For a moment, everything was quiet except for the crackle of the fire and the distant sounds of the ranch—cattle lowing, horses shifting in the stable, the whisper of wind through the grass.
"So." Kol handed me a roasting stick, his amber eyes bright with anticipation, his fingers brushing mine in the exchange, warm and gentle. "First step: the marshmallow."
What followed was a surprisingly detailed lesson in the art of marshmallow roasting. Kol walked me through the process with the enthusiasm of a professor giving his favorite lecture—how to hold the stick, how far from the flames to position the marshmallow, the importance of rotation for even browning.
"Golden brown is the goal." Kol demonstrated, his own marshmallow held steadily over the fire, his amber eyes focused on the task with intense concentration, his tongue poking out slightly between his lips. "Not burned. Not raw. Just perfectly caramelized."
"I like mine burned." Sawyer's voice was quiet, almost shy, his pale eyes on his own marshmallow, which was actively on fire, flames licking up the sides and turning it black, smoke curling up into the night air.
"That's because you're a heathen." Kol's voice was fond despite the words, his amber eyes crinkling at the corners with affection, a smile tugging at his lips. "But to each their own. The important thing is that Aster gets to try it the right way first."
My first attempt was a disaster—the marshmallow caught fire almost immediately, charring to a black crisp before I could pull it back. I stared at it in dismay, embarrassment heating my cheeks, my stomach sinking with disappointment.
"That's okay." Kol was already handing me another one, his amber eyes soft with encouragement, his smile gentle and patient, his fingers brushing mine as he pressed the fresh marshmallow into my hand. "Everyone burns their first one. It's practically a requirement."
"I didn't burn my first one." Nolan's voice was mild, his green eyes amused, a small smile playing at his lips, his freckled face smug in the firelight.
"You're an overachiever and you don't count." Kol waved a dismissive hand, not even looking at Nolan, his attention focused entirely on me, his amber eyes warm and patient. "Try again, Aster. This time, keep it a little higher."
The second attempt went better. I watched the marshmallow closely, rotating it when Kol reminded me, pulling it back when the edges started to brown. By the time it was done, it was golden and puffy, the outside slightly crispy while the inside had gone soft and gooey.
"Perfect." Kol's voice was reverent, almost a whisper, his amber eyes shining with pride, his whole face lighting up like I'd accomplished something miraculous. "Now comes the best part."
He walked me through the s'more assembly with the same careful attention—the graham cracker base, the square of chocolate (the "good" chocolate, he emphasized, not the waxy kind), the hot marshmallow pressed on top, another graham cracker to squish it all together.
"Now eat it before the chocolate melts too much." Kol urged, his amber eyes bright with anticipation, leaning forward slightly like he couldn't contain himself, his whole body practically vibrating with excitement. "Quick. While it's still perfect."
I took a bite.
The sweetness hit me first—sugar and chocolate and the caramelized taste of the toasted marshmallow. The textureswere different than anything I'd had before—crunchy graham cracker, smooth chocolate, gooey marshmallow all melding together into something new. Something wonderful.
I must have made some kind of sound, because when I opened my eyes, all four of them were watching me with soft expressions—Kol leaning forward eagerly, his amber eyes bright; Reid's dark eyes warm and gentle; Nolan's smile soft and pleased; Sawyer's pale gaze intent and watchful.
"Good?" Kol's voice was hopeful, almost anxious, his hands clasped together in his lap, his amber eyes searching my face for a reaction.
"Really good." My voice came out rough, cracked with an emotion I couldn't quite name, my eyes suddenly stinging with unexpected tears. "I've never tasted anything like it."
Kol made a sound of pure joy and threw his arms around me, nearly knocking the rest of the s'more out of my hands, his scent enveloping me completely, warm and sweet.
"I knew you'd love it." His voice was muffled against my shoulder, his arms tight around me, his body warm and solid against mine. "I knew it."
"Let her finish eating before you suffocate her." Reid's voice was dry, but when I glanced at him over Kol's shoulder, his dark eyes were soft with something that made my chest ache, his weathered face gentle in the firelight.
The evening unfolded slowly after that, comfortable and warm. We made more s'mores—Kol insisted I try all five types of chocolate so I could pick a favorite. The milk chocolate was too sweet, the white chocolate too cloying, but the dark chocolate—rich and slightly bitter—balanced perfectly with the sweetness of the marshmallow.
"Dark chocolate." I announced after my fifth s'more, my fingers sticky with melted chocolate, a smile spreading across my face. "That's my favorite."
"That's my favorite too." Nolan smiled with quiet pleasure, his green eyes crinkling at the corners, something satisfied in his expression, his freckled face warm with shared connection as his gaze held mine across the flames.
We talked about nothing and everything as the fire crackled between us—Kol telling ridiculous stories about disastrous deliveries. A goat that escaped from its crate and ate half his paperwork, a package that turned out to contain live bees. Nolan sharing memories of his childhood on his parents' farm, Reid occasionally offering dry observations that made everyone laugh.
Sawyer was quiet, but his quiet felt different than it used to. Less like a wall and more like a presence. Sometimes I'd catch his pale eyes on me across the fire, soft and watchful, and something would flutter in my chest.
At some point, I ended up leaning against Reid's side, his arm draped loosely around my shoulders, his warmth seeping into me. Kol had migrated to sit at my feet, his head resting against my knee, his amber eyes half-closed with contentment, his honey-blond hair soft against my leg. Nolan and Sawyer had shifted closer too, the five of us forming a loose circle around the fire, connected by proximity and warmth.
"Can I ask you something?" Nolan's voice was gentle, his green eyes reflecting the firelight, his freckled face soft with careful concern, his body angled toward me with open attention. I tensed slightly, an automatic reaction I couldn't quite suppress. Reid's arm tightened around me, a silent reassurance, his thumb stroking my shoulder in slow, soothing circles.
"You don't have to answer." Nolan added quickly, his green eyes earnest, his hands spreading in a gesture of openness, his voice soft with understanding. "I just wondered—you mentioned foster care once. What was that like? Growing up that way?"
