Chapter 76

Emily’s POV

I peered at the bag in his hand and narrowed my eyes. "Seriously? Marshmallows?"

"Don't look at me like that," he said, his voice light for the first time all day. "It’s a tradition."

We sat on the edge of the porch.

I kept my focus on the marshmallow, rotating it slowly until the edges turned golden and bubbly. But I didn't need to look at Nathan to know he was watching me. I could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy and constant.

"You’re doing it again," I said, my voice barely more than a murmur.

"Doing what?"

"Looking at me like you’re trying to memorize my face."

He didn't look away. "Maybe I am."

I looked back at the flames, the sweetness of the sugar filling the air. It was a dangerous kind of peace.

When the fire burned low, we headed back inside. The air in the cabin had changed; it felt thick, charged with a current that made the hair on my arms stand up.

I stopped near the cen