When We Are Enough (Valiant Hearts #1)

12. Patrick

Chapter 12

Patrick

S tepping inside the Tavern, the usual cacophony of music, laughter, and chatter hits me. Tonight, though, it barely registers. It’s only when I spot Blake’s distinctive red hair tied in a high ponytail, her hand waving me over through the crowd, that I stop.

Navigating through the busy tables, making my way to her. She asks one of the other bartenders to take over, then slips out from behind the bar to meet me. Concern is etched across her face as she greets me with a kiss on the cheek.

“The boys are upstairs.”

“Thanks.”

She leans in closer, her voice dropping. “Is it true? The rumors about the evacuation?”

“We’ll know more in the next couple days.” I try to sound more confident than I feel about the unpredictable nature of the hurricane heading our way. “The mayor is going to keep everyone updated, so unless it comes from her office, assume it's nothing more than a rumor.”

Without warning, Blake pulls me into a hug. “I’ve missed you, you know. We never hang out anymore. ”

She turns her head against my shoulder, and I force my arms around her. The hug, warm and familiar, should be comforting, but it stirs up unwanted emotions instead. She used to date Danny right up till the day he died, and being around her sometimes feels like walking through a minefield of memories.

As she squeezes tighter, I’m caught off-guard by a sudden wave of grief. No one ever tells you about these moments—that one second you’re fine, thinking about other things, and the next, you’re drowning in the past again.

She releases me and sees the change in my expression, her own face softening. “I miss Danny too. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

I want to say something to bridge the gap between us, but the words get stuck in my throat. All I can manage is a nod before muttering, “I better go. I’m running late.”

Blake drags a sleeve quickly across her eyes and forces a smile. “Before you go, I’ve heard another rumor.” Her smile turns into something more genuine. “Apparently, Patrick O’Connor has a pretty blond girlfriend. Everyone’s talking about it.”

The sudden shift in conversation catches me off guard. The corners of her mouth twitch as she continues. “You were spotted at Sweet Current Bakery, and the whole town’s buzzing about the girl who managed to land their most eligible bachelor.”

A small laugh escapes me, more out of discomfort than amusement. I should know by now that nothing in this place goes unnoticed. “I don’t have a girlfriend?—”

She cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “Oh, come on, you can tell me . I won’t say a word.” She draws an imaginary cross over her heart, though we both know gossip is the lifeblood of Harbor’s Edge.

“It’s not like that. She’s working with Granny Sloane.”

She raises an eyebrow, staring intently at me, before shrugging. “Alright, I won’t push.” No doubt she senses she’s going to get absolutely nothing from me, though her eyes still hold a hint of curiosity. “But you better keep me updated. I don’t want to hear about you getting engaged from Dot McLellan or one of the other Chatty Cathies.”

A retired schoolteacher and the town historian who knows everything about Harbor’s Edge and its founders, Dot is the go-to person for town gossip. I swear she’s got a phone network set up for her and her friends to share anything they learn, because any news or gossip spreads through town at lightning speed.

I nod, grateful that she’s letting this go, but still feeling the need to escape the conversation. “I have to get upstairs to the boys.” A gesture toward the stairs leading to the roof terrace, and Blake steps back, allowing me space to pass.

“Go on, then. Save the town, hero.” She’s grinning.

Hero . If only she knew the truth. I hurry up the stairs to the roof terrace, each step heavier than the last. I wish so many things were different—the grief that hits me out of the blue, the impending storm, the responsibilities and secrets, the distance I’ve put between myself and people who care.

But that’s life, right? Bad things happen. People move on. We do the best we can.

Stepping onto the dimly lit rooftop terrace of the Tidal Tavern, the familiar sight of my friends gathered at a corner table catches my eye. Even under the soft overhead lights that leave deep shadows over the terrace, I’d recognize Antonio, Jake, and Mike anywhere—we’ve known each other since school and have been through so much together.

I make my way over and pull up a chair beside them. “Hey guys, how’s it going?”

Mike, with his sandy blond hair and full beard, gives me a wide grin. “Doing good, man. Your girlfriend’s car should be ready in the next couple days.” He smirks, obviously enjoying the look on my face, while Antonio laughs.

“So you’ve actually met this girl they’re all talking about?”

Mike nods in Antonio’s direction. “Sure have. She brought her knackered old VW into Jimmy’s. Emmy Brooks. She’s gorgeous. Patrick is punching way above his weight. Although I’m not sure what a sweetheart like that sees in a boring geezer like him.”

My frown deepens. “She’s not my girlfriend. Please don’t start. I’ve already been grilled by Blake downstairs.”

“Is she the one who hit you in the head? Blake never struck me as the jealous type.” Mike tries to suppress his smile but fails.

“It was Emmy.” My words come out through near-gritted teeth. This is getting old, fast.

Now it’s Antonio’s turn. “Emmy hit you? Last night in bed? Wild!”

Jake, usually more reserved than the others, actually laughs at my obvious squirming. “Sounds like someone’s got a soft spot.”

I can’t resist trying to give him a playful shove for the comment.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right?” Jake leans back, attempting to stop his beer from spilling as he dodges me.

“Honestly guys, I don’t have a girlfriend. She’s Granny Sloane’s nurse?—”

“A nurse. Oh, that’s hot! Does she wear a little white dress?”

I shoot Mike another look before turning to Jake, desperate to change the subject. “How’s Suzie doing?”

Jake’s entire demeanor softens as the conversation shifts to his daughter. “She just turned twelve last weekend. We had a sleepover with six of her friends. I aged fifteen years!”

“Twelve?” It feels like only a couple of years ago that Jake got his high-school girlfriend pregnant right after graduation. They were broken up when she found out, and he was dating a girl he was really into—Kelly Charleston, one of Nora’s friends. He ended things with Kelly, and they gave it another shot, but things didn’t work out between them, although they’ve been pretty good at the whole co-parenting thing.

“Yeah, twelve going on twenty,” says Jake with a grin. She’s great, though. Busy with school and just made the soccer team. Keeps me on my toes.” His pride is clear, and even though being a father wasn’t what he planned, he’s embraced his role, always putting Suzie’s needs first.

I glance at my watch. We were all supposed to be here half an hour ago. I was a little late, but Ethan and my brother Liam are even later. The six of us are the core members of the Valiant Hearts, but it looks like only four of us actually care enough to show up.

I check my phone but there’s nothing from Liam, so I shoot off a text: “Where the hell are you?”

The muscles in my neck tense and the beginnings of a throbbing headache spread across my temples. My jaw clenches and I wiggle it, trying to relieve the tension building up, but a band is tightening around my head, squeezing.

I take a deep breath, hoping to calm my growing anger and ease the pain, but it only seems to worsen, especially when the others stare at me.

“What’s up, buddy?” Antonio asks.

“Ethan and Luke. Anyone heard from them?” The boys shake their heads. “Damn it. This is important. You’d think Ethan would get his head out of his ass long enough to prioritize a meeting about the hurricane. He claims he wants to be a part of the Valiant Hearts, but it’s bullshit.”

Part of me knows I’m overreacting because Liam is with him, and the boys know it too, giving me a few moments to pull myself together before any of them say anything.

“Let’s give them five more minutes, then we can start without them,” Antonio says.

Nodding my agreement, my jaw stays firmly clenched as the others talk shit between themselves. The headache becomes almost unbearable, and my fingers automatically reach up to massage the pressure points on my temples, avoiding the tender spot from Emmy’s hit with the fry pan. But even that brings little relief.

Nothing drives me more crazy than seeing Liam flush his life away, chasing after Ethan’s pipe dreams, especially when I’ve given up so much for him and the others. With his carefree attitude and willingness to dive into whatever scheme Ethan comes up with next, he’s been a constant source of worry for me.

The latest idea is a skydiving company, and despite the glaring risks, Liam is seriously considering investing his meager savings. Ethan’s got a live fast, die young mentality, even though he’d tell you he’s got everything perfectly under control, and he already has his skydiving license, convinced that Harbor’s Edge is the untapped market they can capitalize on.

Part of me gets it—the Pines coming almost all the way down the harbor, the forest meeting the salty sea, it’s something special. But that doesn’t mean Liam gets to take stupid risks and do whatever the hell he wants, not when the rest of us are working double time.

My chest tightens as I think about how Liam and I have drifted apart. We used to be inseparable as kids, best friends who could take on the world together. But everything changed when our father died. I stepped up, became the responsible one, the man of the house, while Liam seems to just stay a kid no matter how old he gets.

I glance at my watch again. “We might as well start. We need to get our planning sorted and call for volunteers once the mayor confirms the hurricane’s likely impact tomorrow. She’s counting on us getting a big turn-out like we have for previous disasters.”

You can say what you want about Harbor’s Edge, but the people who live here genuinely care about one another and want to pitch in and help. And Danny Heart was well loved, his family respected. Lots of people felt his loss, not just me. When they hear there’s a disaster or that we have to deal with the aftermath of one, and the Valiant Hearts need them, they come.

The shift in focus helps ground me, providing a bit of respite from the headache and my worries. But concern for Liam remains, a quiet ache in the back of my mind as we dive into the logistics of preparing for Hurricane Karen.