Page 102 of Frosting and Flames

“You think I can do it?”

The question comes out quieter than I meant it to, more desperate than it should.

She reaches up, brushing a hand lightly over my temple and down my jaw in a gesture so tender, I fear it might break me. “I know you can.”

The din of the crowd fades into the background against the weight of her words. I swallow hard, the praise sinking in deeper than I thought it would. For so long, I’ve been going at it alone. And now I have her, seeing me, believing in me. Her faith lights me up from the inside, chasing away the still lingering doubts that I’m not enough.

For her. For this town.

But maybe I am.

I look around at all the people milling about us, some catching my eye and smiling or nodding in recognition. People that came out in support of the fire station. Of the event I helped put on.

A powerful warmth settles in my bones, a knowledge that I’m exactly where I need to be. And who I’m meant to be with.

I give in and kiss her, unable to help myself, but keep it short and simple, aware of the crowd around us. My chest is too full, emotion rising so fast I hardly know what to do with it.

I love her. God, I love her.

The words hover on my tongue, reckless and aching to be said, even knowing it’s too soon. That we’ve barely scratched the surface of this relationship, still finding our footing. This isn’t the time or place, either, surrounded by the noise of the cookoff and the whole town watching.

Even so, my gaze stays locked with hers, the words burning quietly inside. It’s only a matter of time before they spill out. Awhen, notif.

The moment’s broken by her sister approaching. “I’ve sold out of everything already.”

It takes a second for Rachel’s gaze to break with mine. Does she know what I was thinking? Could she sense it?

“That’s…” She shakes her head, as if she needs to clear her thoughts. “Everything?”

Sydney laughs a little as she holds out her hands in a helpless shrug. “I know, right? This event is crazy. Is it cool with you if I run back to the bakery and load up some more stuff to bring over? It won’t be chili-themed, but it’s still something.”

“Yeah, great idea.” Rachel glances at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I was supposed to check on Jae at the face painting station.”

Sydney disappears into the crowd and Rachel squeezes my hand one more time. “Congratulations, again. Let’s talk more about it tonight. You should probably check your chili.”

Right. The chili. The whole point of why we’re here.

I stick my hands in my pockets as I watch Rachel weave through the crowd with a determined stride, stopping to make sure Mrs. Klassen is alright before continuing on. There’s a tug low in my stomach, reminded about tonight.

Rachel’s spending the night at my place.

And good things come to those who wait.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

RACHEL

Inever make it to the face painting table. After checking on Mrs. Klassen at the guess that spice challenge for kids, I get turned around in the growing crowd and stop in my tracks as I come face-to-face with Autumn.

She looks equally surprised to see me, her mouth opening slightly, eyes widening.

My heart stutters, my gaze dropping involuntarily to the rounded curve of her belly between us. She’s one of those girls who looks good pregnant, her hair thick and shiny, complexion glowing. I suspect you wouldn’t even be able to tell she was pregnant from behind, as she doesn’t seem to have gained weight anywhere but her midsection.

Emotions crash over me, rooting me to the spot. Sadness first, an aching, hollow kind reminiscent of every promise Kyle made and broke. Then anger, sharp and biting, flaring hot in my chest before it fizzles out.

Because the overwhelming thing I sense from Autumn as I meet her gaze again isn’t triumph or cruelty at having “won”. It’s wariness. As if she’s afraid of me.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” she says haltingly, looking around as if she was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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