“I’m sorry.”
“We can’t help what we feel, right?”
Brad wasn’t ugly—he was rather good-looking, actually. Auburn hair, green eyes, his body was toned, and he was super sweet. A few times I’d wished I’d felt a spark when we hung out, but I never did. He deserved someone who would light up from the inside out every time he entered a room.
“I guess not.”
“Well, I gotta go. I hope he treats you right, Sam.”
I watched as he walked to his cruiser and waved as he drove away. My heart ached. I didn’t like to see anyone sad, especially if I was the cause of it.
My mood was blah for the rest of the day and night. As I was filling the toppings container, the bell overhead sounded. It was almost eight, and not many came in at this time unless it was summer.
I looked up and saw Lukas approaching the counter. Suddenly, the gloomy feeling in the pit of my stomach dissipated, and a smile bloomed over my face.
“Hey.”
“Hi, Sam.” He looked around the shop. “So, this is the time of day I should come by if I want to avoid people and eat my ice cream in peace.”
I chuckled. “Probably.”
“Could I trouble you for a strawberry ice cream cone? Plain.”
“No trouble at all.” I placed the tub down and went to make his cone. I handed it to him, noticing he was wearing a suit, which wasn’t totally uncommon.
“I just need to make sure all the napkin dispensers are filled. You can eat while I finish up.”
“Okay.”
I had to fill up a few and after I got to the last one, I turned to find Lukas standing right there, an intense look in his eyes.
“You all right?” I asked.
He took a step closer and I moved back only to hit a table. I chose to sit on it.
“An odd thing happened to me today.”
“Oh?”
“I found myself wondering about you all day. What you were doing, how you were feeling.”
I relaxed my posture and smiled. “That’s actually sweet.”
His brows shot up. “It’s unlike me.”
I straightened out my apron and wiped an errant sprinkle off my lilac-purple shirt. “Is that a bad thing?”
He leaned in, his ice cream melting slightly over his knuckles. “Probably.”
I laughed, glad when his intense expression softened. “Welp, I’m not sorry I occupied your thoughts all day. I guess we’re even.”
“Is that so?” He straightened. “Were you thinking about me?”
“Of course I was,” I said, unashamed.
“Are you ready to go, Sam?”
After grabbing a napkin from the holder and wiping the ice cream from his knuckles, I slid off the table and into his space. “I’m so ready.”
