Page 128 of Frosting and Flames

“Oh, good.” I fiddle with the edge of his comforter. I’m hesitant now to spoil this perfect bubble we’re in.

“Why don’t you start with what Mrs. Montour told you?” he asks. “Then move on to how you ended up at the auto repair shop.”

I blow out a relieved breath, glad he brought it up.

He listens as I relay everything that happened up until when he arrived, but that’s the easy part. The not so easy part is trying to explain how stupid I was.

“I hate to bring up bad memories,” I start, “but I want to apologize again for the other night. I know I said I hope you can forgive me on the voicemail, but—”

“Rachel.” He lifts my chin is I’m looking at him. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

“But—”

“Isn’t that what you said to me about the bakery fire?”

I open my mouth, then shut it. “That’s not the same at all.” There’s no way he can let me off the hook that easily.

“You let me know from the very beginning where your head was at.” His voice is so soft, so compassionate, it nearly undoes me. “That your ex had betrayed your trust and you still weren’t handling it well.”

A tear slips down my cheek. “I should’ve believed you.”

He shakes his head. “Kyle knew exactly what he was doing when he put that in my bed. How can I be mad at you when the same guy who created your insecurity then exploited it?”

I swipe at my cheek. “I feel stupid all over again.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I think his hug might rival Jae’s for making me feel better. “You’re not stupid. And it was a completely asinine plan on his part. No one could have expected that.”

I chuckle, though nothing about this is funny. “He’s not even smart. How does he keep doing this to me?”

“Put him out of your mind. He can’t come between us again.”

“No, he can’t,” I agree. “I’m sorry I let my fear cloud my judgment.” My voice is barely above a whisper, the weight of the past few days still heavy on me. Even if Nick has forgiven me, I know it’ll take some time to forgive myself. “You talked before about wanting to earn my trust, and you have. A thousand times over. Nothing will shake it again.”

“Thank you.” His arms tighten around me, pulling me in like he’s anchoring himself there, and as he exhales, I feel the tension leaving him. “I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”

He did. And this time, I’m not either. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

I press my ear to his chest, listening to the thud of his heart, steady and strong. Just like him.

If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I’m never letting him go.

EPILOGUE

NICK

1 MONTH LATER

Pulling open the door to the diner, the scent of bacon grease and fresh coffee hits me, even though it’s already lunchtime. It smells like that no matter what hour you come here.

I walk past the sun-faded red vinyl booths, the linoleum floors scuffed from decades of boots and sneakers, toward the back of the place, a familiar dark ponytail waiting for me.

“Hey, babe.” I lean down as Rachel looks up at me, and greet her with a long kiss.

Sure, I just saw her this morning when she left my bed, but that was hours ago. Every time seeing her is like a reunion.

“Aw, you two almost make me believe in love again.” The diner’s long-suffering waitress, Marge, stops by the table to puttwo glasses of water in front of us. She waits for a beat and says, “Nope, the feeling’s passed. What can I get you two? The usual?”

“Yep.” I slide my menu over to her. Marge knows I always get the patty melt with fries.

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