“Oh yeah, they’ll give you all the samples your heart desires,” he boasts with an eager smile.
“What’s your favorite?”
“I’ve only been here a couple of times, and I always try to get something different because they have so many flavors. They even rotate out their flavors sometimes for the seasons. They regularly have a chocolate and peanut butter ice cream I think you’ll really like though.”
I peer in at the tubs of heaven. Idolove chocolate and peanut butter. “Ooh, that sounds great! Can I get more than one flavor?”
“You better! I might even get three!” He punctuates his laughter with a wink.
The man at the counter finishes up helping the couple before us and addresses us, “Welcome in! What can I get started for you today?”
Again, Andrew takes the lead on the conversation with the stranger, and I mentally thank him for knowing me so well. “She needs lots of samples. This is her first time in the store.”
“Alrighty then! I think we can arrange that.” He smiles. “What kind of ice cream do you normally like?”
“I love just about anything with chocolate in it.”
Andrew peers over the counter to assess the flavors carefully. “Start her off with a sample of the chocolate and peanut butter flavor.”
The man grabs a wooden spoon and loads it up with the perfect bite of ice cream, complete with a giant glob of brownie laced with peanut butter swirls.
“This is our peanut butter fudge brownie. It’s one of the most popular flavors.”
I take it eagerly and taste it in two bites, savoring it. It’s extraordinary! The ice cream is perfectly creamy, not too rich. It has the perfect ratio of peanut butter to chocolate, and brownie to ice cream. I get a tease of peanut butter that doesn’t outweigh the delicious chocolate, and I can get brownie in nearly every bite without being overwhelmed by it.
Right as I go to throw my spoon away, the man hands me another sample of ice cream. “This one is a dark chocolate ice cream with raspberry ribbons. It’s mostly chocolate but with a hint of fruit.”
I don’t typically enjoy ice cream with fruity flavors, but I don’t want to be rude, so I take the sample from the shop worker. Just as I finish my second sample, I’m handed another.
I turn to Andrew and find him already holding two more for me. The man behind the counter has apparently been scooping them as I tasted. He is more than following through on his promise to load me up with samples.
The next one is vanilla ice cream with brownie chunks and caramel. It’s good but not quite my taste. He also throws in a cookie dough flavor with a chocolate base and insists I try their seasonal cherry flavor. I’m surprised to find it’s really good, even though it isn’t bursting with chocolate.
“It’s going to be impossible to choose with all these options. I haven’t tasted anything I don’t like,” I groan to Andrew.
The corner of his mouth quirks up, reaching an amused half-smile as he goes to place his order, mint cookie and cherry.
I crinkle my nose. “Aren’t they going to mix and ruin the ice cream?”
“That’s the best part! You’d be surprised how good mint and cherry is.”
“You have horrible taste,” I tease as I step upto order my ice cream, finally deciding on the chocolate raspberry and peanut butter fudge brownie.
We sit down at a bench outside that’s a little way down the street. The second I sit, I’m greeted with a comforting stillness compared to the rest of the street, followed by the warmth of Andrew sliding in next to me. Even with the July heat attacking me, the feeling of his shoulder touching mine gives me goosebumps.
I take a bite of my ice cream and close my eyes as I enjoy the creamy, slightly melty goodness. I open my eyes to find Andrew watching me, looking pleased with himself for being the one to bring me here and bring me joy. I love that my happiness makes him happy.
“How’s the ice cream?” he asks, knowing the answer.
“This is Heaven on earth, Andrew! I can’t believe you didn’t bring me here sooner!” I exclaim, shoving his shoulder.
He cracks a smile. “It’s not my fault neither one of us can drive.”
“We could bike here,” I suggest. “I’d bike fifteen miles every day for books and ice cream.”
His joy becomes evident as it radiates from the inside out, showing in his shining eyes and easy laugh. “Maybe you could do that, little miss runner, but I’m just a jumper and a thrower. I’d die on a fifteen-mile bike ride.”
I giggle a little at the thought of Andrew attempting to bike that far. “I guess it’s a good thing we will be able to drive next summer.”
