Page 51 of Fire and Icing

“Well then, I don’t seem to have been out of line whatsoever. You don’t mind that it’s Dustin, do you, Emberleigh?”

“Gran …”

“Do you?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“And, Dustin, you don’t mind if I give my granddaughter a place to stay while her home is under repairs from the kitchen fire, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“See, there’s not a problem here at all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my coffee onto the porch and leave you two tocook breakfast together.” She walks away, muttering under her breath, “It’s so nice to have someone to share a kitchen with. Infinitely better than being single as an adult, I’d say.”

Emberleigh’s eyes meet mine and we both break into laughter.

“She’s too much,” Emberleigh says.

“I think she’s amazing.”

Emberleigh grabs a box of cereal from the pantry. She crosses my path to grab a bowl from another cabinet. I watch her the same way she was tracking me. I can’t help it. This version of her is something I haven’t seen before—early morning, slightly disheveled, a little off-kilter.

Voices carry in from the porch. Mrs. Holt is talking to someone.

The front door opens.

Mrs. Holt is saying, “They’re right in here.”

Emberleigh whispers, “What on earth?”

I shrug. My coffee’s done, so I pour it over the milk in my mug. Emberleigh watches me. I don’t hate the thought of her eyes on me. My fake girlfriend.We aren’t dating. And we won’t ever. That’s what she said.

An elderly woman who looks to be around the same age as Mrs. Holt follows her into the kitchen.

“You know my granddaughter, Emberleigh,” Mrs. Holt says. “She’s staying here while they fix her place from that kitchen fire—the one Dustin saved her from. And, speaking of Dustin, he’s renting from me. Living downstairs. Dustin, this is my next-door neighbor, June. June, this is Emberleigh’s boyfriend, Dustin!”

How does she know we’re dating?

Small town. Emberleigh was right. News travels. It’s not that different where I’m from. We’re an island of just over three thousand. People talk.

“Her boyfriend? Well. My my. Okay then,” June says. “I didn’t realize the two of you were dating. Where have I even been hiding? Land sakes. And aren’t you just the cutest little couple ever.”

“Little? June, do you need your glasses checked? Nothing about this young man is little.”

They laugh and I slip my arm around Emberleigh, only because she looks like she’s either about to pass out or throw up. I gently rub my hand up and down her shoulder.

Emberleigh looks up at me and shakes her head, but then both June and Mrs. Holt turn their heads toward us, and Emberleigh snaps her head toward them mid-shake. She leans on me as if she were my real girlfriend.

She feels good tucked in next to me.

“Awww,” June coos. “I just love watching young people fall in love.”

Emberleigh steps away from me without even a glance backward. “What kind of muffins do you have there, June?”

“Well, they aren’t going to beat yours, Emberleigh, but they’re my blueberry cream cheese muffins.”

“Sounds delicious,” Emberleigh says.

“I love muffins,” I say. “That’s actually my nickname for Emberleigh. Muffins.”

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