Page 22 of Tides of Change (Seacliff Cove #2)

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.

Maybe that’s why my relationship with Ava had always felt…tepid. Safe. A box checked off a list rather than a fire that burned deep. I hadn’t been ready to admit it before, but now, standing here with Ethan, it was undeniable. I was attracted to men.

To Ethan .

“And what if the gossip gets back to your superiors? What about the repercussions to your career?” His brow furrowed.

That gave me pause, but only for a second.

For the first time in a long time, I wanted something for myself.

Not just as a deputy or a dad, but as a man.

If Sarge found out, I’d deal with it. But giving up Ethan was not an option.

Still, I wouldn’t be stupid about it. “I’ll pick you up at six,” I said firmly.

“And we’ll go out of town.” I grabbed the evidence bag, the smooth plastic slick under my fingers.

Ethan’s lips quirked into a small smile.

He stepped closer, and his familiar cedarwood scent washed over me.

His kiss landed softly on my cheek, but the impact sent a flurry of butterflies crashing into each other in my gut.

For a moment, I was transported back to high school.

It felt like I was finally circling back to where I was supposed to be.

“I’ll be ready,” Ethan murmured, his voice brushing against my ear like a promise.

As I left, the bolt clicked shut behind me. I stood on the porch for a beat. A quiet resolve settled over me. This was a turning point—not just for me and Ethan, but for the rest of my life.

“Hey, buddy!” I crouched to a knee in Mom and Dad’s living room.

My heart lifted at the sight of Noah sprinting toward me with that grin that always knocked the wind out of me.

He threw himself into my open arms with the reckless abandon only kids seemed capable of.

His small body hit me with surprising force.

The scents of sea salt and sand clung to him, tangled in his messy, windblown hair.

He gave me a quick, perfunctory hug before pulling back, his eyes bright with excitement. “We catched eight crabs this morning!” His tongue peeked out as he concentrated on his fingers and raised seven in triumph.

My dad chuckled from his spot on the worn leather recliner, where he sat nursing a cup of coffee. “Eight Dungeness. We threw the rock crabs back.”

I rose to my feet, brushing sand off my jeans. “Sounds like an excellent dinner.”

My mom, perched on the arm of the sofa, tucked a strand of graying hair behind her ear and smiled warmly. “Want to stay? We’ve got plenty.”

I shook my head, the knot of nerves tightening in my stomach. “Can’t. I’ve got plans. Can you babysit this evening?”

“Of course.” Mom’s eyes lit with curiosity. “What are you doing?”

“I’ve got a date,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual.

“That’s wonderful! Anyone we know?” My mother raised her eyebrows.

I hesitated for half a second, then shook my head. “No. Not someone you’ve met.”

She gave a small, expectant smile. “Well, what’s her name?”

I took a breath, then let it out slow. “It’s not a her.”

She didn’t say anything right away—just blinked once and studied me. My heart thumped once, hard.

“With a man,” I said, quieter now. Steadier.

Her smile returned—smaller this time, softer. “I’m happy for you.”

I rested my hand gently on Noah’s small shoulder. His skin was warm beneath my palm, the soft, steady weight of him grounding me like nothing else could. He tilted his head up, wide blue eyes searching mine with a seriousness far beyond his five years.

“What’s a date? Does that mean you’re going to hold hands?” His brow furrowed in concentration.

I choked back a chuckle. “It means I’m going out to dinner with Mr. Ethan,” I said softly.

My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know what I expected—a million questions, confusion, maybe even the echoes of things he’d heard other kids say.

“Can I go with you?” he asked, his eyes going wide with a hopeful sparkle.

I crouched to his level and brushed a hand over his tousled hair. “Sorry, bud,” I said gently. “It’s just going to be Mr. Ethan and me this time.”

The brightness in his expression dimmed, his shoulders sinking just a little. But in true Noah fashion, the disappointment didn’t linger. A beat later, he gave a tiny shrug and perked back up.

“Okay. Can I go play now?”

I grinned and stood. “Yeah, buddy.”

But he was already bounding down the hall, his stockinged feet skidding against the carpet as he disappeared into his room like the question had never even existed.

I turned back just in time to see my dad watching me, his expression unreadable. “Who’s Mr. Ethan?” he asked.

“A new neighbor,” I said, keeping my tone light. “We’ve been…getting to know each other.”

Dad nodded, slow and stiff. His jaw worked for a second before he spoke. “That’s fine, Garrett. But I’m a retired sergeant. You think this’ll come back on you at work?”

The words hit like a pebble dropped in a calm pond—small, but rippling.

I pressed my molars together, pushing back the sting of irritation. “There are openly gay men and women in the department now,” I said evenly. “It’s not like it was when you started. People are more open. More decent.”

Dad lifted his chin. “You know we love your gay friends like our own sons.”

“I know,” I said, quieter now. And it was true. My parents had welcomed every friend I’d brought home with genuine warmth, even when they didn’t fully understand.

Dad stood slowly, walked over, and rested a callused hand on my shoulder. His voice was low, gravel-thick with age and pride.

“I don’t always understand everything in this world, Garrett. But I know this—you’re a good man, a good father, and a damn good son. That’s all that matters to me.”

I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat as I nodded.

And as he stepped away, I realized something had shifted.

My family didn’t need to understand everything. They just needed to show up.

And maybe, just maybe, so did I.

I looked down the hall where my son had vanished, then toward the door where Ethan waited for a chance. I was done standing on the threshold. It was time to walk through it.