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MychestburnedasI tried to pull in a lungful of oxygen, but there was none. Smoke curled and plumed around me. In a matter of minutes, the kitchen would be engulfed, and as much as I wanted to save it, I couldn’t.
I should’ve gone with Thorne. Too much smoke. Not enough air.
My head spun as I turned, searching for him through the smog.
A crackling sound burst behind me and I flinched, covering my ears. A utility cupboard went up in flames, and the shelves on the walls splintered and crashed to the ground.
I stumbled forward, away from the blazing heat burning my flesh, shielding my face while I coughed. With the glow of fire at my back, I headed toward the exit in search of Thorne when I felt a pair of arms come around me, and I nearly collapsed in relief.
He tugged me to the door, barely visible in the choking smoke, and rammed his shoulder against it until it burst open and we spilled outside into the chilly night.
My chest screamed in pain as I drew in a deep breath, and when I glanced beside me, I saw Thorne press his phone to his ear, followed by the monotone sound of the 911 operators voice.
I stood on numb legs, a wool blanket wrapped around my arms, as I watched the last of the fire trucks drive away. The uniformed police officer who took the report laid a hand on my mother’s shoulders. Mascara streaked her pale cheeks, evident even in the faintest of light from the moon.
“Just be glad no one got hurt,” the officer said, then he turned and spoke with Thorne before heading to his car.
Mom’s gaze shifted to me, and she wrapped her arms around me for the millionth time, squeezing me tight. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” Her chest shook with emotion as my father laid a hand on her back, his tone soothing while he murmured words of reassurance.
We’d called them the moment the firemen arrived. They’d been on their way home from their appointment with the attorneys when they got the call and headed straight over. And while they were both only concerned with my wellbeing, all I could think about were the orders, the cakes, the supplies, the memories. Everything we could never get back. Everything we lost.
Only a day ago, we’d been celebrating our small victory over the lawsuit and now . . . Now there was nothing left. No business to protect. No livelihood. All of it gone, wiped out in an instant because I let my guard down for one minute. Because Thorne and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other until we were finished. Because we lost focus.
And for what? An earth-shattering kiss? A moment of desire? We were fools.
After a moment, my father eased my mother off of me and guided her toward their car. When he returned, he said, “I’d better get her home. Are you sure you’re okay to drive? You can come with us.”
I swallowed over the lump in my throat. I couldn’t bear to look into his eyes, not after I destroyed everything. “No. I’m good.”
“Okay.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “If you’re sure?”
I nodded.
“We’ll see you at home, then.” He pivoted back around and offered Thorne a head nod as he passed him and returned to the car where Mom waited.
I stayed glued to my spot, still staring out at what once was the bakery, when Thorne appeared beside me, and I glanced around, realizing we were the only ones left.
He exhaled and scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I don’t know what to say. I know it’s overwhelming now, but we’ll fix it.”
We?I glanced over at him, my mouth a tight line. My gaze homed in on the way his throat bobbed, the sorrow moving through his bright green eyes. “The fire chief said our insurance may not cover it.”
“I’m sure it will—”
“Unlikely, considering it was my fault. I was negligent. I’d left a burner turned on and got distracted. I forgot.”
All the ways in which I could’ve prevented this made me sick.
“You don’t know that,” he said, his tone fierce.
I rolled my eyes.Was he really trying to insinuate this wasn’t my fault?
“I’d used the stove shortly before to melt butter. Kitchens don’t just spontaneously combust. And then we were so distracted, we didn’t even notice. I mean, maybe if we had been paying attention and caught it immediately, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
I ran my hands through my hair, then settled into a crouch above the pavement, worried my legs might not hold out. Bowing my head, I racked my brain for a way out of this mess, but I found none. There was no solution. Things wouldn’t just magically fix themselves in the morning. Mom and Dad wouldn’t show up at work with Batter and Bake in one piece again.
It was gone. All of it.
“I’m so stupid.” I closed my eyes. The prick of tears stung the back of my lids, and a lump formed in my throat. “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t—”
