Page 29 of Forgotten Pieces

“Unfortunately, we are all out.”

The man doesn’t take too kindly to my joke and lays his palms down on the counter. “You are not out of ice cream. Get over your adolescent attitude and do your job.”

I’m taken aback by his rude demeanor. I know him. I have seen him in here before and I am ninety-nine percent sure he works at the gas station down the street. “Well then, I suggest you kindly give me your order since ice cream is a rather general term.”

I hear Ryder snicker behind the couple and the woman turns around and glares at him. “You know what. I don’t think I am in the mood for ice cream anymore honey. Maybe we should go to the restaurant and get some pie.”

The man scoffs at me then turns to his doting wife. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.” He then turns to me and says, “I’ll be talking to your manager about this.”

“Whatever you want, sweetheart. Have a blessed day,” I mock.

His face turns red with anger as I watch them stomp out the door.

Ryder approaches the counter and smiles at me. All thoughts about the annoying couple disappearing.

“That was rude,” he says.

“Well, they asked for ice cream. I have a handful of options. She needed to be more specific.”

He just laughs. “Well, can I get a double scoop of rocky road in a cup?”

“Coming right up.” I move over to the ice cream case and start scooping his ice cream.

“So what was on your mind you didn’t notice that couple standing around for a few minutes.”

A few minutes? Had it been that long? “It was like five seconds.”

“No, it wasn’t. They were already here when I walked in. You were dazed for at least three minutes.”

I don’t know what to say. But all the happy feelings I felt on seeing Ryder disappear. “Nothing,” I say as I hand him his ice cream. “Four dollars.”

He fishes money out of his pocket. “So you gonna be short with me now too?”

“I’m just trying to do my job.”

“Bullshit.”

I hand him back his change and slam the cash drawer shut.

“Seven for a secret.”

“What?” I look at him in confusion.

“It’s what my mom always says.” He grabs the back of his neck and looks down. “Whenever she knows something is wrong, but I act like it’s not.”

I don’t like that he can read me so easily. “Well, nothing is wrong. I’m tired. Have a lot of schoolwork I need to be doing.”

“Okay, Tacoma.” He knocks two knuckles on the counter and walks toward the front door. “See ya around.”

For the past hour I have been losing my mind thinking about Ryder. And not the thoughts I was having earlier. Now I am pissed at him. He thinks he can just assume something is wrong with me and that he has the right to hear about it. Just because he’s older doesn’t mean he gets to give me advice. He is just another asshole. Like all guys. Everyone’s an asshole.

Like my asshole manager that told me three hours ago he needed to run some errands. Yet he still isn’t back. I bet a hundred bucks he is getting drunk at Sawyer’s.

I throw the trash bags out the back door of the ice cream shop, grab my purse, and slam the door behind me. I heft the trash into the dumpster and then jump on the hood of my car and pull a joint out of my purse. I light it up and let out a relaxing exhale and stare up at the sky.

“That make you feel better?”

I jolt up off the windshield at the sound of the voice, my heart nearly shooting through my throat. I cough as I try to catch my breath.

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