Page 27 of Frosting and Flames

There’s a beat of silence, and I look out at the crowd, realizing most of the breakfasters are finished. Guess it’s time to clean up.

“So, can I get your number?” Her eyes widen and I rub my palms on my jeans, getting rid of the sudden dampness. “To talk about the fundraiser we’re planning,” I clarify.

She nods and I hold out my phone for her to put her contact info in, mentally doing a victory dance. If fourteen-year-old Nick could see me getting Rachel’s number now, he’d be in awe.

Not that she’s giving it because she’s interested in me, I remind myself. She’s interested in volunteering. Still, I’ll take it.

Her friend stops by and grabs one of the extra plates of pancakes at our station and lingers, eyeing me cautiously.

“How’s it going over here?”

Rachel seems to relax more with her here. “We’re good.”

“We didn’t formally meet the other week at the bakery.” She sticks her hand out toward me. “I’m Jae.”

“Nick,” I respond, shaking her hand.

Her grip is stronger than her slight frame implies. Paired with the intense way she’s studying me, it feels like she’s giving me some kind of test.

Only, I can’t tell if I’m passing it or not.

“I saw you-know-who showed up,” Jae says to Rachel, rolling her eyes. She must mean Kyle. He’s the only one I can think of who’s on par with Voldemort. “He give you a hard time?”

“Of course. But Nick here,” Rachel says, gesturing to me, “told him to fuck off. It was glorious.”

Jae’s demeanor does a one-eighty as she beams at me.

“He even offered to kick him out of the whole pancake breakfast, but I stopped him before he did that.”

“No, you should have let him. It would serve Kyle right for being a slimy, pencil-dick bastard who—”

“Okay, okay.” Rachel stops her before she can spew more creative insults. I kind of wanted to hear them, though. “Anyway, I think we’re about finished, right?”

There are only a few stragglers left out at the tables. Kyle and Autumn must have slipped out without us noticing.

“Yeah, thank you both for your help. You made a huge difference.”

Rachel gathers the bowls and utensils we used. “I’ll go clean these up inside.”

Jae doesn’t follow her, instead waiting till she leaves to say, “So, you’re anti-Kyle?”

“The original. Never could stand the guy.”

She gives me a broad smile. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”

She saunters off and I brace myself against the edge of the table, blowing out a breath.

All in all, today was… amazing, especially considering I didn’t even know if I’d see Rachel again and now we’re working on a fundraiser together. Definitely a win. If I can keep up this good luck streak, maybe… No, I don’t want to jinx it. Wishing for anything more when it comes to her is sure to lead to disappointment.

Because there’s no way in hell she’ll ever feel the same way about me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RACHEL

Nick:Do you have any free time this week to talk about the fundraiser? I work Tuesday and Friday, but I’m available any other day.

I pull off my gloves as I read Nick’s text, dismissing the flutter in my stomach. I don’t know why I’m surprised to hear from him. I gave him my number after all, and it’s been two days since the pancake breakfast. Presumably, we need to get started planning what comes next.

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