Page 19 of Tides of Change (Seacliff Cove #2)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Garrett

At lunchtime on Halloween, I settled at a corner table at The Coffee Cove, the rich scents of my coffee and savory hot ham and cheese sandwich curling around me.

Outside, the crisp fall air carried the tang of salt, and the town bustled with last-minute shoppers.

But inside the café, it was warm, familiar…

and yet, I couldn’t shake the restless energy simmering beneath my skin.

Ethan.

He had been a constant presence in my thoughts for the past four days, ever since I’d stolen that kiss in the middle of my shift.

A reckless moment, one I hadn’t let myself overanalyze.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d looked at me afterward—like I was something he hadn’t expected but wasn’t quite ready to walk away from.

I exhaled slowly and pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over his name, and my pulse kicked up a notch.

Want to trick-or-treat with Noah and me tonight? He’s been asking about you.

It wasn’t just about Noah; it was an excuse to see Ethan again. I sent the message, and the seconds stretched out as I waited for his reply.

Love to.

I grinned, and warmth spread through my chest.

Pick you up at 6.

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.

Together, we strolled the neighborhood, and our quiet footsteps mingled with Noah’s chatter. Ethan lingered in the shadows at each house, letting Noah and me take the lead, but his presence felt significant.

Every so often, I caught his gaze on me, his expression unreadable but warm. I met his eyes once and the soft glow of a porch light caught the edge of a smile. My heart stumbled, and I looked away as heat crept up my neck.

This wasn’t just another evening. This was something growing between us.

We strolled from one house to the next, Noah’s small, warm hand nestled securely in mine.

The neighbors I’d known for years—the Vees, Wigfields, Carpenters, Hendershots, Moores, and others—were a mix of longtime retirees who’d lived there since the houses were built and young families settling into their first homes.

At each door, I kept my tone casual, simply asking them to keep an eye out for anything—or anyone—unusual on the street.

I didn’t offer specifics. Just enough to plant a seed of watchfulness.

Ethan’s phone chimed, the familiar sound instantly drawing my attention. I recognized the notification—it was from his security system. Someone was at his front door. My first thought was that it was probably just a kid trick-or-treating, but Ethan’s sharp intake of breath told me otherwise.

I stopped in my tracks, instinctively pulling Noah to a halt beside me. “What’s wrong?” My voice came out clipped, my senses on high alert.

Ethan turned the phone so I could see. A figure cloaked in a long, hooded robe approached Ethan’s porch, their movements deliberate and unnerving.

The person bent down, picked up Ethan’s carefully carved pumpkin, and hurled it against the door.

The sharp crack of impact reverberated in my imagination and sent a chill racing down my spine.

Then the figure lifted their masked face toward the camera.

They raised a middle finger with an air of casual defiance before disappearing into the night.

My chest tightened with an icy knot of dread. “Fudge,” I muttered under my breath. My gaze flicked to Ethan, whose face had paled. “He’s getting bolder. He’s escalating. Why? What does he want from you?”

Ethan’s shoulders sagged as he shook his head.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice barely more than a breath.

“I swear, Garrett—I have no idea who he is or what he’s after.

He hasn’t asked for anything. No demands.

Just…messages. Warnings. Threats. Like he’s playing some twisted game, and I don’t even know the rules. ”

I handed the phone back to him, my fingers brushing his, stiff with strain. “Send me that video.”

Ethan’s jaw worked as he nodded, his movements jerky.

Noah, attuned to the mood, tugged at my hand. “What’s wrong?” His innocent voice cut through the tension, pulling both of us back to the moment.

“It’s no big deal, buddy,” Ethan replied, his tone carefully even. “Someone smashed my pumpkin.” He forced a smile, but his rigid posture betrayed his attempt to stay calm.

Noah’s face fell and his brows knitted in confusion. “Why would anyone do that? It was so cute.” He hesitated, then mumbled, “Even though the smile was crooked.”

Ethan’s tense expression cracked, and he choked out a laugh. The sound, though brief, was enough to ease some of the weight pressing on my chest. “I’ll do better next year,” he promised, his voice thick with affection.

Would he even be here next year? The unspoken question lodged in my throat, but I swallowed it down for now.

Noah nodded solemnly. “Do that.”

I snorted, glad for the comic relief. “Let’s not turn this into a critique of Ethan’s pumpkin carving skills. I think we need to?—”

“No,” Ethan interrupted firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

“We’re not cutting the night short. The guy is long gone, has probably already ditched the costume.

We wouldn’t recognize him in the crowd. He’s not ruining Noah’s night.

” With that, he turned on his heel and started toward the next house, his stride long and purposeful.

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when Noah’s hopeful face tilted up at me. “Please, Daddy?”

My resolve softened, and I glanced at Ethan. I appreciated his determination to protect the night for Noah’s sake. I relented with a nod and followed. The photos I needed to take of Ethan’s porch and the search for the costume could wait.

When we reached the next house and stopped beside Ethan, I called my sister. “Can you be at my house in thirty minutes? Something’s come up.”

“Is Auntie Harper coming over?” Noah danced on his toes. “Can we eat candy?”

“Yeah.” Harper would have to deal with the consequences, and I held back a chuckle at her expense.

Ethan mouthed, “Thank you.”

We finished the houses on our street and then circled back to Ethan’s.

The faint metallic tang of adrenaline still lingered in the back of my throat as I took in the mess on his door—the smashed pumpkin strewn like a garish warning.

I snapped pictures while Ethan silently grabbed a broom, his movements unsteady but resolute.

When he was done, Ethan brushed pumpkin seeds from his hands and crouched in front of Noah. “Thanks for taking me trick-or-treating. I had fun.”

“Look how much candy I gots!” Noah beamed and held up his bucket with pride.

“Wow!” Ethan exaggerated his amazement and earned a giggle from Noah. “That’s a lot. Think you can share some with your dad?”

Noah scuffed the toe of his shoe against the concrete and thought it over. “Okay.”

I laughed and ruffled Noah’s hair. As Ethan straightened, our gazes locked. The warmth in his eyes and the unspoken longing between us made my heart skip a beat. For a moment, the world fell away, and it was just the two of us, possibilities stretching before us.

But not in front of Noah.

“Good night,” I said softly, the words carrying more weight than they should. “Thanks for coming with us.”

“My pleasure.” His lips curved into a small smile, and my chest tightened with the unspoken connection between us.

By the time we reached home, Harper was already waiting.

After a quick, generic explanation about a vandal, I grabbed my tactical flashlight and headed out to search for the discarded costume.

The night air bit at my skin, and every shadow seemed alive, but the search turned up nothing. My frustration grew with every step.

When I finally texted Ethan to let him know, his reply was immediate.

Didn’t find the costume.

Not surprised. Thanks for trying.

As I set my phone down, the heavy weight of uncertainty settled deeper. What would the stalker do next?