It used to be our favorite place ever.
I bounced in my seat, but then noticed the almost empty parking lot and the closed sign hanging from the building.
“They’re closed.” I pointed out the obvious to Carson, but he was already climbing out of the car.
He leaned back in, his arm resting on the hood of the car. “Come on or we’ll miss the snow cones.”
He shut the door, and I climbed out, following closely behind him as he walked to the side of the building. The door was cracked open, and I could see the smallest trail of light coming out from inside.
“I don’t think we’re supposed to just walk in when the place is closed, Carson.”
He looked back at me before shaking his head with a smile. “You’ve gotten really boring with old age.”
“I am not boring.” I crossed my arms but still followed him. “I’m just responsible.”
“Uh-huh.” He rapped his knuckles against the old metal door that had too many dents and dings to count, then leaned against the building as he watched me.
It was only a moment later when Bob, the owner who was always here, opened the door and stuck his head outside. He looked exactly the same as he always had. His dark brown hair was brushed back out of his face, and his overgrown beard was as wild and carefree as his smile.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He chuckled and opened the door wider. “I haven’t seen the two of you together in… I can’t remember when.”
Carson took the door from his hand and followed him inside the small building.
“Allie, how have you been? I haven’t seen you in forever.” Bob pulled me into a hug as soon as I made my way through the door, and he smelled so sweet.
I hugged him back, a bit awkwardly, before stepping back and almost running into a box. “I’ve been good. Just busy with school and work.”
He nodded with the most genuine smile on his face before hiking his thumb over his shoulder at Carson. “I bet this one is the one who ran you off. Huh?”
“I didn’t run anyone off.”
“He did.”
Carson and I answered at the same time causing Bob to laugh. It was deep and pure, and I missed the sound. I hadn’t realized it until that moment.
I rarely came here anymore because I used to only come here with Carson, and I guess subconsciously, I had been avoiding any place the two of us went together.
“Well, have a seat and let me get you both a cone.” Bob waved to the counter where Carson had already hopped onto.
I made my way over and hesitantly climbed onto the counter next to Carson. “You still come here a lot?”
“Uh, yeah,” he said it like there wasn’t any other option. “I’m taking it that you don’t.”
“Obviously not.”
“Allie, you still a cherry girl?” Bob called out over the shaved ice machine.
“I am.” I grinned. I couldn’t believe he still remembered that.
“So plain.” Carson leaned back against the wall and checked his phone.
“I happen to love cherry. Thank you very much.”
“That’s fine, but sometimes you just need to try new things. How do you know you prefer cherry over raspberry bombshell if you’ve never tried it?” He typed on his phone before tucking it back in his pocket, and I was dying to know who he was talking to.
Was it one of his girls? One of the girls he always had on his arm but never stuck around for long?
“I just know. Some of us don’t have to taste every dang flavor there is before we realize what we want.” I huffed. We were talking about snow cones flavors, and he was still getting to me.
That damn smirk that rarely left his face was back again, and he leaned forward until he was far too close to me. The small building echoed with the sound of Bob making our snow cones, and the bright lights should have done something to snap me out of my thoughts.
But all I seemed to hear was my heart racing and the sound of his breath mingling with mine. He was so close, and his gaze moved to my mouth. He watched me so intently, like he was trying to memorize my every move, and I couldn’t pretend like it didn’t affect me.
“I haven’t tasted all of the flavors, you know.” He didn’t pull his gaze away from my mouth as he spoke, and some crazy part of me thought that he wanted to kiss me.
There was only the smallest amount of space separating us, and it would take only one of us giving in and leaning forward the tiniest amount for it to happen. It would take nothing and everything at the same time.
Because I knew if Carson kissed me, I would never be the same.
It would mean nothing to him and everything to me, and I would be wrecked after. I couldn’t survive Carson twice. I was barely still surviving from the first time.
But even knowing that, I still desperately wanted him to kiss me. His breath brushed against my lips and my fingers ached against the counter as I tried to force myself to hold still.
I tried to force myself to remember exactly who he was. “You mean to tell me there are a few girls in this town that you’ve missed?”
He chuckled, his gaze finally meeting mine. “One or two.”
“You’re such a pig, Carson.” Neither one of us moved away, though. He was still so close and so overwhelming, and I knew that I should have put space between us. I should have demanded that he back away. But I did neither of those things.
“I’m well aware, but you still agreed to come out with me tonight.”
“Agreed is really pushing it.” I looked down at his hand as it inched closer to mine before looking back up at him. He was so sure of himself, of this, and I knew that Carson was far more experienced than I was. He flaunted that in my face almost every day. But I didn’t know how to do this.
If I was being honest, I wished I could have been the kind of girl that could bring him to his knees. I wished that I could make him beg for everything I had and everything I could give him, but I knew it would likely be the other way around.
If I wasn’t careful, I would easily beg him for everything we once had.
“You wanted to come.” He lifted his hand, bringing it to my chest, and twisted one of my curls around his finger. “Allie Taylor doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
“You have no idea what I want.” I swallowed and prayed he didn’t notice how nervous he made me.
“I think I have a pretty good idea.” He leaned forward, and I held my breath. This was it. Carson Hale was going to kiss me.
His lips were only a breath away from mine, and my eyes fluttered closed.
“Allie,” he said my name so softly that I thought I might have imagined it.
“Yes,” I answered him. It was the only response I could give. Yes to whatever he wanted. Yes to whatever he would take. My answer had been yes long before I even realized it.
“All right! Two cherry snow cones, both with extra syrup.” The sound of Bob’s voice snapped me out of my stupor, and I opened my eyes to see Carson quickly backing away from me.
He jumped down from the counter before I could get a good look at this face.
“After all that shit you just talked about me getting cherry?”
He grabbed the snow cones out of Bob’s hands before turning back to me with a wink. He was completely unaffected by what had just happened between us. By what I had almost let happen. “Like you said, I’ve tried my fair share of flavors.”