Chapter 15ETHAN
CHAPTER 15
ETHAN
I still can’t get over the way things turned out between Riley and me last night. Her honesty, her bravery… our kiss. Well, several kisses, at least until we finally broke apart and she went back home. I'm still replaying the moments over and over in my head, hoping it wasn’t a dream.
But it doesn’t feel like it because as soon as I open my front door, I see Riley walking up the sidewalk to my house, dressed in overalls like she’s set to go to the hardware store.
“Hey.” I wave my hand at her and she looks up at me, a bright smile on her face, before she starts sprinting towards me like a five-year-old girl getting ice cream.
“Slow down, Riley!” I hold the mug of hot coffee closer to me as she crashes into me with a laugh, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist. It’s the kind of hug that says everything she’s still too cautious to put into words. I breathe in her scent. “Every time you smile like that, I feel like the luckiest guy alive.”
She giggles, taking the cup of coffee from me, and sips a little before handing it back. “That’s hot.”
“I could say the same for you.” I wiggle my brows at her as she shakes her head and laughs.
“I should get going,” she says. “I wanted to say hi before I headed out.”
“Already?” I ask, trying not to sound disappointed.
“There’s a town event today,” she explains, running a hand through her hair. “I promised Aunt Dotty I’d help out.”
“What kind of event?”
“It’s the annual fall festival,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at me. “Games, food, lots of people. You know, small-town fun.”
An idea sparks in my mind, and I can’t stop myself from saying it. “Why don’t we go together?”
Her brow furrows slightly. “Together?”
“Yeah,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal, even though my heart’s pounding. “We can show up together, spend the day together. What do you think?”
She hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip, and for a second, I think she’s going to say no. But then she nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“Okay,” she says softly. “Let’s do it.”
An hour later, I’m standing at the entrance to the festival with Riley. The town square is buzzing with activity—kids running around with balloons, vendors setting up booths, and the smell of caramel and popcorn hanging heavy in the air.
I reach for her hand without thinking, and to my relief, she doesn’t pull away. Her fingers curl around mine, and just like that, everything feels right.
As we walk through the festival, people stop to say hello, their eyes flicking between us and our joined hands. At first, Riley stiffens slightly, but as the day goes on, she starts to relax.
We hit the ring toss first, and Riley beats me without breaking a sweat. When I complain about beginner’s luck, she just grins, grabbing the darts next and proving it wasn’t luck at all. Her laugh rings out, carefree and light, and for a moment, it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard.
By the time we grab lunch from one of the food stands, the whispers have started.
“Looks like they’re finally together,” Mrs. Harriet says as she passes by, her smile wide.
“Took them long enough,” Frank adds, clapping me on the shoulder.
Riley blushes, ducking her head, but I just grin.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Mia’s voice cuts through the crowd as she and Dotty walk over to us, both of them looking far too smug .
“It’s more than nice,” Riley says quietly, her gaze drifting over the festival. “It’s… good to be part of something like this.”
I smile, wrapping an arm around Riley’s shoulders. She leans into me slightly, her smile softening, and I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
As the sun dips lower in the sky, casting everything in a warm, golden light, Riley and I find ourselves standing near the edge of the square, watching the town come alive around us.
“You know,” I say, glancing at her, “this isn’t so bad.”
She raises an eyebrow. “The festival?”
“No,” I say, squeezing her hand. “This. Us.”
She smiles, and it’s the kind of smile that makes my chest ache in the best way. “Not bad at all.”
The warmth of Riley’s hand in mine feels like the most natural thing in the world as we stand at the edge of the square, watching the festival wind down. The lights strung across the booths glow softly, casting everything in a golden hue, and for the first time in a long time, I feel completely at peace.
That peace doesn’t last long.
“Look at them, Dotty,” Mia’s voice rings out behind us, full of mischief. “Doesn’t it just warm your heart?”
Riley and I turn at the same time to find Mia and Dotty walking toward us, both of them wearing identical, self- satisfied grins.
“Oh, it warms my heart, all right,” Dotty replies, her eyes twinkling as she clasps her hands over her chest dramatically. “Our two little lovebirds finally finding their way to each other. It’s almost enough to bring a tear to my eye.”
Riley groans softly, but I can feel her leaning into me just a little. “Aunt Dotty,” she says, her tone half-warning, half-exasperated.
“What?” Dotty asks, feigning innocence. “I’m just saying, it’s nice to see you smiling, sugar. You’ve been walking around with a storm cloud over your head for too long.”
Mia snickers, nudging Dotty. “You’re not wrong. And, if I may say so, we make a pretty great team.”
Riley arches an eyebrow. “Team?”
Dotty waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, you know, just two incredibly observant women with a knack for helping people find happiness.”
“They’re calling themselves matchmakers,” I explain, biting back a grin.
Mia’s grin widens. “And we’re very good at it.”
“Don’t let it go to your heads,” Riley mutters, but there’s no hiding the warmth in her smile. “Thanks—for everything.”
“Oh, it’s far too late for that,” Dotty says, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. “But don’t worry, sugar. You two are just the beginning. Mia and I have plans—big plans.”
I glance at Riley, who’s already shaking her head. “Dotty, if you’re matchmaking again, at least warn us so we can run for cover.”
“No promises,” Mia quips, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Dotty pats Riley’s arm, her tone soothing. “Don’t worry, darling. We’ll give you and Ethan plenty of time to enjoy your happily-ever-after before we start meddling again.”
“Plenty of time?” Riley echoes, narrowing her eyes. “Define ‘plenty.’”
Mia just winks. “You’ll find out.”
Before Riley can respond, Dotty links arms with Mia, steering her back toward the heart of the festival. “Come on, Mia. Let’s leave these two lovebirds to their moment.”
As they disappear into the crowd, Riley lets out a long sigh, shaking her head. “They’re insufferable.”
“You love them,” I point out, grinning.
She turns to me, her lips curving into a small smile. “Yeah. I do.”
The teasing and meddling are a lot, but as I look at Riley—her eyes shining, her hand still firmly in mine—I can’t help but feel grateful for Dotty and Mia. Without them, who knows how long it would’ve taken for us to get here?
“They’re right about one thing,” I say softly, brushing my thumb over her hand.
“Oh?” she asks, tilting her head.
“This feels like a great beginning,” I say, meeting her gaze. “Like we’re finally building something real.”
Her smile widens, and she steps closer, her free hand resting lightly on my chest. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I,” I say, pulling her closer as the lights of the festival twinkle around us.
T he festival lights are dimming as vendors start packing up and families gather their things, but Riley and I stay rooted in place. The energy around us is still buzzing—laughter, music, the smell of caramel and fried dough—but it feels like we’re in our own little world.
I glance down at her, taking in the way the soft light catches her features. She looks happy, content, and it’s a sight I want to memorize.
“This feels strange,” she admits, glancing at me.
“Strange how?” I ask, squeezing her hand.
“Good strange,” she replies, lifting her eyes to meet mine. “You make it easier to believe things can be… better.”
I smile, brushing my thumb over the back of her hand. “Yeah. I know the feeling.”
She leans into me slightly, and we stay like that for a while, watching the last of the festival crowd move about the square.
Of course, Mia and Dotty can’t stay gone for long. They reappear from somewhere near the pie-eating contest booth, both of them laughing like they’re in on some private joke .
“You two still standing here?” Mia teases as they approach. “Don’t you have better things to do than stare at the lights like lovesick puppies?”
Riley groans softly. “Mia, I swear?—”
“Relax,” Mia interrupts, waving her hand. “I’m done meddling. For now.”
“Good,” Riley says, narrowing her eyes.
Dotty, ever the peacekeeper, steps forward with a warm smile. “We’re just glad to see you both happy. That’s all. Right, Mia?”
Mia shrugs, her grin mischievous. “Sure. But don’t think this means we’re retiring. There are plenty of other people in this town who could use our matchmaking magic.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Who’s next on the list?”
Mia’s grin falters for a split second, a rare flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she recovers. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I smirk, glancing between her and Dotty. “You’re being awfully cryptic. You sure it’s not you who needs a little matchmaking magic, Mia?”
Riley’s laugh bubbles out before she can stop it, and Mia glares at me, her cheeks tinting pink.
“You’re hilarious,” she says dryly. “But for the record, I don’t need any help. My love life is perfectly fine.”
Dotty hums thoughtfully. “Interesting choice of words, Mia. ‘Perfectly fine’ doesn’t exactly scream true love.”
Mia glares at her now. “Don’ t start, Dotty.”
Dotty just winks, and Riley snickers beside me, her mood lighter than I’ve seen in days.
“All right, all right,” Mia says, throwing up her hands. “Enough about me. Tonight’s about you two.”
“We appreciate that,” Riley says, her tone teasing. “But if Aunt Dotty and I ever decide to return the favor, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
Mia groans, rubbing her temples. “I hate both of you.”
“You love us,” Riley and Dotty say in unison, and we all laugh, the sound carrying into the night.
We walk back through the square, Dotty and Mia trailing ahead of us, still bickering playfully. The night feels lighter, like all the tension and doubts of the past few weeks have finally started to dissolve.
And as I glance at Riley—her eyes bright, her smile soft—I see the walls she’s carried for so long starting to fall, and it makes me believe in every bit of this.
It feels like I’m not only exactly where I’m supposed to be—I’m with who I’m supposed to be.