Page 104 of Fire and Icing

We’ve been homefor a week. The first episode of the contest airs this evening. Emberleigh and I watch it with her gran in the living room on the old TV set. There’s something surreal about seeing yourself on television after having lived through all the behind the scenes aspects of what’s being shown.

Even though Mrs. Holt knew we had won this round, she cheers and claps at the close of the episode. Emberleigh smiles over at me from her spot on the couch and I use every ounce of willpower I have to stay rooted in place.

She’s a magnet—surprisingly irresistible, steady, inevitable.

I’m a million shards of iron, scattered and trembling toward her pull.

I feel the tug in my chest, my fingertips, the breath that falters in her presence.

Every part of me knows its place is near her.

But I could flip the polarity if I rushed her.

So I struggle to remain still. Because wanting her is easy.

But not scaring her off? That takes everything.

We say our goodnights as soon as the show ends.

“That was sure somethin’,” Mrs. Holt says on a yawn. “I’m so proud of you two.”

“Thank you, Gran. I couldn’t have done it without Dustin,” Emberleigh says.

“You could have done it with one arm tied behind your back,” I say.

“Aww, now don’t you go being modest,” Mrs. Holt says. “She’s right. Not every partner fits as well as another. You were just the man for the job.” She winks at Emberleigh as if they’re sharing a secret.

“Well, you two lock up. I’m going up to bed,” Mrs. Holt says.

She’s out of the room and up the stairs amazingly quickly.

“Thank you, again,” Emberleigh says shyly to me once we’re alone.

“It wasn’t much,” I remind her.

“It really was.”

“Well, you’re welcome.”

“I’d better get to sleep,” she says. “We’ve got the festival tomorrow.”

“Yeah. I’m manning the chili booth with my crew.”

“I guess I’ll see you there.”

“At the cupcake booth?”

“All things cake …” She smiles. “That’s what we decided when Syd wanted cake pops and I wanted slices of cake or cupcakes.”

“Cupcakes,” I say, musing over the show we just watched.

“No one will be decorating blindfolded.”

“That sounds like a good call.”

We stand still, staring at one another, each of us waiting for the other to say something else.

“Well, goodnight, Dustin.”

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