7. Ash
7
ASH
A fter hours on the road, the coastal breeze of Driftwood Cove finally hits me. It’s not as big a place as I was expecting, but it’s got a charm about it.
The air smells like saltwater and old wood, and the town sprawls along the edge of the sea, small and a little run-down, but there’s something about it. Something… quiet.
I pull into the gas station, barely awake, rubbing my face. My back aches from the long drive. I stretch my arms over my head, cracking my neck, and grunt a little as I straighten up.
I need food. Something to wake me up before I get lost in this sleepy little place.
Walking into the station, I grab a bag of chips, a candy bar, and a soda. As I’m heading to the counter, the door dings, and I glance up.
A girl walks in. I freeze for a second.
She’s got brown hair, curly as hell, flowing down her back all wild and untamed. She’s holding a box of chocolates, looking at the shelf for a second, then glancing over at me.
Amber eyes. They’re like fucking fire. I swear to God, they glow. Then she smiles.
Shit.
I don’t know if it’s the smile or the eyes or the whole fucking vibe she’s giving off, but for a moment, the world just stops.
Like, time slows down. She’s real, but she looks like a goddamn dream.
And then, like nothing, she turns her attention back to the cashier. She pays for the chocolates, glancing up at me one last time, and that smile?
It fucking stays with me.
I blink, snapping myself out of it.
“Hey,” I say to the cashier, forcing myself to get my shit together. The guy looks young, barely out of high school. He glances at me and nods.
“Hey. You new here or somethin’?” he asks, smiling like he’s been bored for hours.
“Yeah,” I reply, shaking my head a little, trying to get my bearings. “Just passing through. Thought I’d check out the place for a while.”
“Well, you’re in the right spot,” he says. “Driftwood Cove’s a chill town. Real quiet, you know? Great vibes.”
He shrugs, glancing over at the door where the girl just walked out. “My name’s Miles.”
I nod, leaning against the counter. “What’s it like? Nothing like the city, huh?”
“Not even close,” Miles says, looking out the window to where the girl’s already in her car. “You won’t find much of the city hustle here. People come for the peace. And the beach, of course.”
He smiles again, but his eyes flick back to the door. “This place? It’s kinda like its own little world. You don’t get the rush, the noise. People are real friendly. Real chill.”
I nod, listening but kind of not. My mind’s stuck on that damn girl.
“And, uh, who was that?” I ask, trying to sound casual, like I’m not interested, even though I totally am. “The one who bought the chocolates.”
Miles looks at me like he can’t help but smile at my awkwardness. “Oh, you mean Grace?” He chuckles. “Yeah, she’s… well, she’s Grace. Owns the flower shop here.”
He leans in a bit, like it’s some kind of secret. “She’s one of the sweetest people you’ll meet. She’s hard to miss, right?”
Yeah, hard to miss, for sure.
I try to keep my voice steady, even though there’s a stupid grin on my face. “Flower shop, huh? Sounds like a real chill gig.”
Miles shrugs, a bit of pride in his voice. “Yeah, she’s been running it for years. Her place is on Main Street if you’re interested.”
I try to keep my composure, but inside? I’m definitely interested.
I’ve got a lot of things running through my mind—I could check out that shop tomorrow or just… figure out a way to bump into her again.
I clear my throat, focusing back on Miles. “Cool. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I pay for my shit, trying to get out of there before I end up asking the kid about Grace’s life story. No need to go that far just yet.
Once I pay, I walk out, head still buzzing. I climb into my car and start the engine. The old motel I’m supposed to stay at is somewhere around here.
I’m not exactly thrilled to be spending the night in some rundown joint, but it’ll do for now.
I drive through the winding roads of Driftwood Cove, the smell of saltwater stronger now. I don’t know what I’m expecting.
Maybe nothing at all, but the town’s already growing on me, and it’s not something I was prepared for.
I make a couple turns, glancing around for the motel. Finally, I spot it—the Sleepy Shore Motel, with its neon sign flickering in the distance.
Perfect.
I park in front and grab my stuff. The place isn’t much to look at. A couple of rooms, a cracked sidewalk leading up to the office.
A few old cars parked around, and a couple of lights hanging in the windows.
I don’t care about the place that much. It’s a roof over my head for the night, and that’s all I need right now.
My thoughts go back to Grace. I’m not interested in love, and I’m not even into chasing after girls, but something about her pulls me in.
The way she looked at me, the way she smiled.
I head into the motel, throw my stuff on the bed, and stare at the ceiling. Maybe this place won’t be so bad after all.
Now I just need to figure out what to do with this damn feeling. Because I haven’t felt such an instant attraction to anyone before. Not since Mia.
Fuck!
I distract myself, taking a quick look around the motel room. It’s exactly what I expected. It smells like mildew, but who cares?
I’m not here to hang out. I’ve got work to do.
I strip down and step into the shower. The water’s hot, scalding at first, but I stand under it, letting it soak into my muscles.
I need the heat to shake off the hours of driving. I’m not exactly in the mood to relax, but I need to unwind.
Once done, I dry off, throwing on a pair of black jeans and a dark gray hoodie.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. It’s a message from Dr. Lowe. I roll my eyes. I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion or the whole “official business” vibe, but I don’t care much for these types of check-ins.
Still, I grab my phone and dial her number.
The call rings once. Twice.
“Hello, Ash. How was the trip?” Dr. Lowe’s voice is calm, professional.
“Just got here,” I say. “Safe and sound.”
“Good to hear. I hope everything goes smoothly for you,” she says. “In case you need anything while you’re there, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got everything covered for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, standing by the window and looking out at the shore. The water’s so damn blue it almost doesn’t look real. “I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
“Have a successful trip, Ash. We’re counting on you.”
I chuckle. “I’ll have a report for you by end of week.” I end the call, then toss my phone on the bed.
I need to get out of here. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m finally away from the grind, or maybe it’s the damn ocean calling to me, but I can’t sit still.
I grab my jacket and head out the door.
The sea air hits me as soon as I step outside, and it’s refreshing. The sun’s starting to dip below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the town.
I get in the car, toss it into gear, and drive down toward the shore.
I’m no longer sleepy. Or in a hurry. There’s no agenda right now. I’m just taking in the sights. I pull up to the water’s edge, finding a quiet spot to park.
The tide pools are scattered along the rocky coast, and I walk down to get a closer look.
It’s peaceful. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks is soothing, almost hypnotic. The ocean’s rhythm hits me, and I can already feel my mind shifting.
This is it. This is where I’m supposed to be.
This shore? This’ll be my office for months. I can already see it now—working with the fishermen, studying the tide pools, learning the currents.
But for now, I’m just here. Alone. Taking it all in.
The salt air bites at my skin, but it’s a welcome kind of cold. I crouch by one of the pools, peering at the little creatures scurrying along the rocks. I can’t help but smile.
This place is something else. It’s not just the water—it’s the whole damn town. It’s got its own vibe. I can feel it in my bones.
A breeze picks up, ruffling my hair, and I look out to the horizon. That’s when I spot it. The lighthouse.
It’s far off, but the light from it flashes every few seconds, cutting through the fog that’s starting to roll in.
I stare at it for a while, imagining what it must be like up there, at the top, watching the world from its height.
The tide’s coming in, waves lapping against the rocks more aggressively now, as if they’re calling me to stay longer.
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter to myself. “You’ll get your way eventually.”
I glance around, already planning my next move. I’m going to need to partner up with some of the local fishermen, make some connections here.
They’ll be crucial for what I’ve got in mind.
But for now? I just need to get a lay of the land. So, I pull my phone out and snap a few pictures of the water, the rocks, the lighthouse. I need this moment to be saved somewhere besides in my memory.
Something about the calm of it makes me realize I’m ready for whatever comes next.
I need to keep my eyes open—stay alert—but right now, there’s nothing more I want than to enjoy this stillness.
Driftwood Cove is growing on me. I can already tell it’s going to be an adventure. And I can’t wait to see what else it’s got in store.
Before I leave, I take one more look out at the lighthouse. It’s still shining its light through the fog, strong and constant.
I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I’m excited to start on the project I was sent here to accomplish.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to work.