Page 31 of Frosting and Flames

“Yeah. He’s… Well, he’s always been more like a mentor to me than a regular boss.” He blows out a breath. “Maybe a little like a father figure, too. Not that I’d ever say that to him.”

I mime zipping my lips. “My lips are sealed.”

We talk more about the logistics of some of the ideas on the list and narrow down what we think will be the best contenders. I use the time to consciously relax, reminding myself there’s no reason to be tense or nervous or any other of the weird ways my body manifests anxiety. Nick has been nothing but kind and respectful since he got here. And when I’m not caught up in my head, it’s actually nice talking to him.

I need to get over this unsettled feeling once and for all. Mind over matter.

“So for the chili cookoff,” he says, “is it the public entering? Or are the firefighters making the chili? Because we might have some issues if it’s the latter.”

I look up from where I’m making notes. “Why?”

“Only Chief can cook.”

“You can’t make chili?”

He gives me a deadpan look. “You saw how I made those pancakes.”

I cover my smile with the back of my hand. It was pretty bad.

“Do baking skills transfer over to cooking easily?” he asks.

I shrug. “Sort of. Baking is more about precise measurements and directions, but cooking is a lot looser. You do what feels right.”

His look conveys he has no idea what I’m talking about, and I make a split second decision.

“How about I teach you?”

Maybe what I need is exposure therapy. The more I hang around him, the less daunting it’ll be.

He appears taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovers. “Yeah. I’d love that.”

“We should probably make sure Chief Adkins is okay with a chili cookoff, though. And that he’d participate. If we have at least two firefighters, that should be fine. The rest of the entries can be the public. Oh, and we could find a local band who might contribute their time, too…” Ideas form in my mind, but I shut it down before I get carried away. “But first, approval.”

“I’ll talk to him about it this week.”

My phone buzzes on the coffee table and I pick it up, seeing a text from Jae.

“I’ll let you get back to your night,” Nick says, standing. “I think we got enough done for now.”

Oh, I wasn’t trying to rush him off by checking my phone.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, standing, too. “We’ll, um, meet up for chili soon.”

“Looking forward to it.” He smiles as he stuffs the list into his pocket, and there’s something so… genuine about it, it catches me off guard. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes, the relaxed stance, the way he looks so present.

I can’t remember Kyle ever looking at me like this.

Oh my God, I have to stop. That’s not what this is.

Ducking my head, I move to the front entryway and open the door for him. “See you.”

“Bye.”

His arm brushes mine as he exits, a tingle racing over me at the brief contact.

I shut the door firmly behind him and press my forehead against the worn wood. Good lord, I need to get it together.

My phone buzzes again and I pick it up, expecting it to be a follow-up text from Jae, but it’s not.

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