Page 261 of Worth the Trip

Landon glanced over. “You ain’t got somewhere to sit?”

“With my ice cream.”

“Sounds productive.”

Mama Brooks walked toward Nana, where Warren and Lennox had already joined her.

For a few seconds, I simply watched.

My Nana sat at one table laughing with Landon’s parents, while Lennox attempted to convince all three of them that cookies and cream represented maturity rather than a failure of imagination. Nana disagreed on principle. Mama Brooks agreed with Nana largely because annoying Lennox appeared to be one of her favorite recreational activities. Warren stayed out of it until Lennox tried to recruit him, then betrayed his son immediately.

Willow Run.

Self Ridge.

Self Springs.

Nobody competing.

Nobody disappearing.

Just people I loved sharing a table.

I looked back at Landon.

He had been watching me watch them.

He didn’t explain the moment.

He didn’t need to.

I slipped my hand into his.

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

“You ask too many questions.”

“That is rich coming from you.”

I led him through the swinging doors toward the prep area. Staff passed us carrying waffle cones and bakery trays, too busy to care that I had dragged my man into the back during opening hours.

I opened the freezer.

Behind the catering tubs and backup inventory sat one pint with a handwritten sticker across the lid.

For Landon. Still not for sale.

His laugh came low.

“Hershey.”

I took it out and handed it to him.

His thumb moved slowly across the word still before he looked at me.

“You kept making it.”