Page 67 of The Fun Part
“Let me guess, you like chocolate,” he says.
“Chocolate brownie. Double the chocolate. Let me guess yours—strawberry.”
“Nope.”
“Mint?”
He grins. “Nope.”
“Here I thought I knew you so well after fake dating.”
He shifts closer. “Don’t forget the week when—”
“We were getting to know each other.”
He searches my expression. I face front. Not going there.
Cal peers at the label in the case. “Oh good, they have it.”
“Butter pecan?”
“Vanilla.”
I stare at him. “You were worried they wouldn’t have the most basic of flavors?”
“Basic? Vanilla is the best. Subtle but flavorful. It doesn’t hit you over the head to have a good time. Sort of sneaks up on you and lingers.”
He gives me a lopsided smile. My knees weaken. Does he want to linger?
A boy around four years old turns from the counter with his cookies-and-cream cone, takes a giant lick, and the scoop promptly rolls off the cone and splats on the floor. “No-o-o-o!” he cries.
His dad is wrestling a baby into a stroller. “Just pick it up and put it back,” his dad says.
“It’s dirty!”
“We don’t have time. We have to get to your sister’s soccer game.”
“I want a new one!” he wails.
“I got you, little man,” Cal says as they make his vanilla cone. “Can you put cookies and cream on top there? And a small empty cup too. Thanks.” Cal grabs a spoon and napkin.
A moment later, he hands the cone to the boy. “Whoa! Double scoop!”
“Thank you,” the dad says.
“Yeah, thank you!” the boy says.
“No problem.” Cal hands the boy the spoon and napkin. “Here’s how you handle a double scoop. Super-small licks, and if it starts to roll off the cone, then bam! Catch it in the cup and make the cone a hat for your new sundae.” He gestures to show him what he means.
“Like a clown sundae. I had that before at Olga’s.”
“Awesome.”
The boy pats Cal’s leg, leaving a sticky handprint before walking off. Cal takes it in stride, ordering ice cream for the two of us.
A hero to a little kid? That’s it. I’m done. My heart cracks open. It might not work out between us, but I’ll always have a place in my heart for this man.
Of course, he doesn’t need to know that. Yet.
