Hal and Win burst back into the room holding an absurd amount of ice cream pints and a bunch of spoons before I can figure out a response. Hal’s dads step in to help them get it all to the table.
Rook places a hand on my lower back and guides me over to the table. I have to fight the urge to arch into his touch, loving the way it feels when any of the guys casually touch me.
I make sure to keep my distance from Colt and Remy’s dads as we approach the table. It’s not hard to do when they seem equally reluctant to come within ten feet of me.
Each white pint has a name written in blue Sharpie on it. Everyone starts grabbing their assigned ice cream while I keep searching for mine.
When I can’t find it, I glance up toward Hal, wondering what’s going on. But I don’t find him. Looking around, I finally realize he’s standing behind me, a pint withLarkwritten in green marker in one hand.
He gives me an uncertain smile. “So, hopefully the surprise lives up to your expectations. You mentioned the type of cake batter ice cream you had as a kid with cake chunks mixed in. It sounded like a really cool idea, so I’ve been testing formulations at the shop for a few weeks. I think I’ve finally got it right, but you’ll have to tell me what you think.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “You made me my own ice cream flavor?”
He shrugs “Yeah. I know there’s nothing I can do to bring your sister back, but I thought having a piece of something you guys used to do together might be nice.”
I have to swallow past the lump in my throat a few times before I can respond. “That was really thoughtful. Thank you, Hal.”
“Anytime, wild girl. Now sit down and dig in. I’m dying to see what you think about it. If you like it, I’ll put it on the menu. I think it’ll be a hit.” Hal places the ice cream on the table and pulls out my chair for me. When I sit down, he pushes it in before walking around the table to his spot.
Remy sits down next to me and slings his arm over the back of my chair. He plays with my hair with one hand while he attacks what looks like cotton-candy-flavored ice cream with the other.
Everyone else has already started in on their desserts, so I pop off the top and dip my spoon into the creamy concoction. Making sure to get one of the chunks of yellow cake, I take a bite and have to fight the urge to moan at how delectable it is.
When I flick my gaze up to Hal’s, I see that he’s already watching me. “It’s really good, Hal. It tastes a bit different than the ice cream from when I was a kid, but it’s just as delicious.”
His spring-green eyes light up with delight. “Really?”
“Absolutely. You did a great job.”
He grins at me, then starts eating his own ice cream. Conversation sticks to lighter topics, thankfully, as we finish our dessert. Colt and Remy’s dads talk among themselves for the most part and don’t really try to engage in conversation with the rest of the table.
When everyone finishes up, Rook and Remy take all the containers and spoons back to the kitchen.
Colt stands up and offers me his hand. I take it and let him pull me to my feet. He keeps our hands intertwined as he leads me around the table to where Hal’s standing, chatting with Alice and his dads.
Hal doesn’t pause in his conversation, but he does place a hand on my hip when I get close enough. It’s weirdly grounding, standing between the two of them with both of their hands on me.
Colt leans down to ask, “So, you want us to take you home? Or you could stay, and we could watch a movie or something? It’s up to you.”
I bite my lip as I try to figure out how to answer. I know I should probably just call it a night, but everything in me wants to spend as much time around the guys as possible.
I already know I’m not going to do the smart thing, so I shrug, trying to play it cool. “I’m good with watching a movie if that’s what everyone wants to do.”
Colt sighs before he grips my chin in his free hand and tilts my face up, forcing me to look into his light blue eyes. “I didn’t ask what everyone else wanted to do, sweetheart. I asked what you want to do.”
I feel caught in his icy gaze and struggle to think clearly enough to respond. Eventually, I’m able to wade through the Colt-induced fog to process what he said. Now, it’s my turn to sigh.
It feels weirdly vulnerable admitting that I’d give almost anything to spend a little more time with the four of them. It feels like I’m giving them a roadmap, telling them exactly how to hurt me if I confess how much I like hanging out with them.
But I’m trying to be brave. And being brave means letting people in, even if that makes it easier for them to hurt me.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, I whisper, “I want to hang out with you guys more. I really don’t care what we do, but a movie sounds nice.”
While my voice doesn’t come out as strong as I want, it’s a start, at least.
Colt rewards me with a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes, making them look a shade less glacial. “Okay, then, we’ll watch a movie. You mind if Wes and Win join us?”
“Nope.” I don’t know either of them super well, but they’ve been nothing but nice to me. I’m always down to hang out with kind people.
