“I like gelato, which is a million timesbetter.”
“I doubtit.”
“Have you ever hadgelato?”
“I can’t say Ihave.”
“We have to get some,” Eamonnsaid.
“Is anyplace stillopen?”
Eamonn raised his eyebrow. “I’ve heard Spain has some of the best gelato in theworld.”
Rafe
The next day, they were in Barcelona, strolling down Las Ramblas, the main strip of the city. Rafe had counted at least five gelato places so far. He and Eamonn had hit up three, and they’d only been in the city for seven hours. He couldn’t believe how easy it was to travel from country to country by train. It was like the DC Metro system, but instead of different neighborhood stops, they were in different countries. When Eamonn had proposed a spontaneous trip through Europe, he really meantit!
It was warmer here than it had been back at Browerton, and the sun shone down on them, making it very appropriate to be eatinggelato.
Rafe was not disappointed. He shoveled coffee gelato into his mouth faster than his mouth could shallowit.
“This is freaking amazing,” hesaid.
“What did I tell you? You refused to believeme.”
“What’s the difference between ice cream and gelatoanyway?”
“One is the best dessert in the world, and the other is ice cream.” Eamonn held his hands and gave him one of those deep gazes that locked Rafe in place, even when it was through a computer or phonescreen.
A girl walked by carrying a Water Water Everywhere-branded Nalgene bottle. Rafe instantly glared atit.
“They suck,” he said toEamonn.
“They are helping millions of people get access to clean water. They do not suck just because they didn’t hire me.” Eamonn had been particularly disappointed about not getting the job and the form email their human resources rep had sent him. It had been like a cold rejection to him. As someone very familiar with rejection, Rafe told him to get used to it. It just meant that job wasn’t the right one, something Rafe also knew muchabout.
“Heath’s cousin works for the British embassy. He’s gotten in touch with some humanitarian organizations that work with ambassadors, and long story short, I got an email this morning about a second interview with this one called Food Planet. They’re focused on hunger initiatives. They have an opening for an assistant project manager that starts thissummer.”
“That’s great! Look at you networking. Where are theylocated?”
“Washington,D.C.”
“That’s right by me! You can have dinner with me and my parents every night,” Rafe said, hoping Eamonn found the humor in that. Eamonn had met Rafe’s parents in a group Skype session last month, and he told Rafe afterward how he couldn’t get over all the questions they askedhim.
“Just wait,” Rafe hadsaid.
“I really hope I get it,” Eamonn said of the job. “There are millions of people who need ourhelp.”
“And you’re just the one to helpthem.”
Rafe yawned with the last remnants of jetlag. He wouldn’t let it take over him, not for this precious week. It didn’t help that he’d just completed a five-hour shift at Dollop before racing to the airport to catch his flight. He didn’t think standing behind a counter serving cupcakes could be exhausting, but it was, especially when they hosted kids’ birthday parties. Those things were like surviving battle. But at least it came with a paycheck. Rafe didn’t tell Eamonn that he was saving up for a flight back to England for Eamonn’sgraduation.
On Las Ramblas, music played while people dined and drank outside. It was like a tourist advertisement come to life. He dug the relaxed vibe of Spain. It chilled him automatically. They found a spot to order sangria. Rafe took all the fruit. He didn’t know why he never tried soaking fruit in alcohol before. It was best of bothworlds.
“So you’ve conquered gelato and sangria. What’s next on your culinary bucket list?” Eamonnasked.
“Honestly?”
“No, I’d prefer alie.”
