Ethan
Silver Ridge was every bit as picturesque as I'd imagined—charming old buildings, narrow streets with cobblestones, and the backdrop of snow-capped mountains making it look like something out of a postcard. But as we wandered through the town, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong here. This place was for people who could drop a grand on a jacket without thinking twice. My girls didn't even own designer clothes, and I wasn't exactly someone who blended into the background in a place like this.
I walked behind Victoria, Samantha, and the girls, trying to stay out of the way while they explored. I wasn't much for shopping, but it was nice to see the girls so excited, especially after everything they'd been through.
As we passed by another boutique, I noticed a couple of women glancing my way. At first, I figured it was just because I looked out of place in my flannel and worn jeans, but then one of them smiled and approached me.
Blonde. Pretty and couldn't have been more than twenty.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice a little hesitant, "could we take a picture with you?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, sure, I guess," I replied, still trying to figure out why on earth they'd want a picture with me.
The women giggled, and one of them handed her phone to the other, who quickly snapped a photo. They thanked me, their faces lit up with excitement, and walked away, whispering to each other.
I stood there, feeling more confused than ever. Why would anyone want a picture with me? I wasn't anyone special. Just a guy who worked with his hands and tried to keep his kids safe.
As I turned to keep walking, I noticed Victoria watching me from a few steps away. She raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You seem to be quite popular," she remarked, her tone light but curious.
I shrugged, trying to downplay the weirdness of the situation. "I guess I just look like someone they know," I said, hoping that would be enough to brush it off. The last thing I needed was to draw more attention to myself.
She shrugged and continued walking.
I tried to put the strange encounter out of my mind, but it stuck with me. Why would those women want a picture with me? I walked through the quaint streets, trying to enjoy the day despite the strange looks and unexpected attention. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Victoria greet someone warmly. "Juliette, darling! It's been far too long."
I turned to see Victoria hugging a tall, elegant woman who looked like she belonged in a magazine. She was something to behold—polished, sophisticated, and probably someone who could tell a mile away that I didn't belong here.
Victoria introduced me, and I extended my hand, offering a polite smile. "I'm Ethan. Nice to meet you."
Juliette shook my hand, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were trying to place where she'd seen me before. "The pleasure is mine," she said, still looking at me with that same curious expression. "You're quite the hero, I hear."
I shifted uncomfortably. "Just doing what anyone would've done."
Juliette smiled politely, unconvinced by my modesty. Victoria, however, seemed to pick up on my discomfort and quickly suggested that I follow the girls while she caught up with Juliette. I nodded, grateful for the excuse to escape the scrutiny.
I walked out of the shop catching a glimpse of Samantha and the girls inside another store; their faces lit up with excitement as they looked at some jewelry. I made my way toward them pushing past the encounter with the pretty blonde and Juliette. It's really strange someone would want to take my picture unless they--
Then it happened again.
"Excuse me." I turned to see two different girls, college age, standing next to one another looking nervous. "Hey. Hi. Sorry to bother you, but we were hoping we could take a picture with you."
The second time in like 30 minutes. Bewildered, I said sure, and we did just that; taking pictures. The girls got a bit touchy, putting their hands around my waist and touching my forearm. It was so weird.
When I reached the store, I noticed Samantha standing at the door, waving me over, appearing both pleased and annoyed at the same time. It was quite the expression. There were two women talking to me outside, but I made my way over to her.
"What's up?" I asked, stepping inside the small shop. The girls were still staring at the jewelry with wide eyes, clearly taken by the delicate pieces on display.
"I wanted to buy these for the girls," Samantha said, holding up a couple of necklaces they had been admiring. "They're on vacation, and I think they deserve something special."
I glanced at the price tags, and my stomach tightened. They were beautiful pieces, no doubt, but I couldn't let Samantha spend that kind of money on my girls. "They're beautiful," I said slowly, "but I can't let you spend that much money on them. It wouldn't be right."
Samantha looked at me, her expression soft but determined. "It's just a gift, Ethan. It's not a big deal. I want to do something nice for them. Besides, they love these pieces, and I think it would make them really happy."
I hesitated, my instincts telling me to politely refuse, but the way she looked at me—the sincerity in her eyes—made it hard to say no. Still, I wasn't comfortable with it. "I appreciate it, Samantha, really, but—"
Before I could finish, she stepped closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I want to give you all a gift, Ethan. You and the girls. You've been so kind and welcoming, and it would mean a lot to me."
And then, before I could process what was happening, she pulled my face to hers and kissed me. I'm a tall guy, so to come face to face with someone is often difficult. Not so here. Samantha is around five ten and wearing a slight heel. She had no problem reaching up, grabbing my face, and pulling me in. The kiss was soft, lingering, and completely unexpected. I barely had time to react before she pulled back, her eyes locked on mine, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Samantha…" I started, my voice a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"My hero deserved a kiss, and now my girls deserve a necklace," she said with a grin. "Now, let's get these girls their jewelry, okay?"
I blinked, still trying to catch up with what had just happened. The girls were staring at us with wide eyes, their earlier disappointment forgotten in the shock of the moment. I glanced at Samantha, who was looking at me with a mix of mischief and sincerity. She wasn't joking.
"Alright," I said quietly, finally relenting.
She beamed at me, and for a moment, I forgot where we were, forgot about the strange day we'd had, and just focused on the way her smile made me feel.
And I had no idea how I should feel.
We paid for the jewelry, and as we walked out of the shop, the girls chattered excitedly about their new necklaces.