Page 156 of Fire and Icing

This is going to take some getting used to. But the way Syd’s smiling right now? It’s one of those goofy smiles people get when they’re falling. Thinking of that reminds me of Dustin saying we could fake those kinds of smiles at one another. Only, I never had to. He always draws a smile out of me, even on my worst days.

“Okay. Just give me time. Will you?”

“All the time in the world. I’m so sorry, Emberleigh. Truly.”

“I know. And I forgive you.”

“I won’t hide anything from you again.”

“Please. Not even an Easter egg. Okay?”

“Deal.”

I pick up my phone and look at the time. “Do you want to stay and watch Dustin on that late night show he’s on tonight?”

“Really? I’d love to.”

“Let’s make popcorn and tea,” I suggest.

“I know we’re not over this,” Syd assures me.

“We’ll get there. I don’t want to stay mad at you.”

“I deserve it if you are.”

“True. You do.” I look over at her and smile.

She smiles back. “You’re the best. I’m sorry.”

“Okay. No more sorries. Just let’s build forward.”

“Yes. Good. That’s what we’ll do. Thank you.”

She looks like she could use a hug, so when I stand to make the popcorn and she stands to join me, I step toward her.

“I’m happy for you,” I say, pulling her into a hug.

“He’s pretty awesome,” she says.

“He’d better be.”

She laughs into our embrace.

I pull back—not because I’m withdrawing, but because I don’t want to miss Dustin’s performance.

In the kitchen, we move in quiet synchronicity. Syd still knows where everything is in my cabinets. She pops the popcorn while I brew the tea, like we’ve done a hundred times before.

When we return to the couch, we sit a little closer than we had before—like something between us has found its old home.

Gran calls. “Hey, Sunshine! Do you have the TV on?”

“I do. I’m about to watch Dustin perform.”

“Just checkin’.”

“Thanks, Gran.”

“Okay. I’m watchin’ him over here. And to think. He lives in my basement.”

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