Page 18 of Take My Place

“That about sums up my life right now.” I sigh. “Oh well. I guess I can do without ice cream tonight.”

“Wait here.”

Romy pulls the car into a space right in front of the shop and nips out of the car. I watch as he dashes over to the shop and taps on the door. The server opens it and the two of them have a brief discussion which ends in Romy coming back to the car, a large tub of ice cream in his hands and a smug grin on his face.

“Here you go. The lady wants ice cream. The lady gets ice cream.” He passes the tub to me before starting the car and heading back home.

“It’s not quite the same as having one of their freshly made sundaes, but their ice cream is amazing, however you eat it,” he tells me. “And if it’s okay with you, I thought we could maybe go to my room and eat together?”

“That sounds nice.” I smile and realize I mean it. It has been too long since I’d allowed myself to enjoy myself without any pressure. When I was working in the care home, I always had one eye open for my father to come and snatch me away. Since being back in King Town, I’d been consumed with House politics. I’d earned an evening off.

* * *

Romy’s roomswere in a different wing than my apartment. This is the first time I’ve been in his living space, so I don’t bother to hide my curiosity as I stare around.

The main room is tastefully decorated in light greys and blues, framed landscape photos hung at strategic points.

“These pictures are amazing. Did you take them?”

Romy smiles shyly, for once not being his usual confident self. “Yeah. Photography is a passion of mine, but it doesn’t exactly fit in with the playboy image I’ve carefully cultivated. Not many people know, but I often go away for the weekend to the countryside, just me and my camera, looking for the perfect shot.”

“Sounds blissful,” I say. “I love the idea of being out in the middle of nowhere with my guitar and no one to hear me as I write and sing.”

“Maybe you and I could go away for the weekend soon then?” Romy suggests.

“I’d like that.”

“Great! Now we’d better get started on this ice cream before it melts. ”Romy goes through a door to the side, and I can make out a small private kitchen. He comes back with a couple of spoons.

“Where do you want to eat? We can stay in here or…” He pouts seductively. “We could take it into the bedroom.”

“Wherever’s most comfortable,” I reply, knowing exactly where Romy would want to go.

“Bedroom it is!”

I follow Romy through to his bedroom. It is huge, and like mine, has double doors leading out to a balcony. The main feature, of course, is the bed, a massive super king four poster made up like a hotel bed with more pillows and cushions than anyone could ever need.

More of Romy’s photos are hanging around the walls, along with a large flat screen TV suspended opposite the bed so you could watch in comfort. There were two bean bag chairs at the foot of the bed and Romy flops down on one, patting the other for me to come and join him.

“A spoon for you and a spoon for me,” he says, handing it to me before peeling open the lid of the ice cream tub. He scoops out a generous helping and holds it out to me to eat from his spoon. After a brief hesitation, I lean forward and open my mouth so Romy can feed me.

“Oh. My. God. That isdivine!” I exclaim as silky milk chocolate explodes on my tongue.

“I told you it’s the best,” says Romy, taking a spoonful for himself.

I took another spoonful, lying back on the beanbag as I sucked the ice cream off the spoon. “Why can’t it always be like this?”

“What do you mean?” Romy settles himself more comfortably.

“Life. Why can’t it always be this simple? You, me, ice cream. We don’t need anything more than this. We should just buy a lifetime’s supply of ice cream and disappear off to some deserted island in the middle of the ocean.”

“Tempting. Very tempting.” Romy nods slowly. “You in a bikini. Yeah, it could work.”

“I’ll do that if you wear nothing but a palm frond to protect your manhood,” I counter.

“Who says I need to wear anything at all?” Romy waggles his eyebrows suggestively, making me laugh. “I mean, if it’ll make you happy, I’ll make the sacrifice and go without clothes. For the greater good.”

“I don’t know.” I tut and shake my head. “I’m not sure I can believe you.”

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