Three Suitors: One Dream Man

My Fire vs My Ice.

Ember's Pov

Morning returned to Ember & Thyme like nothing had happened, like the world had simply reset itself overnight and expected me to follow along, and I tried to because the doors opened, orders came in, knives hit counters, voices filled the kitchen and life moved on exactly the way it always did, but something inside me had already shifted and I could feel it even if I refused to name it properly, not broken, not yet, just quieter… dangerous in a way I didn’t fully understand, and I snapped at the kitchen without thinking, “Table five needs their order faster!” “Where’s the garnish for this?” I barked, and a voice immediately came back, calm and teasing, “In your future if you keep shouting like that,” and I turned already knowing who it was, Marcus, moving through the kitchen like he owned it, controlled, effortless, and I narrowed my eyes at him, “You’re enjoying this too much,” and he smiled, “I enjoy everything, especially when my boss is watching me,” and I bent slightly, pretending to cough just to hide my reaction, “Don’t flatter yourself,” “Too late, I’m already flattered,” and I stepped closer, crossing my arms as I inspected his plating just to ground myself in something normal, “Hm,” I said, and he raised a brow, “That sounded judgmental,” “It is, your sauce is off,” and his expression dropped, “Wow,” “You’re welcome,” and he leaned in slightly, voice lower, “You’ve been staring at me… if this is your way of flirting I approve,” and my heart skipped before I could stop it, “I was critiquing your work,” “Same thing,” and I rolled my eyes but a small smile slipped through because of course he noticed, and his gaze softened just a little before he added, “Careful, you’re smiling, I might get the wrong idea,” and I stepped back quickly, “Back to work, Chef,” “Yes, boss,” and the kitchen roared back to life but my mind didn’t stay there because it kept slipping back to last night, to Alex, to that look, to Daniel, and then his voice broke through my thoughts, “You’re distracted,” and I looked up and there he was, Daniel, and I hadn’t even noticed him arrive, “When did you get here?” “Few minutes ago, you didn’t notice,” and I exhaled, “I’ve been busy,” “Thinking,” he corrected, and I didn’t answer because he was right, “Still thinking about last night?” and my grip tightened slightly, “Partly,” “And the rest?” I hesitated, “Work,” and he studied me like he already knew the truth but didn’t push, “You need a break,” “I don’t,” “You do,” “I said I don’t,” “And I said you do,” and I sighed, “You’re stubborn,” “So are you,” and then my voice softened without permission, “I’m going out tonight,” and he asked where, and I said concert, Anela is performing, and something shifted in his eyes, “You remember?” “I remember everything about you,” he said quietly, and it hit me in a way I didn’t expect, softening something I didn’t want softened, and I smiled, leaning in, “I’m her biggest fan, come with me,” and after a pause he said, “I won’t,” and my smile faded slightly, “Why?” “Not my thing,” and I nodded even though it didn’t sit right, “Right,” and I didn’t push it because I didn’t want to think about why I wanted him there.

The moment the music hit at the arena I disappeared, not physically but everything else inside me loosened like it had been holding its breath for too long, lights exploding, crowd roaring, bass shaking my chest, and Anela stepped onto the stage radiant and powerful and for a few hours I wasn’t Ember the chef, or Ember the responsible one, I was just free, screaming with the crowd, moving with the beat, letting everything else fade until nothing mattered, not Alex, not Daniel, not expectations, just noise, just escape, just living without thinking, and I drank too much somewhere in between, laughing too easily, not caring enough to stop, until the concert ended and reality came rushing back, and I stumbled outside into the cold night air laughing softly at myself, “Maybe too much,” and I dropped onto a curb, everything spinning slightly, and a voice appeared beside me, “You alright?” and I looked up smiling too wide, “I’m great,” and he didn’t look convinced, calling someone, and I handed him my phone, and minutes later Marcus arrived first of course, scanning the street before his eyes landed on me and relief hit instantly, “Ember…” and he crouched, “What did you do?” and I grinned, “I lived,” and he shook his head but didn’t look angry, “Can you stand?” “Do I have to?” “Yes,” “No,” and he sighed, “Of course,” and headlights cut across the street as another car stopped and Daniel stepped out, his gaze locking onto us immediately, tension shifting in the air, and he walked closer calm on the surface but his eyes sharp, “Is she okay?” “She’s drunk,” Marcus said, “Obviously,” and silence followed before Daniel said she needs to get home, and Marcus replied that’s why I’m here, and then at the same time they both said, “I’ll carry her,” and I tilted my head smiling, “You two are funny… and cute,” and they both looked at me, and Marcus crouched again gently, “Ember, who do you want?” and Daniel stayed quiet but I felt his attention anyway, waiting, and I pointed at Marcus, “You… no,” and then at Daniel, “You… cute… no,” and a laugh slipped out of me as I pointed back at Marcus again, “You,” and Marcus froze, then smiled, and Daniel went still, and in that moment even through the haze I felt it clearly… something had changed.