Page 97 of Fire and Icing

“Like Syd?”

“Exactly.”

“Maybe. I’d like to travel to New York. Visit the renowned bakeries and eat desserts at Michelin three-star restaurants.”

“You should.”

“And,” I look over at him. As long as we’re taking a detour down fantasy lane, I may as well tell it all. “Paris. And Belgium. I want to sit in a cafe in Paris and eat a pastry with an espresso while the rest of the world walks by like it’s just another day. And maybe even take a detour into Provence.” I wipe at an unexpected tear. My voice cracks when I say, “I could even visit my parents.”

Dustin’s response is soft, filled with compassion. “Now that’s a trip worth taking. And we only live once. Sayings like that are clichés because they’re inherently true.” He pauses as if he’s wondering if he should say his next thought out loud. “You wouldn’t be cheating on Waterford if you fell in love with some other cities. You can still come home and bake for the locals.”

He’s not wrong. And he nailed it. Leaving my hometown feels like a betrayal.

A new song comes on the radio. Dustin starts singing along.

He sounds so good.

I don’t love the song, but I love … him … singing. His singing. I love his voice. The way he pours himself in so effortlessly and completely. The smile that graces his face. The rough edges and smooth lines as he hits notes and tells a story through the lyrics. I might just fall in love with country music if he sang it to me.

“You could record a song. Your voice is special.”

“Special, huh?” His grin spreads slow and satisfied, like he just won something rare.

“You know your voice is special. Don’t fish for compliments. It’s not becoming.”

His laughter fills the cab. “I’m not fishing. I’ve been told I have a good voice. Special is next level.”

“Your voice is next level. Do you want to record music?”

Every musician in Tennessee seems to want to. Why would he be any different?

Dustin gets this far away look in his eyes. “Maybe one day.”

It shouldn’t break me. I just told him he has the kind of voice that ought to be recorded. He’s got dreams. That’s not a crime. But his dreams have wings, and those kinds of dreams mean one day, he’ll fly away.

Chapter 21

Emberleigh

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Being back in the bakery,this morning feels almost as if I dreamed the whole contest week. Did Dustin actually come with me? Did we make it to the semi-finals? Was that kiss real?

Not the kiss again. My thoughts circle back to him way too often—and to our kiss, but not only that. I think of all the ways he showed up for me, the way he laughed, how he looks in his sleep.

“Earth to Emberleigh,” Syd says for not the first time this morning.

We’re in the kitchen cleaning up during a break in the rush of customers. Jolene is covering the front counter for another hour.

“What? I’m good. What’s up?”

“You’re not here. Do you need an extra day off? I can cover the rest of the morning.”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m not worried, exactly. I just want to know what’s going on. You’ve barely said a thing all morning. You stare off into space with this dreamy look in your eyes. I need to know about the contest. But mostly, I want to hear about Dustin.”

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