Page 229 of Worth the Trip

“That’s cold.”

“Go buy some.” He started away. I shook my head. “That fast?”

Malcolm looked toward Crème & Chill.

“Ice cream good over there.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And the customer service fine as hell.”

“Go to work.”

His laughter followed him.

I took another spoonful and looked toward the booth.

Nolani was already watching me.

I lifted the spoon.

Her smile reached me from across the field.

Whatever she was moving toward, I didn’t need to hurry it.

I could wait.

Seventy-five miles had taught me how.

By three o’clock, Self Springs had eaten nearly everything we brought. Brown sugar praline disappeared first. Butter pecan survived another eleven minutes, and the final scoop of strawberry shortcake went to a little girl with pink beads who informed me she intended to marry it when she grew up.

“I support ambitious love.”

Her mother laughed so hard she had to turn away.

The literacy bags had disappeared before the ice cream, which pleased me most. Children wandered the festival with books tucked beneath their arms and melted sweetness clinging to spoons. A middle-school librarian asked whether Scoops & Stories partnered with schools. Three people requested catering information. Several customers asked whether Crème & Chill had ever considered Self Springs permanently.

I collected names.

Asked questions.

And allowed Saturday to remain Saturday.

“What you smiling at?”

I turned toward Nyla, who was wiping the same section of counter far longer than cleanliness required.

“Nothing.”

“You been saying nothing while looking at Coach Landon for weeks.”

“I wasn’t looking at him.”

“You weren’t. This time.”

I studied her.

“Malcolm come back?”