Rona shrugged. “It feels kind of indecent.”
“Maybe that should be our first challenge. I’m in, by the way. You could count this as something new and crazy, for you.”
Rona scrunched her nose up, not looking convinced, but also kind of happy that we were going to do this. She took a deep breath. “Okay. I walked into that. Let’s start as we mean to go on. Let’s get some ice cream.”
***
The gelato place was nestled in between some coffee shops, bars and restaurants just off the promenade near the town centre. Palm trees lined the open street. The buildings were a mixture of brilliant white, yellow and some pink. Inside, they had a huge selection of flavours and combinations. They also sold chocolate and pastries. I wanted to eat it all.
Rona studied the menu above the counter and then each tray within the cabinet. I studied her. She ordered a coffee and a mint chocolate and pistachio cone.
I ordered the same as her and told her I’d never had coffee with ice cream before, so that it was new for me.
“See.” Rona smiled. “We’re getting the hang of it.”
We found somewhere to sit in the shade on the wall lining the promenade. Our feet dangled over the other side, a bigger drop down to the sand below.
Rona looked over her shoulder. She twiddled the ice cream cone in her fingers. “Here goes.”
“Good luck. Hey, I’ll join you.”
The level of concentration tinged with self-consciousness emanating from Rona as she licked her ice cream cone, in public, reminded me of my first time going down on a woman.
I had some ice cream and I picked up my hot coffee, trying not to let myself make that connection and think about that. “How are you getting on over there?”
“Living dangerously.”
“I see it. You’re doing so well.”
“How about you?”
I took a sip. The contrast to the cold ice cream was… it worked. “Living my best life. I didn’t think it would go, but this is amazing!”
Rona stopped with her cone and looked at me. “I like your energy, by the way. I feel good around you. Sorry, that must sound really weird.”
“No, not at all. I mean, it has been less than twenty-four hours that we’ve known each other but I feel like I’ve known you for a lot longer.”
Smiling, a light blush crept onto her cheeks. She tapped her feet against the wall rhythmically. “We’re lesbians. No new connection is half-arsed.”
“I know, right. So, when are we moving in together?”
“Oh, you’ll have to take me out on a proper date first.”
“This wasn’t a date?” I feigned confusion.
Rona’s eyes dropped their playfulness. She glanced down at my mouth for a split-second and then looked away.
My heart started pounding.
“So, what’s our next challenge going to be?” Rona said, staring off into the sea.
“Um.” I couldn’t think of anything. Did she really think this was a new connection? What did that mean? I wanted to ponder what was going on between us, but she was looking right at me now, expectantly. Her eyes were wide and open. “Have you ever got up in the morning to watch the sunrise somewhere beautiful, like over the sea? When it first breaks the darkness and everything slowly illuminates?”
Rona tilted her head to the side. “No. I’ve never done anything like that. I mean, I have seen plenty of sunrises, obviously, like when I’ve come out of the club early in the morning after dancing or DJ’ing all night. You make it sound kind of romantic.”
“I see. And have you ever eaten a box of donuts for breakfast?”
She laughed. “No. I prefer chocolate croissants, if we’re talking sugar.”
