I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m not surprised. Small towns and their grapevines, right? But I wouldn’t say I’m opening anything just yet. I’ve just been looking around, seeing if it might be a possibility.”
He nodded, his eyes gleaming with interest. “That’s exciting. We don’t have anything like that here, and honestly, it’s something the town could really use. My students would love it—getting out of the classroom and seeing some real art. They could use a cultural day out.”
His mention of students piqued my curiosity. “Wait, are you an art teacher?”
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I don’t have the eye or the patience for that. I can appreciate art, but teaching it? Let’s just say I prefernotto inflict my terrible drawing skills on anyone.” He grinned. “I teach English and literature. I love helping students dive into stories and discover the magic of words. That’s where my passion lies—guiding them throughnew worlds and watching their faces light up when they connect with a book.”
As he spoke, I found myself imagining him in a classroom, standing confidently at the front, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his strong forearms. I could picture him gesturing animatedly as he explained a classic novel, his deep voice filling the room with excitement and passion. The thought of him captivating a room full of students with his charm and enthusiasm made him even more attractive, his arms moving gracefully as he wrote on the board, each stroke deliberate and sure. It was easy to see why his students would be drawn to his classes.
I smiled, pulled from my daydream. “That sounds really fulfilling, helping kids find their voices through literature.” I paused, glancing around at the empty street before looking back at him. “Are your parents teachers, too?”
Ethan nodded, a fond smile spreading across his face. “Yeah, they both taught at Hallow’s End Elementary before they retired.” He hesitated, then continued with a chuckle, “We were all in one house for so long, including my little sister, Lily, who’s six now. It was getting a bit crowded.”
I tilted my head, intrigued. “Did you live with them the whole time?”
“Actually, I moved out of the family home when they retired early about two years ago. My mom wasn’t thrilled about me leaving the nest, but at twenty-five, I was ready for my own space, especially with the new job. Though I still just live down the street, so I’m not too far.” He grinned. “I guess I can’t escape home that easily.”
“That sounds really nice,” I said, genuinely touched by the close-knit nature of his family. It was a stark contrast to my own experiences, and a part of me wished I had that kind of warm, uncomplicated relationship with my own parents. Ethan’s life seemed filled with the happy, familialconnections I craved. It made me wonder what it would be like to have that kind of support and closeness.
As we stood there, people finally began filtering out of the town hall, done with their socializing for the night. I smiled. “I guess the meeting is over now, huh?”
Ethan chuckled, glancing around as the last few people trickled out of the town hall. “Looks like the excitement’s winding down,” he said, shifting his weight slightly, his hands slipping into his pockets. There was a brief pause, and a hint of awkwardness in the air, as if he was searching for something to say to keep the conversation going.
“So . . . what kind of things do you paint?” he asked suddenly, his tone a bit hesitant, almost as if he’d blurted out the first question that came to mind.
I couldn’t help but smile, noticing how he was clearly eager to stay and talk, even if it meant asking a random question. It was endearing, and it made me want to keep the conversation going, too
“I mostly paint bold and intense abstract pieces. Playing with colors and textures to evoke emotions is something I love. My work is all about capturing the essence of a moment, or a feeling, rather than something realistic. It’s a way for me to express things that are hard to put into words.”
“That sounds really cool. I’d love to see your work someday—though, fair warning, I might be terrible at understanding it. You might have to explain it to me like I’m five,” he joked, his eyes sparkling with playful sincerity. His genuine warmth made me smile.
Ivy emerged from the town hall with Mayor Hale and Margie, all chatting enthusiastically and, as they drew closer, a wave of disappointment washed over me. I had enjoyed talking with Ethan far more than I expected, and I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye.
“By the way, I’m sorry again about the coffee this morning,” I said, feeling a pang of guilt. “I hope I didn’t make you late for work or anything.”
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “No worries. The students thought it was hilarious, though. I had to hide the stain with my sweater all day. Gave them a good laugh, at least.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mayor Hale saying goodbye to Ivy and Margie. But Ivy lingered, not approaching me yet, giving me a bit of space and privacy with Ethan. Whether or not it was intentional, I appreciated it nonetheless. It felt nice to have a few more moments with him.
Ethan glanced over at Ivy and then back at me.
“I wanted to—” I began.
“Vinnie, I was thinking—” he said, our words overlapping. We both paused, then laughed.
Ethan’s gaze softened, a playful intensity in his eyes. With a slight, almost bashful smile, he said, “You know, I really meant it this morning when I said I’d like to see you again.”
I felt a blush rising to my cheeks. “I would like that.”
Before he could say anything else, Ivy and Margie approached, popping our little bubble. Ivy’s eyes twinkled with curiosity, and Margie gave us both a warm smile, as if she had been watching us all along.
“I see you two are getting along well,” Ivy said, a mischievous glint in her gaze.
“We were just talking,” I said, my voice slightly awkward, my gaze drifting to the floor as I struggled to meet Ivy’s eyes.
“Oh, really?” she nudged me playfully.
Margie and Ivy exchanged knowing looks and grinned at each other. Ethan noticed and chuckled. “Well, I’ve got an early morning.”
