Page 5 of Mud, Love, and Chemistry
I turn my chin over my shoulder. “Guess you’ll find out when you check your texts.”
Chapter 2
“Have you heard from him yet?” Lisa asks as we enter the ice cream parlor. The teenage girl working the counter peeks up at us.
“No. For the fiftieth time, I haven’t heard from him yet,” I say, rubbing my temple.
She huffs and puts her hands on her hips. “What’s his problem?”
“It’s been, like, thirty minutes. He probably doesn’t even have his phone.”
We step to the counter, and I order my usual, a double scoop of butter pecan in a waffle cone. Lisa is next, ordering her plain vanilla in a sugar cone. We giggle to ourselves as the employee keeps ducking her head to keep from staring. Jackie and Hannah come in behind us, entering the line that’s built up since we walked in a minute ago.
I get my ice cream and immediately take a big lick, the sweet, buttery goodness coating my tongue. “Besides, he probably asked for my number to be nice.”
“Oh, please,” Lisa groans. “Guys don’t ask for girls’ numbers unless they want something.” Her eyebrow bobbing has me groaning.
When she turns toward the cashier, I bump her out of the way. “I’ve got it.” After I pay, we step to the side to wait for Jackie and Hannah.
When all four of us have our ice cream, we stand together and take a selfie. Jackie nudges me with her shoulder. “Did that guy text you yet?”
“No,” I huff, and take out my phone to show them my screen. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t as anxious as my friends, but it’s weird for me. I haven’t been excited for a guy to text me since Connor and I started dating. That was three years ago. And after he broke my heart, I quit chasing love. Stopped seeking it completely.
Am I ready to start searching again?
I shake my head to clear it. “Can we go sit outside?” I’m using this question as a distraction from my love life, but it is a serious one. It is freezing in here.
“It’s too hot. The ice cream will melt!” Jackie laughs.
“Then eat it faster,” I say, twirling my cone around my tongue.
“Ooh, do that again!” Lisa says excitedly.
“What?”
She grabs my phone out of my hand, swiping the screen and holding it up. “Lick your ice cream.”
So, I do, but in a more lackluster manner.
“No,” she whines. “Not like that. Make it sexy.”
“How?”
“Close your eyes, stick your tongue out all the way,” she says.
“And pout a little,” Hannah chimes in.
I laugh. “Those sound like contradicting actions.”
“Just do it,” Lisa orders.
“Fine,” I say hesitantly, and do as I’m told.
“Oh, that’s hot.” Lisa shows me the pic, and she’s right.
Even though I’m covered in mud, I look…sexy. I don’t do sexy. Ever. Yet, there I am, with my tongue not just licking the ice cream, but caressing it. It’s almost embarrassing, but at least it’s only a picture on my phone.
“Now, send it to Sam.”
