes. I’ve always thrown myself into my work, into helping where I can, but I’ve never expected anything in return. Hearing it laid out like this—it’s almost too much.
“Besides, he wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Harriet adds with a laugh. “Said this was too important to let slip by.”
My heart stirs, and for a moment, I can’t look at him.
“Thank you,” I say again, my voice steadier this time.
The volunteers slowly start filing out, each one offering a wave or a word of encouragement as they leave. I try to catch each of them with a smile, but the weight of Ethan’s presence pulls at me, keeping me tethered to the moment.
By the time the door closes behind the last of them, the store is quiet again. It’s just me and Ethan now, the hum of the fluorescent lights above the only sound breaking the silence.
I turn to him, folding my arms. “So, is this the part where you tell me to stop being mad and just forgive you?”
He lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Not even close.”
He steps closer, his gaze locking on mine, and my breath catches.
“Riley,” he starts, his voice soft but steady, “I know I’ve given you plenty of reasons not to trust me. And I know that letting people in hasn’t been easy for you—not after everything you’ve been through.”
My chest tightens, his words hitting me in ways I didn’t expect.
“But I need you to know,” he continues, his voice trembling slightly, “that I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. I’m all in, Riley. With this town. With you.”
I blink, tears stinging the corners of my eyes, and I hate that he’s getting to me like this.
“This wasn’t just about fixing up the store,” he says, gesturing around the room. “This was about showing you that you don’t have to do everything on your own. That you’ve got people here who care about you—me included.”
“Ethan…” I start, but my voice breaks, and I ha ve to look away.
He steps closer, his hand brushing against mine. “I know I’ve screwed up. I know I’ve made you feel like you couldn’t trust me. But I’m asking you to give me a chance. To let me prove that I’m not the guy you’re afraid I am.”
My heart is pounding so hard I can barely think, the weight of his words pressing against every defense I’ve spent years building.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “Letting people in… it’s not something I’m good at.”
“You don’t have to be,” he says softly. “You just have to try. And I’ll be here. Every step of the way.”
I look up at him, and the vulnerability in his eyes undoes something in me. For the first time in years, I feel the wall I’ve built around my heart starts to crack, just a little.
“I’m scared,” I whisper.
“I know,” he replies, his voice steady. “But you don’t have to be scared alone.” He reaches for me, pulling me into a tight hug that I don’t refuse. I wrap my arms around his body, feeling his warmth.
The silence stretches between us, heavy but full of promise. And for the first time, I let myself believe him.
W hen I get back home, the house feels unusually quiet, but the low hum of voices coming from the living room gives Dotty and Mia away. I step through the door, and there they are—Dotty perched in her favorite armchair, sipping tea, while Mia sprawls across the couch, flipping through a magazine like she owns the place.
They both look up when I walk in, their eyes practically sparkling with suppressed excitement.
“Had a busy day?” Dotty asks, her tone far too casual.
I narrow my eyes at her, then at Mia. “You two.” I point between them. “You’ve been scheming.”
Mia raises an eyebrow, all innocence. “Scheming? Us? Never.”
I fold my arms, shaking my head. “Don’t play coy. I knew something was up the moment you wouldn’t let me leave your sight all day.”
Dotty chuckles, setting her teacup down. “Well, you caught us. But I’d say it was worth it, wouldn’t you?”
My chest tightens at the memory of the store, of Ethan’s heartfelt apology, and the way his words chipped away at the walls I’ve spent years building.
“Yeah,” I admit softly, sinking onto the couch beside Mia.
Mia sets the magazine aside, her grin widening. “He really went all out, you know. The planning, the people, the sheer effort. That man was determined to get it right.”
Aunt Dotty nods in agreement. “He wasn’t just doing it for the store, Riley. He was doing it for you. Because he cares.”
Their words sink in, and I feel a swirl of emotions that’s impossible to untangle. Guilt. Fear. Gratitude. But most of all, hope.
For so long, I’ve told myself that running was safer, that letting people in would only lead to more loss. But Ethan’s different—he hasn’t just said he’s staying; he’s shown me. And maybe, for once, it’s worth risking my heart to see where this could go.
And I realize, sitting here in Aunt Dotty’s cozy living room, that I’m tired of running.
Without thinking, I shoot to my feet.
“Where are you going?” Mia asks, sitting up straighter.
“I need to do something,” I say quickly, already heading for the door.
Aunt Dotty exchanges a look with Mia, but neither of them stops me.
The cool evening air hits my face as I cross the street, my heart pounding in my chest. By the time I reach Ethan’s door, I feel like I’m going to burst.
I knock once, then twice, shifting from foot to foot as I wait. A moment later, the door swings open, and there he is, standing there in nothing but sweatpants slung low on his hips and a towel in one hand.
My breath catches. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter under my breath, but I can’t look away.
He’s fresh out of the shower, his hair damp and sticking to his forehead, water droplets sliding down his bare chest.
“Riley?” he asks, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What’s wrong? ”
“I—” My words catch in my throat, and I shake my head, trying to remember why I’m here. “Can I… come in?”
His concern deepens, but he steps aside, gesturing for me to enter. “Of course.”
I step inside, the warmth of the house washing over me as he closes the door. The sound of it clicking shut feels louder than it should, and for a moment, all I can hear is my own shallow breathing. I look up at him, and I catch the way his jaw tightens, like he’s bracing himself for whatever I’m about to say.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asks, his voice careful, his eyes scanning my face for answers.
I nod, though it’s a lie. “No,” I say, the word slipping out before I can stop it. His expression softens immediately, the tension in his shoulders easing—but I can see the quiet worry lingering there, too, like he’s holding his breath.
“No?” he repeats, his voice careful.
I take a deep breath, the words rushing to the surface like a flood I can’t hold back. “I’m not okay, Ethan. Because I’ve been running away. From you. From us. And I can’t do it anymore.”
His expression shifts, something flickering in his eyes, but he doesn’t say anything. He just stands there, watching me like he’s afraid to move.
“I’ve been holding back because I was scared,” I continue, my voice trembling. “Because letting people in—trusting them—it’s hard for me. It’s always been hard. And I’ve convinced myself for so long that it’s better to be alone than to risk getting hurt again. But you—” I pause, my throat tightening as I look up at him. “You make me want to try.”
Ethan takes a small step closer, his bare feet soundless against the hardwood floor. His hand flexes at his side, like he’s fighting the urge to reach for me. “Riley?—”
“I know I’ve been unfair to you,” I say, cutting him off. “I know I’ve pushed you away when all you’ve ever done is try to show me that you care. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The words hang between us, heavy and raw, and for a moment, I think he’s not going to respond. But then he takes another step closer, his eyes soft and full of something I can’t quite name. His expression shifts, a flicker of relief breaking through the storm of emotion in his eyes.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” he says softly, his voice steady. “You’ve been through so much, Riley. All I want is for you to let me be here for you. Let me in.”
His words hit me like a punch to the chest, and suddenly, all the fear and doubt and hesitation that’s been holding me back doesn’t matter anymore.
I close the distance between us in two quick steps, grabbing the front of his towel as I pull him down to me. His lips meet mine, and the world falls away.
The kiss is soft at first, tentative, like we’re both afraid to break whatever fragile thing has just been built between us. But then his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer, and the hesitation melts away.
When we finally break apart, I’m breathless, my hands still clinging to his shoulders like a lifeline. Ethan’s forehead rests against mine, his warm breath brushing against my cheek.
“Ethan,” I start, my voice barely above a whisper, “I don’t know how to do this.”
His arms tighten around me, and he smiles—a soft, crooked smile that sends warmth flooding through my chest.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out,” he says gently. “We’ll figure it out together.”
I laugh softly, the sound shaky but real. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It can be,” he says, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. “If we stop running from it.”
The weight in my chest lightens, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like maybe—just maybe—I don’t have to keep running anymore.
“Okay,” I say, my voice steady now. “Let’s figure it out.”
His smile widens, and he leans down to press another soft kiss to my lips, the promise of something new and unbroken passing between us.