Page 42 of Tides of Change
“What is this?” I asked, flipping through the pages, already knowing I wasn’t going to like the answer.
Ethan stepped beside me, his face tight. “It’s a scene from book seven.Chapter forty-four, rewritten. The murder victim’s name…it’s been changed to mine.”
I stared at the page, the detail. Goosebumps raised on my arms.
“I’ve never seen him escalate like this,” Ethan murmured, voice low. “This isn’t a warning. It’s a script.”
I didn’t answer right away. I carefully slid the papers and envelope into an evidence bag, sealed and labeled it, my mind racing. “This is the clearest threat yet,” I said. “More personal. Deliberate.”
Ethan rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Garrett…I’m scared. And not just for me. What if you or Noah gets caught in this?”
I stepped forward, reaching for his hand and gripping it tight. “I’ll keep Noah safe. Always. But we’re done hiding that you’re in town. It hasn’t worked.”
Ethan nodded, his jaw tight. “I hate that I brought this here.”
“You didn’t bring this here.Hedid. And I’m not letting him chase you into a corner.” I hesitated, then added, “It’s imperative you stay inside.”
“I’m not fragile, Garrett,” Ethan said, but there was no heat behind it.
I smiled, just slightly. “I know. But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve someone at your side.”
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, his expression troubled. “I think we should?—”
“No.” I cut him off, my tone firm. “We’re not letting him rule our lives.”
“But—”
“I think we should do the opposite,” I said and stepped closer to him, my gaze steady on his. “Your cover is blown. He knows you’re here, and you’re not running again.”
Ethan’s brows knit together, skepticism written all over his face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I don’t think you should go out alone. Not even to the mailbox at the curb,” I clarified. “But I also don’t think you should hide anymore. It hasn’t helped.”
There was a beat of silence, tension hanging in the air. Then, taking a deep breath, I made a decision—a leap of faith that could change everything.
“Go out to dinner with me tonight.”
He blinked. “You’re asking me out? Now? During all this?”
“I’ve been wanting to ask you for days,” I said. “I just kept waiting for the danger to pass. But it won’t. Not right now. So we live around it. We don’t stop living because of it.”
Ethan stared at me for a long beat. “We’ll have to be careful. If Sarge finds out?—”
“I know. I’m screwed. We’ll be circumspect.” My lips twitched. “I won’t show up with roses, in uniform.”
He let out a soft laugh, one that tugged something in my chest. “Okay. One date.”
I gave his hand a squeeze. “One date, and a promise—we face this thing together.”
His eyes met mine, and something shifted. A line drawn. A choice made.
“Are you sure you’re ready to go public with our…relationship? Even if we’re careful?” He cocked his head, his gaze steady but questioning. “You’re a great kisser, don’t get me wrong. But I get the sense that…that you’ve never been with a man before.”
The weight of his words lingered between us. The implication was clear—this wasn’t just about dinner. It was about stepping into the light, letting the world in on what we’d been carefully guarding. My heart beat a little faster at the thought, but instead of fear, I felt a curious calm settle over me.
I nodded. “But I want to be with you.”
The statement was like an anchor dropping into place. For the first time in years, I felt settled in my own skin. The decision felt right, like it had been coming for a long time, maybe even since Leo, in high school.
