“Pistachio is okay. Strawberry, I’ll only eat if it doesn’t have pieces of frozen strawberries in it.”
“Without the strawberries, it’s not real strawberry ice cream.” Since he already had the coffee out, he filled his bowl and then returned the container to the freezer. “Do you need anything else before we head outside?”
“Nope. I’m all set.”
After grabbing a stack of napkins and his bowl, he led Liv outside.
Rather than dig into her dessert, Liv put the bowl down on a table and pulled out her cell phone. “I need a picture of this. The sky is gorgeous tonight.”
He doubted anyone would argue with her. Various shades of pink painted the sky, much like in the photo she’d admired inside.
“Which do you think has a better view, the rooftop or here?” he asked while she snapped a few pictures. He dug into his overflowing bowl of ice cream as Liv considered his question.
She checked the photos she’d taken before setting the device down on the table. “I’m honestly not sure. They’re both amazing.”
He’d intentionally waited for her to sit, hoping she’d opt for the outdoor love seat rather than one of the comfortable chairs. Now, as she lifted the first spoonful of ice cream toward her lips, he watched as she considered her seating options. When she opted for the love seat, he took that as a sign they were on the same page tonight, and he sat next to her.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. There’s something about the ocean that’s mesmerizing.”
Forget the ocean—she found him mesmerizing. Liv shoved an overflowing spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and tried not to read too much into the fact that not only had Matt kissed her upstairs, but he sat so close now. But damn, it wasn’t easy. It didn’t help that all her teenage dreams were pushing their way out of the little box she’d locked them in a long time ago.
“So, if you weren’t here right now, what would you be doing?” Matt asked before eating another large spoonful of ice cream.
Heat from his body seemed to jump the space between them and invade her body, making it almost impossible to think. Either that or her internal thermometer was suddenly stuck at 105 degrees. Either way, she needed to focus on something other than their kiss or the fact that she wanted a repeat performance, so she was grateful he’d thought of a conversation topic.
“I probably would’ve met Emma and Phoebe at the Northside Tavern. Every Wednesday is karaoke night. Emma invited me right after you left my office this afternoon. She even suggested we join them when I told her I had plans with a friend. And if I didn’t go there, I’d probably be at home watching television or reading.” Or she’d be doing laundry, but there was no way she was sharing that with him.
He might find her response borderline pathetic, and Liv wished she could’ve come back with something more interesting. However, she wasn’t going to lie to him either.
“Karaoke? I’ve never done that.”
Big surprise.
“I would’ve gone with you tonight if you’d rather have done that.”
Now that wasn’t something she’d expected him to say.
“Maybe some other time.” Although she made the statement, she didn’t anticipate Matt joining her and her friends for karaoke anytime soon. She wasn’t even sure she’d be spending time with him again, despite his comment and kiss upstairs.
“You said they do it every Wednesday, so how about next week?”
If she’d just swallowed anything more solid than ice cream, she would’ve choked. “The closer it gets to Memorial Day, the busier the place is. Going next week might not be a good idea.”
She could just imagine the insanity if Matt Sherbrooke, lead singer for Eclipse, walked onto the stage to perform karaoke next week.
“I’m not sure I’ll go again until the fall.” No doubt by then, Matt would be long gone.
“Trust me, crowds don’t bother me. But if you’re not comfortable around them, I understand. I have a cousin who sometimes has panic attacks if there are too many people around.”
If he wanted to believe that was the reason behind her reluctance, she wouldn’t try to change his mind. She would, however, move the conversation away from herself.
“What about you? If you weren’t here, what would you be doing?”
Matt ate another spoonful of ice cream before speaking. “Do you mean here in Orchard Harbor or here with you?”
Liv shrugged. She didn’t care as long as the conversation remained away from her less-than-exciting life. “Either. Both.”
“If I weren’t in Orchard Harbor, I might still be in Florida.”
