Chapter 5
Ethan
Two days after the spill, a meeting is called at the town hall. The room is packed. Mayor Roberts, a former schoolteacher, stands at the front, her round figure and curly auburn hair familiar to everyone in Harbor’s Edge. Despite the angry mutterings and tense atmosphere, she exudes the same calm, pragmatic leadership I’ve always respected.
Patrick is there in his capacity as fire chief, standing beside Sheriff Kyle Donovan. The sheriff, an older man with a silver mustache, grew up in Harbor’s Edge and knows its people well. The Valiant Hearts boys are scattered throughout the room, and Liam meets my gaze.
As I scan the room, my eyes lock with Blake’s across the crowded space. For a moment, everything else fades, the noise and tension replaced by only her , and it’s hard to drag my gaze away.
Mayor Roberts clears her throat, bringing everyone’s attention to the front. “Thank you all for coming. We’re here to address the recent oil spill and coordinate our response efforts. This is a serious situation, but I have no doubt that Harbor’s Edge can come together to overcome it.”
The room buzzes with murmurs of agreement as well as mutters of frustration. Business owners, environmentalists, and concerned locals all have their own stakes in this crisis, and the atmosphere is charged.
Me? I’m crossing my arms over my chest and hoping this is going to be quick. This whole situation is a mess, and the company responsible for the spill has disrupted our lives and businesses, and put our environment at risk. But we need to focus on the cleanup, not get bogged down in endless discussions and bureaucratic red tape. Bandit stirs at my feet, probably picking up on my irritation, but he settles just as quickly, head on his paws, a light snore wafting up at me in the next second.
Mayor Roberts continues: “The US Coast Guard is currently working on containment, but we need all hands on deck for the cleanup efforts. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will be supporting us, but volunteers are crucial, and they’ll be working under Patrick and the Valiant Hearts. This spill is extensive and has already started affecting our beaches and wildlife. We need to mobilize immediately.”
A man in the back stands up, his face red with anger. “What about the people responsible for this? Are they going to pay for what they’ve done?”
The mayor nods sympathetically, her auburn curls bouncing. “I understand your anger, believe me. The company responsible will be held accountable, and legal action is already in motion. But right now, our focus has to be on mitigating the damage and protecting our community.”
Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd, though the underlying frustration is clear.
“What are the planned cleanup efforts?” asks May Chen, who runs a second-hand bookshop on Main Street.
Mayor Roberts sighs, a hint of weariness in her eyes. “We’re coordinating with several federal and state agencies to handle the cleanup. Unfortunately, there are no quick solutions. The oil has spread more rapidly than we initially thought, and it will take time to restore our beaches and waterways to their former state. We need to prepare for a long month or so.”
Patrick adds his voice to the mayor’s. “The fire department will be working closely with local authorities, but as the mayor mentioned, I’d also like to put out a call for volunteers to work alongside the Valiant Hearts. This is a crisis, but it’s one we can face together. Our community is strong, and we will get through this.”
Sheriff Donovan stands beside Patrick, his silver mustache twitching as he speaks. “This is a tough situation, but we’ve faced tough times before. We’re a resilient town.”
Mayor Roberts glances at the sheriff, lips pursed as she gives a nod, too. “I know this is hard to hear, but our beaches and businesses will recover. We will hold those responsible, accountable, and we will restore our home. But it will take all of us working together.”
The floor opens up for questions and comments. People voice their concerns and anger, and my impatience grows as they start to repeat the same points. This is important, but every minute spent talking is a minute not spent cleaning up the spill.
Finally, the meeting comes to an end, and I make my way to the front with the rest of the Valiant Hearts boys. Antonio and Jake are already busy taking names on the volunteer sign-up sheet. I stand beside Patrick, listening intently as he doles out various responsibilities to get the volunteer relief effort off the ground.
He stops mid sentence as Blake walks up to us, her presence commanding all of our collective attention despite the room full of people and the massive to-do list.
“Hey guys, I just wanted to offer up the Tidal Tavern tonight as a meeting place for the volunteers. I’m happy to put a percentage of all sales toward the cleanup effort.”
A grateful smile spreads across Patrick’s face. “Thanks. That’s generous of you. We appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you all tonight, then.” And I swear her gaze lingers on me just a moment longer than the others. It’s enough to send a jolt through me.
As she turns to leave, my eyes are on her. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. There’s something about Blake that is so fucking magnetic. It pulls me in, a wildness that matches the fire in her eyes.
“Alright, let’s get moving,” Patrick says, clapping me on the shoulder. “We’ve got a lot to organize before tonight.”
The day passes in a blur of activity, Bandit supervising with the occasional huff and some well-placed nods. Liam and I spend the morning canceling our boat charters, apologizing to clients, and explaining the situation. Thankfully, most of them understand, offering words of support and promises to reschedule once things are back to normal.
Just after noon, we’re organizing supplies for the cleanup—gloves, masks, absorbent pads, and booms. We drop them off at town hall, which has become the makeshift command center.
It’s late afternoon by the time I drop an exhausted Bandit at home—supervising humans being one of the most tiring activities any dog can undertake—and Liam and I head to the Tidal Tavern. As we approach, we’re met by the sight of people spilling out the front doors onto the boardwalk. It looks like half the town is here, and the place is packed, the usual hum of conversation amplified by the sheer number of volunteers who’ve shown up to help.
Liam and I push our way through the crowd, weaving between clusters of people chatting animatedly and comparing notes. The energy is contagious.
We find Patrick near the bar, already in the thick of things. He’s created groups of volunteers, each with a specific task for the cleanup effort. Clipboard in hand, he’s directing people with the ease of someone who’s used to managing chaos.
“Hey,” Liam calls out as we approach.
He looks up. “We’re just about to get started on the main briefing. I’ve put each of you boys in charge of a group of volunteers.”
There’s a long list on the bar where Patrick has separated the volunteers into groups. Liam and I scan the pages, and I quickly spot my name and then Blake’s name in a different group. I glance around to make sure no one else is watching, then take a pen and quietly switch my name with Jake’s, so I’m heading Blake’s group. I figure I may as well enjoy at least one aspect of the cleanup.
Liam raises an eyebrow at me, smirking. “Smooth move.”
“Shut up.”
Patrick calls everyone over, letting them know the plan for the coming week. He continues with his instructions, his voice carrying over the din until he’s gotten across all the important information.
“Alright, folks, listen up! That’s all for now. Check in with your team leaders, and boys, make sure everyone knows their tasks. Safety is our top priority.”
Blake appears by my side. She’s wearing a fitted T-shirt and jeans that hug her perfect body in all the right places, accentuating her curves. Her red hair is pulled back in a high ponytail, strands escaping to frame her impossibly beautiful face.
She glances at me and the soft light of the bar casts a glow on her flawless skin, her lips curving into a smile that cuts straight through me. She’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
After scanning the list of volunteer groups, she focuses on me. “Looks like we’re in the same group.”
“Guess so,” I reply, shrugging.
She looks at the packed bar and volunteers spilling out onto the boardwalk. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? How everyone’s come together like this.”
“Yeah,” I agree, scanning the crowd.
Patrick’s voice cuts through our conversation. “Ethan, you’re leading the beach cleanup crew working around the lighthouse. Make sure everyone’s got the right gear and knows what they’re doing. We’re getting started first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Got it,” I say, giving Patrick a thumbs-up.
Blake stands beside me as the rest of our group gathers around, and I give them a broad outline of the plan tomorrow. Once I’m done, and the others start to drift away, I turn to Blake, grinning at her. “Looks like you’ll be answering to me for the next few weeks. Just call me Mr. Boss Man.”
She raises an eyebrow, a mischievous look spreading across her face. “Unlikely. We both know who really calls the shots around here.”
“We’ll see about that. But for now, how about we grab a drink and work on the plan for tomorrow?”
I shoot a quick glance at Liam, who’s finished with his own group, letting him know in no uncertain terms he’s not invited to join us. He rolls his eyes but doesn’t object—he knows I’ve had a crush on Blake for years.
Her eyes catch mine, a spark lighting them. “Sounds good. I could use a drink after the day we’ve had.”