The evening settled soft around the cabin, the light outside thinning to blue. Inside, the fire had slumped to a low, pulsing glow\u2014embers breathing under a thin lattice of blackened wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake rose without hurry. He crouched, nudged a coal with the iron poker, then set the tool aside and looked over his shoulder at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome add a log,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She blinked at him, startled. \u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His gaze didn\u2019t waver. \u201cYes. Go on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her stomach tightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She moved toward the stack of wood beside the fireplace, fingers brushing over the rough bark before curling around a smaller log. The heat from the embers pressed against her skin as she knelt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when she leaned forward, the crackle sharpened, and she froze. The flames licked higher, sudden and hungry, as though waiting for her mistake. She drew back, clutching the log tighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2014\u201d her throat tightened. \u201cI don\u2019t want to burn myself. Could you help me, please?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike earlier in the day, she didn\u2019t retreat into silence or fear. She turned to him quickly, asking instead of guessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake moved to her, his movements slow, unhurried. He came to stand behind her, his shadow stretching over her shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaution is good,\u201d he said, his voice low, steady near her ear. \u201cFear isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reached forward, his fingers closing lightly over hers where she gripped the log. His touch didn\u2019t force; it steadied. Guided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTogether,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With his hand directing hers, they eased the log into place. The flames caught quickly, wrapping around the wood, turning the dull ember-glow into fire again. Heat rushed outward, warming her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake withdrew his hand only after the log had settled. \u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily let out a shaky breath she hadn\u2019t realized she was holding. The fear that had locked her chest eased, replaced by something steadier. His words echoed through her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll learn the difference,\u201d he said, his gaze fixed on the flames. \u201cBetween caution that protects you\u2014and fear that cages you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The log caught, the flames rising brighter, steadier. Lily watched the fire settle, the fear in her chest giving way to something warmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake stayed where he was for a moment longer, then stepped back, his presence retreating but his steadiness lingering in her bones. He moved toward the cupboard, pulling something small from the top shelf. A bag crinkled in his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She blinked. \u201cAre those\u2026 marshmallows?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His mouth curved, just barely. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answer was so unexpected, so ordinary, it startled a laugh out of her. Soft, unsure, but real. Blake didn\u2019t comment\u2014just pulled two skewers from the drawer, handed one to her, and speared a marshmallow on his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere,\u201d he said, settling back in his chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She mirrored him, sliding the marshmallow onto the skewer with careful fingers. They leaned forward together, the fire throwing light across their faces, the sweet scent of sugar mingling with woodsmoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The marshmallow blistered at the edges, turning golden. Lily rotated hers cautiously, afraid of letting it slip into the flames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re too careful,\u201d Blake observed, his tone even, but not unkind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her lips tugged in the faintest smile. \u201cBetter than setting it on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He glanced at her, his gaze steady. \u201cNot always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked back to the flame, thoughtful, the marshmallow swelling at the tip of her skewer. For the first time in days, her body felt light\u2014not with escape, but with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When hers was finally done, she pulled it back, blowing gently on the sticky surface before taking a small bite. The sweetness melted across her tongue, a stark contrast to the weight of every conversation they\u2019d had that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake tasted his own, then set the skewer aside, the corner of his mouth lifting again. \u201cSimple,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cBut sometimes simple is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire burned lower again, embers glowing, the sweetness of roasted marshmallow still lingering on her tongue. For a long time, they didn\u2019t speak. Blake leaned back in his chair, steady as ever, while Lily let her gaze rest on the flames, her body loose in a way she could hardly remember ever feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Blake\u2019s voice broke the quiet\u2014low, even.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTomorrow we\u2019ll head back to the city. When we do\u2026\u201d He paused, eyes steady on her. \u201cDo you want to go home, or come back with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question hung in the air, heavy but not pressing. It wasn\u2019t a demand, not even an expectation. Just space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily\u2019s throat tightened. A week ago, she would have panicked. The idea of choosing\u2014really choosing\u2014would have felt impossible. But now\u2026 she understood something. His offer wasn\u2019t a trap. It was hers to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She drew in a breath. \u201cI think\u2026 I\u2019m ready to go home.\u201d Her voice wavered, but steadied as she went on. \u201cI need to start putting my life back in order. If I don\u2019t choose that for myself first, I\u2019ll never really be able to give myself to anyone fully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blake inclined his head once. No disappointment. No persuasion. Only acknowledgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood,\u201d he said simply. \u201cThat\u2019s the right choice\u2014for now. Yours. That matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the fire breathed steady, sealing the moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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