Page 47 of More To Us

"You're really into healthy eating so I wasn't sure."

"I watch my diet, but I still eat what I want. Ice cream, burgers, pizza. I eat all that stuff, just not every day."

"Then can we get ice cream?"

"Yeah, but we're getting the best. There's a place by my house that you have to try. It has the best ice cream in the city."

"Well, you did promise to show me all the best places."

"That's right. I better get started on that. It's a big city. We have a lot of places to go. This could take all year."

She laughs. "A whole year? Really? I doubt it'll take that long."

"It might. We'll just have to see."

My comment implies we'll still be friends in a year, or more than friends. I don't know why I said that. It's too soon. I still need to get to know her. But what I know of her so far, I like. And even if she didn't want to date me, I'd like us to be friends. There's just something about her. Something that drew me to her from the moment I saw her at the bar.

"This is it," I say, pulling in front of the small red building. It's shaped like a barn and has a white cow painted on the side. "We used to come here a lot when I was a kid. And then we'd go over to that park." I point to the small park that has some swings and picnic tables.

"Let's eat our ice cream over there."

We each get a cone, then walk over to the park and sit at one of the tables. Nobody's around, and it's quiet except for the sound of crickets chirping.

"So you live close to here?" she asks.

"About a block that way." I point behind her.

"There's only houses down there. You have a house?"

"I live with my dad."

"You do? I guess I don't remember you saying that."

"I don't think I mentioned it. I've been saving up to get my own place but I'm never home so I'm not really in a hurry to move out."

"So it's just you and your dad living there?"

"Yeah." I finish my ice cream, then wad up my napkin and toss it in the trash.

"Does he have rules for you living there? Because when I lived at home, my parents had like a million rules. I felt like I was still in high school."

"My dad's only rule is no girls, which is the main reason I need to move."

"Meaning a girl can't even come over?"

"She can come over but she can't spend the night." I open the bottle of water I bought and offer it to her. She didn't want one but the way she's eyeing my water, I know she wants some.

"Thanks." She takes a swig of it, then gives it back to me. "You're right about this ice cream. It's really good."

"It's more than good. It's the best in Chicago."

She finishes her cone and gets up to toss her napkin out. "So what's next on my tour of the best places in Chicago?"

"I'm not sure." I offer her my water. "Depends on when you're going out with me again."

She takes a sip of water. "Maybe tomorrow?"

I smile at the fact that she wants to go out again that soon. "Tomorrow night I have to practice with the band. You could come with me if you want."

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