This is the third pair of heels Sadia has tried on, and just like the last two, I have suggested she buy them.
“As long as I’m with you, whatever you think you want will be yours.”
Sadia tries to fight the smile I know she wants to release from the movement of her mouth. But I meant what I said. Besides the trip expenses, this mini shopping spree is on me too. Thank God for the ability to spoil my woman because as long as I have it, so will she.
“Maybe I just need to decide between the three. I can’t wear?—”
“She’ll take all three, please,” I say to the sales associate assisting Sadia as she nods and walks off with the shoes Sadia has tried on.
“Chance.” Sadia crosses her hands over her chest and pouts, as if that will somehow change my mind.
I chuckle before I pull her up from where she sits and uncrosses her arms. Then I pull her into my body and kiss her lips until the lack of air reminds me of our need to breathe. Thankfully, it doesn’t take any time for us to be cashed out and on our way. My chest is puffed out, and my walk is a bit more confident as Sadia and I leave the store hand in hand. As we walk along the sidewalk, the sun looks brighter, and the clouds seem clearer.
Man, what the hell?
“Let’s go get some ice cream,” Sadia suggests.
I nod wordlessly as we head toward the ice cream stand we saw on our journey along this little strip.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” I ask.
“Butter pecan, hands down. What about you?”
“Cookies and cream is my top favorite, but I can also get with strawberry too.”
Sadia stops to look at me, and I laugh when she frowns cutely.
“What?”
“That’s generic. How about we both get something new?”
Now I’m the one who frowns because I’m not sure about trying a new ice cream. I like what I like, which is why I only alternate between the two flavors I mentioned.
“Come on, babe. It’ll be fun. Butter pecan is what I’ve been eating since I was a kid, and from your frown, I’m assuming it’s the same for you. Besides, it’ll be something else for us to discover about each other.”
“Fine. But let’s make it interesting, I’ll pick three flavors for you to try, and vice versa.”
An image of Sadia licking her spoon enters my mind, providing the motivation I need to concede. Ten minutes later, Sadia and I are standing at the counter looking at the options. My stomach twists and turns as I stare at a few of the flavor choices. Banana creamsicle. Over the road rocky. Down under the sea.
“I don’t know about this,” Sadia whispers close to me.
Hell, me either.
The statement rings in my mind, but we’re here now, and the image from moments ago resurfaces, which keeps me from backing down.
“It’s gonna be good. Just pick three, and I’ll do the same.”
“Let me have the two scoops of the killer swirl, two scoops of the lime sorbet, and two scoops of the matcha creamsicle,” Sadia orders.
My stomach clenches, and my frown deepens because from the selections alone, I know this has the potential to end badly. Nevertheless, I’m in it to win it, so I place my order.
“Add to that two scoops of the matcha love, two scoops of raspberry dulce de leche, and two scoops of birthday ala mode.”
At this point, we might as well take the express train to hell together because from the varying flavor contrasts, I’m not sure what’s about to happen. But once the person in charge of filling the order is set, I move to the cashier to pay. Ma always told me curiosity killed the cat, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t fuck around and find out during this excursion of Sadia’s making.
“Move, shit.”I shove Chance out of the way and race to the bathroom like my feet are on fire.
Thanks to raspberry dulce de leche, Chance and I didn’t make it to the other choices he’d paid too much money for. Chance had fed me the first bite, then tasted it himself. Chance went back and forth, feeding us the ice cream until our stomachs growled in protest after the third exchange.
