Of course I’m not.
I reach for the wine.
“Don’t care if my cinnamon buns are a fail.” Nettie slaps her dough.
What is with these people all slapping dough?
“As long as I get to watch this man’s buns.”
I choke on my wine.
Not in a cute-I’m-so-sorry kind of way, where I wave the class along while continuing, and I try to get my shit together.
No, I choke.
My throat clenches, and my chest tightens around it.
I try to cough it out. Try to excuse myself, but no words come out.
I back away, embarrassment coiling inside me.
But Cash is at my side in an instant. “It’s fine. Just take it easy.” His warm hand is against my back. “I got you.”
No. No. No.
I cough, choke, gag, tasting the wine as it burns its way down.
“Do you need water?” Jaclyn asks.
“Hands in the air!” Faye shrieks.
“Don’t do that, you’ll hurt yourself,” Wilma pipes up, and her little gremlin dog growls.
“Meemaw taught us hands in the air. It’s an old-school choking trick.”
“She needs to grab the counter and lean over.”
Not another counter with Cash! If I could object, I would.
“Hey, look at me.” Cash hooks my chin with his finger and forces my eyes to his.
They’re dark, calm, and steady. Everything hits me then. The warmth of his arm around me. His hand holding mine. His face so close I feel his hot breath.
“Breathe. One, two...” He counts softly, and the room around us disappears.
Finally, the choking releases, and I suck in air. My chest heaves, and my lungs burn.
“That’s it.” His smile widens. “There you are. Better?” He’s still holding me.
“I—yeah.”
I want to move.
To step back.
To reclaim my dignity—but I don’t. I couldn’t if I tried. I’m rooted in the spot. My hands found his bare chest at some point, and heat crawls up my veins.
His touch lingers a moment longer than necessary.
