Page 39 of Yours, For Good

"They haven't had the same ice cream flavors twice, whenever I come here."

"I hope you're okay with sharing, then. I can't have just one flavor! But I also can't order them all and waste a bunch."

I licked my bottom lip and stole a glance at her. "I don't think I've shared before—"

"Nor have I, but we can overcome the obstacle together, right?"

The corner of my lips tilted upwards. "Okay. Yes. What's catching your eye?"

I was about to rest my head on my hand to admire her in front of me— I bet I would have even let out a happy sigh— but I stopped myself right in time.

She tapped her nose with her index finger. "This cinnamon and cardamom one. You?"

"I think I'll have the chocolate with basil and black pepper one."

"And coffee, of course."

"Of course."

It didn't take long for the ice cream to arrive, in pretty bowls with a chocolate-covered wafer cone stuck in each. I allowed myself to rest my chin on my hand this time, and watched her try her ice cream first.

She closed her eyes in delight, with a loud, quick moan escaping her. "This is divine! Try it."

I gulped and scooped a bit of her ice cream with my spoon.

I had to close his eyes, too. "Wow."

"Now let's do yours. You go first."

It was even more delicious. Whatever face I'd made, it made her chuckle.

"That good, huh? I'm going in." She didn't wait for my permission and tried it, too.

"Oh good gods. This one is just as good. While in college, the place I was staying at had ice cream every Sunday after dinner. Always vanilla, always forgettable. It was supposed to be exciting but it gets old quickly, you know? It kind of ruined my taste for ice cream. This shop has solely restored my interest and appreciation."

The smile that always hid in the corner of my lips around Nora made another appearance. It seemed my heart refused to stay quiet; I had to blame it for the constant stream of thoughts and feelings fueling my first infatuation in a decade.

Denial. Self-imposed shackles. Only platonic feelings welcome on this Yuletide. I knew how to be a good friend, so I would be a good friend.

She stole another spoonful of my ice cream. "And there's something mischievous about eating ice cream in winter, don't you think?"

I cleared my throat. "We are in a cozy coffee shop. I'd say it's on brand for a cold winter morning, when there's a fire to warm you up."

"Then maybe we'll have to come pick up some ice cream tomorrow and eat it while walking around. Let people wonder."

"Yes, I'm very sure they'll wonder." I raised an eyebrow and had some more chocolatey goodness. It soothed my insides. "Who are these two wild creatures, eating ice cream in winter?"

"Exactly. I promise it'll be fine. People look at me like that a lot and I've survived this long."

"What do you mean, people look at you that way?"

She studied me, savoring her ice cream. "Okay. I'll tell you a bit. We've talked about how I don't always say the right thing."

I nodded.

She took a bite out of the wafer cone, and followed it up with coffee. "Some people just think I'm horrible at reading the room. Social cues and all— but I'm actually good at that. I had to learn, because I spent a lot of time surrounded by people I didn't know and didn't like. In my view, my problem is more that I don't care as much for… propriety, should we say. Maybe because I wasn't taught it? But even now in my late twenties… I'm in this incubator thing with Julia and I really don't think they're used to people like me."

"People like you?"