Page 35 of Falling for my Best Friend

“To be honest-” I put my arm behind Lucy’s seat and turned around to parallel park. “I think I can actually make a bigger difference to the team using my degree, not as much of a public difference, but a bigger one.”

“I’m sure you can,” she said, opening her door.

“In fact, the college said they’ll keep me on as the team’s main physio even after I open my own place.”

Her face lit up. “Wow, that’s great news. You must be psyched.”

“I am.”

“Have you thought about where you want your place to be?” she asked.

I put a few quarters in the meter. “I’ve narrowed it down to a few spots.”

“How soon do you think you’ll pull the trigger?”

I walked up beside her. “Maybe the end of the summer.”

“Well, I know you don’t need help deciding or anything, but I’d love to see your options before you pick.”

“Really? Are you sure you wouldn’t find that dull?” I asked. “It’s just office space.”

“Not at all,” she said. “Plus, I might learn something in the process that could help me someday when I’m ready to open my own salon.”

“In that case, I’d love to get your opinion.”

“So tell me about this place we’re going? What can it offer me that all the other ice cream places can’t?”

“From what I understand, their whole schtick is that they have more than all the other guys.”

“More what?”

“More flavors, more toppings, more types of cones- anything you can think of- only more.”

“Wow.”

“You seem skeptical,” I said, pointing to the left so she would know to turn the corner.

She shrugged. “That’s just because my favorite place is still the one that only has chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry and claims to have the best of those three.”

“Are you serious?” I asked. “Of the dozens of ice cream places we’ve been to over the years, that’s your favorite so far?”

“Yeah, I like that they keep it simple. And they get extra points for their interior.”

“Polka dots, was it?”

“Yep. In fact, their vanilla is still the standard vanilla by which I judge all others.”

“No kidding?”

She cocked her head at me. “Would I kid about ice cream?”

“I suppose not.”

“Why? What’s your standard vanilla benchmark?”

“Homer’s.”

“Oh, that’s right. You like really milky ice cream.”

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