Page 36 of Tides of Change
Have Noah ring the bell. I’ve got candy for him.
I frowned, and my jaw tightened. Had he been out in public without me?
How did you get candy? I was supposed to escort you to the grocery store.
The thought of Ethan stepping outside—even to cross the street—made my shoulders tense. The stalker had been quiet lately, but silence didn’t equal surrender.
There’s this thing called DoorDash delivery…
I barked a laugh, some of the tension easing. Of course, he’d find a way to get what he needed without walking into danger.
Smart ass.
See you later. Can’t wait!
I stared at the last message, his words replaying in my mind.Can’t wait.My chest felt light, the usual weight I carried about the stalker momentarily lifting. I pocketed my phone and picked up my sandwich, unable to suppress a smile.
At the pickup counter, Cooper arched a brow and wiped down the surface with broad strokes. “What’s that smile about?”
I shrugged, playing it cool. “Going trick-or-treating with Noah tonight. Should be fun.”
But Cooper wasn’t buying it. He paused mid-swipe, his sharp eyes narrowing. “No, it’s more than that.”
Before I had to answer, he was called away to fill an order. I exhaled, a mixture of relief and unease swirling in my gut. I wasn’t ready to explain the way I felt about Ethan, not even to my closest friends. It wasn’t shame. It was…something deeper. Intimate. Personal. And Ethan was a private person. I didn’t want to betray his trust.
The day slipped by, and before I knew it, I was helping Noah into his costume. He wiggled with excitement, a ball of boundless energy.
“I can’t wait to see Mr. Ethan!” He bounced on his toes.
I smiled and tugged his mask into place. “He can’t wait to see you either, buddy.”
Pumpkin bucket in hand, Noah darted toward the door. “Let’s go!”
“Shoes!” I called. I laughed as he skidded to a stop and hurriedly jammed his feet into his sneakers.
Hand in hand, we stepped out into the chilly October evening, the air tinged with the scent of wood smoke. The neighborhood was alive with the laughter of kids and running feet.
We walked up the path to Ethan’s porch. The bright security lights blinked on and lit the way. The porch light cast a warm illumination in welcome, and a carved pumpkin with a goofy grin glowed by the door. Noah enthusiastically rang the doorbell three times.
After a moment, the lock clicked, and the door opened. Ethan’s smile was immediate and broad.
“Trick or treat!” Noah yelled and jumped up and down.
Ethan gasped, a hand to his chest. “It’s Spider-Man! At my door!”
“It’s me, Mr. Ethan!”
“Really?” Ethan leaned in, mock-surprised. “Are you sure?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, warmth spreading through me as Ethan played along.
Noah lifted his mask and nodded solemnly. “Uh-huh. This is just a costume.”
But Ethan continued the charade, which was one of the many things I liked about him. “You fooled me!” He grabbed a basket from a table in the entryway. “I think you deserve some candy for such a good costume.”
Noah held out his pumpkin, and Ethan dropped a few mini chocolate bars into it. Noah would bounce off the walls when we got home and sampled his haul, but that was part of the fun of Halloween.
Ethan grabbed a jacket, armed his alarm system, and locked the door. My chest tightened at the simple but crucial acts of caution.
