Page 39 of What About Us

“Sundae’s,” Ivy agrees with a nod. “Best in the world.”

“Now it’s a done deal. We have to see if that’s true,” Cooper says, and we head that way. It’s only a few doors down.

Silver Springs is tiny, so everything is just a few doors down in any direction.

Sundae’s has been a mainstay in this town for more than fifty years. Indigo, the granddaughter of the original owners, owns and runs it, and I agree that it’s the best ice cream there is. When we walk inside, I’m hit with the familiar scent of sugar, and Indie glances up at us, then swallows hard and seems to go . . . pale.

“Hi, guys,” she says with a fake smile. Indie’s young. I don’t remember exactly how old she is, but she’s in her early twenties. She’s pretty, with dark hair and green eyes, but she looks nervous. “Welcome in.”

“Hey,” Ivy says with a little wave. “We were just singing your praises.”

“No pressure,” Indie replies with a wink. “I assume you want your usual?”

“Always.” Ivy grins and steps aside so everyone else can decide on what they want, but I keep her close to me.

I like having her nearby. It’s like something inside me settles down whenever she’s around, and it’s becoming addicting.

Which is weird as fuck for me.

Indie fills all our orders. It seems Ivy’s usual is the huckleberry ice cream in a waffle cone with chocolate drizzle.

“I need a bite of that,” I inform her, and she narrows her eyes and glances at my own cone. Double chocolate.

“Trade?” she asks.

I nod, and she holds her cone out for me to take, but I wrap my hand around hers, and with our eyes pinned, I lean in and take a bite.

“Mm. Good choice.”

Her pupils have dilated, and she swallows hard, and when I offer her a bite of my own cone, this brave girl doesn’t break the connection as she dips her head and licks the ice cream.

“Get a fucking room,” Easton says, making Ivy immediately blush that way that makes my cock wake up and want to join the party.

“Don’t be an asshole,” I reply, shaking my head.

By the time we’re all finished with our dessert, I turn to say goodbye to Indie but find she’s already watching me and nibbling on her lip, so I walk her way before we leave.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just.” She sighs and glances over my shoulder at Easton. “Do you think that I could⁠—”

She pauses and swallows hard, and what the fuck is going on?

“It’s okay, Indie.”

She nods. “Could I maybe have a meeting with you and your siblings one day soon? I don’t open the shop until eleven, so maybe we could have coffee before that?”

I frown, watching her. She’s nervous, her face is pale, and she won’t look me in the eyes.

“You bet,” Easton says. I didn’t realize he’d joined us. “What day works for you?”

“Any day.” Her voice is a whisper now.

“Are you in trouble, Indigo?” Easton asks, voicing what I’m thinking.

“No, it’s nothing like that, but I’d really rather chat with all of you. Harper too.”

Easton and I share a look and then nod at the young woman.