AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’ll do what now?” I ask, confused.
“I’ll shout you one. It means I’ll buy you an ice cream.”
“I didn’t think royalty carried cash.”
He pulls a card from his top pocket. “No, but we do carry Visa.”
We meander side-by-side along the path to where a small crowd is looking out at the view, enjoying ice cream and chatting. A small blond child runs across our path, almost hitting us in his enthusiasm, and Alex wraps his arm around my waist to stop him from careening into me.
I’m not going to lie. It’s incredible to be held by him, even if it is just to stop me from falling.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
“All part of the service,” he replies.
My shoulder nestles perfectly under his arm, as though we were made to fit, and I notice that he doesn't remove his arm from my waist for a little longer than necessary.
The ice cream van proprietor asks us something in Malveauxian.
Alex translates for me. “What flavor would you prefer, Texas?”
I squint as I try to read the list. “It’s all in Malveauxian.”
“Funny that. They’ve got vanilla, of course, as well as double chocolate, pistachio, and lemon.”
“That’s easy. I would never waste an ice cream on something like pistachio or lemon, and I’m not a vanilla kind of gal. It’s double chocolate all the way for me.”
“Good choice.” He orders two double chocolate cones and hands over his card.
With our ice cream in hand, we find a free picnic table where we sit side-by-side, licking the creamiest of chocolate ice cream and gazing out at the view.
“This is good,” I say.
“It is good, but it’s not as good as the gelato in Ledonia. That’s next level.”
“I’ll have to try it someday, as long as you’ve got my favorite.”
“Which is?”
“Mint chocolate chip, of course.”
“Not chocolate?”
I lick my ice cream once more. “It’s a very close second.”
“I’ve got an idea. Let’s play a getting to know you game. You can ask whatever you want, but you need to answer honestly,” Alex says.
I give him the side eye as I lick my ice cream. “What kind of questions?”
“Anything you like.”
“Hmmm. As long as I get to go first.”
“By all means. Ask away, Texas.”
I may be getting used to that nickname, but it still gives me a small thrill every time he uses it.
I formulate my question as I rotate my ice cream on my tongue. It’s the way I’ve always eaten ice cream in a cone. I notice Alex watching me closely, as though in a trance.
