Page 25 of Secrets and S'mores
7 Cheesette & Cheddarbelle’s Fabulous Day
Onyx
Soft laughter floats through the cabin, pulling me from sleep. My arm covers my eyes, and I lay there listening and trying to sort myself out.
Last night after dropping Ember off with Slate and Hazel, I shifted and circled their cabin. With my sensitive wolf ears, I heard flashes of their conversation and it didn’t sound pleasant.
Slate has been my ride-or-die since we were kids, but he is failing to connect with Ember andit makes me heated. She deserves a brother who supports her. And besides, she’s the future Alpha of an ally pack.
But last night, running with her, I knew I was in trouble. She’s going to go home soon, maybe tomorrow, maybe today. And I’m addicted to her. Every wolfish instinct I have pushes me to get close to her. Those animal instincts don’t understand that she’s leaving.
When I make it to the kitchen, wearing only sweatpants low on my hips, Ember isn’t sitting at the table where I expect her to be. Instead, she’s at the kitchen counter with a round of bread dough in front of her. Flour dusts her palms and across her loose t-shirt.
My mother leans over her, murmuring encouragement and instruction as Ember folds the dough and presses it flat with the heel of her hand before turning it and repeating the process.
Her eyes are bright, a soft smile on her lips. This is not the same girl who I kissed at the party. The difference is staggering. I was hoping to draw her attention by showing up half-dressed, but instead she’s got my jaw hanging down as I stare at her.
Scrambling for something to ground myself, I grip the kitchen table and drop into a chair, unable to take my eyes off of her.
“Morning,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at me.
My voice doesn’t catch the first try, but I manage to return the greeting. “How did you sleep?”
“Good,” she says, already focused back on her kneading.
My mother hands her a small knife and draws lines in the dough showing her where to cut. Ember makes three slices up the dough, stopping just short of the top, and then braids it. With a flourish, my mother tucks it into a baking dish and sets it aside to rise.
“Fantastic. You are a natural at this.”
Ember’s eyes widen, as if this is the first praise she’s ever received.
“What did you make?” I ask, dying for a scrap of her attention.
Ember dusts the flour off and slides into the seat across from me. “It’s just a brioche. Hopefully it’s good.”
“It’ll be delicious,” my mom interjects. “You’ve got at least two hours before it needs to go into the oven. I can keep an eye on it for you.” The microwave beeps as she reheats a leftover breakfast sandwich for me. She uses sourdough to make her english muffins, and I’ve loved them since I was a kid.
“Thanks, Mom.” The sandwich is cheesy and greasy with bacon, and I immediately follow it with one of yesterday’s scones, a banana, and a tall glass of milk.
Ember watches me, picking off little chunks of a scone and popping them into her mouth with an amused expression in her eyes. “So what are we doing today?”
“Since I don’t have any patrol duties, I’m not sure.” Rising, I tuck my dishes into the sink. “What do you want to do?”
“You can always help Cedar with chores,” my mother calls from down the hallway.
“That sounds interesting,” Ember says. Her arms fold over her chest and I’m not sure if she’s being sarcastic or not. I know Cedar isn’t her favorite person, but he’s my twin and she’s … something I’m not ready to label.
“Let me show you his garden and we can see if there’s anything fun we can help with.”
She glances at the brioche rising on the counter with a damp kitchen towel draped over it. “I’ll think about it.” That small smirk is back. “Why don’t you put some clothes on? Not everyone wants to see your abs.”
Leaning back in my chair, I grin back, loving every second of this exchange. It would look like nothing at all to anyone else, but I see her opening up and enjoying herself. It’s everything I hoped for.
“We both know that’s not true, but I will anyway, just for you,” I snark back. Striding to my room, I’m surprised her soft footfalls follow me. My heart speeds, but I keep my movements casual.
Stepping into my room, I leave the door ajar, and I can feel her lingering in the hall. “Hoping for a peep show?”
Ember rolls her eyes, stepping into my room. It’s strange seeing her in my space.
