Page 6 of Scoop Me Up
Gabe raised his eyebrows at me before looking at Ellie. “Good point. And this one is always honest about what she’s thinking. We’ll get to tact a little later, I guess.”
I couldn’t help myself and laughed out loud. He was cuteandfunny. The whole package. “It comes in time,” I assured him.
“Daddy, what’s tact?”
He opened his mouth to answer and closed it again. I decided to take mercy on Gabe and bail him out. “Ellie, what’s your flavor?”
She looked at Gabe. “Daddy, what’s it called again?”
“Red, White and Blueberry.”
At that moment, a cart-pusher approached us and handed us each two cups of ice cream. I took them and thanked theteenager pushing the cart before turning back to Ellie and Gabe. “Appropriate for the holiday, I see. What’s in it?”
Ellie bounced on her feet. “Strawberries and blueberries and white chocolate chips.”
I nodded and glanced at the first ice cream we’d been handed. “Yours definitely sounds like it’s worth a try.”
“I hope so,” Gabe said. “We just decided to enter two days ago.”
Well, that explains the extra flavor in the contest this year.I smiled. “Ambitious.”
With that, Gabe put a spoonful of the first ice cream in his mouth and grimaced. “What’s this flavor supposed to be?”
The emcee took to the mic again just then. “Folks, it looks like flavors number one and two have been fully distributed. The first flavor is macaroni and cheese.”
I usually liked to give things a fair chance. I wasn’t a picky eater at all, but this one wasn’t exactly hitting the spot. The second flavor wasn’t much better—it tasted a little like dill pickle and garlic mixed together. It was definitely what I’d calltoo much.
We kept chatting and tasting ice creams until all seven had been distributed and tasted. Ellie’s was pretty good, I had to admit. Still, I liked mine better.
As we tasted flavor after flavor, I tried my damnedest not to stare at Gabe the whole time. Every time I glanced his way, I caught him looking at me, and every time I caught him, he smiled sheepishly and looked down at Ellie to ruffle her hair or pat her shoulder or ask her opinion on something.What’s that about?
Gabe systematically worked his way through the ice creams, and when he got to mine, his eyes widened and he let out a soft groan that went straight to my gut.
“That’s amazing,” he murmured.
I couldn’t think of much to say that didn’t sound too flirty, so I just shrugged. “Thanks.”
Ellie shook her head. “I still think it’s weird.”
“El, be polite.”
“Alright, Maplewood, all of the flavors have been tasted and the judges are tallying their votes. Don’t forget to cast your vote for best ice cream before you leave. And with that, we’ll see you at the fireworks. Next up, Syrup and Sequins, Maplewood’s very own drag show! It starts in thirty minutes, and this is a production youdon’twant to miss.”
As the crowd dispersed, Gabe lingered, while Ellie tugged on his hand. “Daddy, let’sgo.”
He chuckled a little and nodded. “Okay, El. Just a minute.” He turned his attention back to me. “See you around?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” As the two walked away, hope fluttered in my chest.
Chapter 4
Gabe
“What’s next, Bug?”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “Ice cream,” she said, tugging on my hand and pointing at a booth across the square.
I scratched my head and sighed dramatically. “Ice cream?More?Aren’t you full up on ice cream?”
