Page 39 of Small Town Sizzle

“You okay?” I ask, breaking the silence gently.

She nods, but she’s distracted. “Yeah… just a lot to think about.”

I step closer, lowering my voice. “Do you want me to follow you home? Or—” I clear my throat, trying to sound casual even though my heart thuds at the thought. “You could stay at my place, my mom’s house, tonight. Just until we figure this out.”

Her lips quirk into the barest hint of a smile before she shakes her head. “Thanks, Garrett, but I’ll be fine.”

I nod, shoving my disappointment down. “All right, but I’ll follow you anyway. Just to make sure you get home safe.”

She glances at me, and her expression softens. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Maybe not, but I will.”

She sighs, a faint chuckle escaping as she slides into the driver’s seat. “Stubborn.”

“It’s an endearing quality,” I tease, stepping back as she starts the car.

When her car finally pulls into her driveway, I ease to a stop a little down the street. She gives me a quick wave from her porch before disappearing inside. I blow out a breath, the tightness in my chest dissipating a bit.

As I drive back to my place, my mind churns. There’s something off about all of this, and I can’t just let it sit. I need answers.

I track Ethan down at the youth center the next day. He’s standing near the basketball court, clipboard in hand, barking encouragement at a group of kids playing a pickup game. When he notices me, he raises an eyebrow.

“Garrett. Didn’t expect to see you this early,” he says, setting the clipboard on a bench. “What’s up?”

I glance around, making sure no curious ears are nearby. “Got a minute? I need to ask you something.”

His face sobers. “Yeah, sure. Let’s step outside.”

We move toward the edge of the property, where the noise of the kids fades into the background.

“Do you have any projects on the land surrounding the youth center, or did Mom?”

“No, that land is to remain untouched. It’s stated in the will. She marked off how far we could go for this reno project and the additions, but we’re not touching any of the woods or natural habitat surrounding the two buildings. Why?”

I give him a quick rundown of the equipment Maya and I found last night, keeping it as concise as possible—trying to gloss over the fact that Maya and I were alone outside, hoping he doesn’t latch onto that. His expression darkens as I talk.

“Everything with the youth center is locked down,” he says firmly. “Mom made damn sure of it before she passed. Nobody’s touching this place without going through every legal hurdle imaginable. The protected status of the wetlands alone is unbreakable.”

“Who do I talk to about permits or development companies sniffing around this area?” I ask, crossing my arms.

His brow furrows. “They wouldn’t be able to get a permit for this land unless they stated they were with a research or conservation organization. Mom researched the heck out of people like that, too. They would have had to go through her, and she would have notated it on the board in her office.”

I nod, but the unease still gnaws at me. “Could they be looking at the wetlands or the surrounding land?”

He rubs his jaw, thinking. “All of it is protected land belonging to Mom’s estate. No one would be on it without Mom’sapproval. Had they come recently, Mike, our lawyer, would have contacted me to let me know someone was requesting permission, and he didn’t.”

“You’re certain?”

“As certain as I can be without digging into the records myself. If you’re worried, talk to Teddy. He runs a development company in town. If anyone’s heard whispers about land deals or permits being filed, it’s him. You can call Mike, too.”

“Teddy Shafer?” I ask, surprised.

Ethan smirks. “The one and only. He’s got a legit operation now. Offices downtown.”

“Thanks,” I say, already planning my next stop. “Do you have a number for him?”

“I do.”