Page 23 of Ripple Effect

She tilts her head, looking at me curiously. “Why does that scare you?”

“Because we’re all just so tiny, so meaningless.”

“No, Elio, we’re infinite.” Her voice is soft, her expression sincere.

“I suppose that’s a sweet way to look at it.” My throat inexplicably tightens. “Very optimistic.”

“For me, it’s the only way to look at it.” Her gaze flits back to the horizon, and a moment of silence stretches between us before she continues. “You know,” she says, her voice dropping just a notch lower, “These moments with you. They’re the first time in a while I’ve felt ... calm. Serene, actually.”

I shift in my spot, digging the toe of my shoe into the sand. “Yeah? I’m, uh, glad you could get yourself back out on the water.”

She chuckles, shaking her head slightly. “Yeah, it’s not just surfing, though. This ... us, talking, not worrying about anything else.” Her eyes meet mine, a vulnerability laid bare. “I’m really glad I met you.”

Her honesty reaches into me, leaving a knot of emotion in my throat that I struggle to swallow. “Me too.”

* * *

Later that night,sleep’s nearly impossible for me to come by.

Daisy’s honesty, her resilience, her infectious passion—it all blends into my usually compartmentalized life. Somehow, she’s already blurred the lines for me. The ones I’ve painstakingly drawn to separate myself, my family, and my personal life from everything else.

For the last five years, I’ve been living inside the Reynolds bubble, with Kaia being the only exception. And now, I’m not quite sure how to feel about popping it.

The reflection does bring me some clarity about Sapphire, though. I’ve realized that I can’t extend her anything beyond what I’m already offering. I need those boundaries, those clear barriers that prevent my work life, Everett’s life, from bleeding into the rest.

No matter how much I might like the proposed financial buffer, I can’t afford to make an exception here. I also can’t afford to overwork myself—not again.

So, I schedule a partner scene for next weekend. It’s something local, a small commitment, with a woman I’ve worked with a handful of other times.

It should be simple and straightforward. And after allowing myself some much-needed rest, I’m finally feeling up to filming again. Besides, if it all works out, then the end product should tide me over for a few solid weeks.

10

DAISY

I haven’t loggedinto AfterDark since the day I set up my account.

I’ve been distracting myself with surfing, with school, with my friends. It’s been good, finding my balance again. Slipping back into the familiar rhythm of the ocean, the hush of the waves as they break against the shore. The pull of the current beneath my board.

It’s home. It’s healing.

There’s a local surfing competition that I’ve been thinking about, too. It’s nothing major but enough to keep my mind busy outside of classes. Their next big event isn’t until April, six months away. Plenty of time to get myself back in tip-top shape. And who knows, I might even snag a trophy if luck’s on my side.

Late at night, when the memories of Logan creep in, I remind myself about why I’m here—to be closer to the ocean, to pursue my dreams on my own terms. And a competition like this—setting an achievable goal—could help keep me focused, to remind me of my life’s purpose.

That aside, there’s still that nagging part of my brain pushing me to explore uncharted territories. My sexuality, my preferences, the pieces of me I never even thought to question before.

So, I decide to do something I haven’t done since I first created the account—I log back in to AfterDark.

The site is just as I left it, filled with whispers of promises, hints of hidden desires. I browse through some profiles, my eyes scanning their bios, their likes, their kinks.

There’s an adrenaline rush, a thrill in the unknown. It’s new, it’s exciting, but it’s also kind of terrifying. I don’t dive in headfirst, though. I take my time, skimming through profiles, taking notes of the ones that interest me the most.

It’s kind of silly, but it helps me feel better to be so organized, so methodical about the process.

There are a lot of attractive men on here. Some that are young, some that are much older than my preferences, and some that don’t fit with what I’m looking for at all. I still don’t know if I should push myself out of my comfort zone from the get-go or if I should simply move toward what feels most natural.

After a while, I find a few that are definitely worth a closer look. A couple that pique my curiosity, tickle my interest. So, I jot down all their details in my notebook, and then I take the plunge, subscribing to them without looking back.

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