When We Touch

I pause and glance at the ceiling. “It was strange… and very creepy. He didn’t exactly attack me… He was very pushy and wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Returning to my bakes, a little flush of warmth hits me when I remember Jackson rushing in to save me. “Jackson pretty much threw him out the door.”

“Holy shit!” Tabby hops off the table, and my water spills.

“Tabs!” I cry.

“What the hell is this?” She holds up the two-bodied squirrel I’d tossed in the trash. Tilting it side to side, she turns it around in her hands. “Is it a Siamese twin?”

Lowering the beater into the bowl, I switch on my mixer. “That’s what I thought! One set of feet, but two torsos…”

We look at each other, noses curled. Tabby breaks first.

“You are not throwing this away.” She marches over to the corner and climbs a stool, placing the monstrosity on a ledge above the windows.

“Tabby, take that down. It clashes with my vibe.”

“It’s a freak of nature!”

“Bucky is a freak of nature.” I go to the fridge and pull out my natural peanut butter and a brick of cream cheese.

“Oh!” She hops down and runs to where I’m working. “You’re making the banana cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting!”

Looking at the list, I nod. “The Schlotskys didn’t specify. They just said something beachy. Bananas are beachy, right?”

“Sure!” She picks up the list of orders, but her eyes wander to me. “So… you and Jackson?”

My eyes are fixed on the glass bowl where I’m blending the frosting, but I can’t stop my smile. She squeals, and a laugh bursts through my lips. I feel my cheeks getting hot and my eyes water.

“Oh, crap, you’re really back together.” Her voice is quiet, almost reverent. “You’re crying.”

“I am not!” Using the back of my hand, I touch my eyes. “I’m… happy.”

“Ember!” She dives forward, hugging me so hard the bowl tips. “I knew it would be this way. I’m so glad I gave him your number!”

Lifting my arms, I shrug her off me. “Yeah, about that…” I narrow my eyes and pretend to be angry.

“Are you mad? But it all worked out!”

Shaking my head, I look down at the mixture. “I’m not mad.” I inhale a deep breath and just let it out. “He moved us into the cottage—he said he wants us home with him.” Tabby swoons. “He says he loves me… he says he loves Coco. He made this whole sea-themed room for her they’re calling Atlantia, which is silly, but she’s completely into it. Yesterday afternoon we went to the beach, and we spent the day together just like…” I hesitate to say it loud, but the words light up the front of my mind like a neon sign.

Just like a family.

“Oh!” My best friend’s eyes sparkle. “I love Jackson, too.”

“My momma is pissed,” I announce, bringing us back to reality. “He’s out of town for the week wrapping up whatever he left in the city…”

“But you’re together!” Her head rests on her hand, a dreamy look in her eye. “All that shit’ll sort itself out.” She presses her lips into a smile and her eyes roam around my face.

“What?”

“You look like you used to look… Happy.”

“I am happy… And I’m happy to be working! Now help me sort these orders.”

* * *

I choose my signature spice cake with apple butter filling and cinnamon buttercream frosting for another unspecified order. One simply says “dark chocolate.” Tabby notes it’s for an anniversary, so I make my dark chocolate cake with purple passion fruit curd and chocolate mirror frosting with little peaks of salted chocolate ganache. My best friend holds her heart and falls against the counter in ecstasy. I only laugh and keep going.

By afternoon I’ve plotted out all the orders for the week. Tabby returns with bags from André’s. “I had the most amazing idea!” she announces, holding up the two bags. “You and André—joint restaurant owners!”