Page 113 of Worth the Trip

“Don’t.”

“I ain’t said nothing.”

Her fingers smoothed the same perfectly flat spot again.

“Now it’s straight.”

“Thorough quality control.”

“You’re welcome.”

“If further inspection becomes necessary, I support rigorous standards.”

“Put the chocolate in the pot.”

“As instructed.”

We warmed the base and folded caramel through it while arguing over ratios. I added peanut candy.

Nolani removed some.

I put a little back.

She stared at me.

“I believe in abundance.”

“You believe in ruining ratios.”

“Strong ratios survive pressure.”

“That sentence has nothing to do with ice cream.”

“It got everything to do with me wanting more candy.”

She laughed.

Full.

Unmanaged.

I stopped stirring.

“What?” she asked.

“I like that laugh.”

Her expression shifted.

“I know.”

That answer hit me.

No denial. No scrambling to dodge the compliment.

She knew I liked something about her and let me.

Good.