Chapter 67
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
ASTRID
When we stepped into the ice cream parlor, the bell above the door jingled.
The scent of sugar and fresh waffle cones drifted through my nostrils.
This place was pretty empty for it being early spring, just a couple of students crammed into a red-and-white booth near the back.
Fluorescent lights buzzed softly, casting a warm glow on the ice cream flavors.
I hummed to myself and walked ahead of Arch and Rush, who had been closer to me than usual on our walk from Redwood to downtown. Honestly, I had been surprised that Rush didn’t want to drive. But it was warmer and sunnier than usual today.
Their footsteps were heavy behind me, the tension still thick from earlier.
My lips curled into a small smile as I approached some freshman behind the counter. He readjusted his glasses on his nose and peeked over at me shyly, his cheeks tinting red.
Oh, this shall be fun.
“H-hi, Astrid. What can I get for you?” he said, peering at me, then looking away.
“Hi”—I scanned his uniform for his name tag—“Robbie.”
His eyes widened. “Y-you know my name?”
Arch wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him so my front was flush against his hard body. “She’s not interested. Tell him what you want, Hellcat, so we can get the fuck out of here.”
For not wanting to tell me that he loves me, someone is jealous …
I pushed myself away from Arch and turned back toward the ice cream flavors, smirking.
“Cookie dough or brownie batter?” I asked Arch and Rush.
Again, Arch’s arm came around my waist, as if he still didn’t like the way that cute little Robbie was looking at me, even though Robbie hadn’t made eye contact since Arch had pulled me closer the first time.
“Both are trash,” Arch muttered beside me.
Rush didn’t say anything, but chuckled from my other side. I peered over at him and wrapped my hand around his pinkie, then turned back to the counter. To my surprise, he didn’t pull it away, but instead moved closer so I could grab his entire hand more easily.
“What are you picking then?” I asked Arch.
“Vanilla.”
I burst out laughing. “You? Vanilla?”
“You have a fucking problem with that?”
After biting back my laughs, I shook my head. “No, not at all, Vanilla Boy.”
Once Arch mumbled a few not-nice words, Rush cleared his throat. “I’ll also do vanilla.”
“Good choice,” I said to him, squeezing his hand.
“Oh, so I get shit for it, but he doesn’t?” Arch exclaimed.
“Yes,” I murmured. “Just because.”
“A-and for you?” Robbie said, still not looking at me.
“Cookies and cream.”
After a few choice words from Arch, Rush paid for the order, and Robbie handed us our ice cream. We exited the parlor and sat on the curb, just outside, the neon glow from the shop spilling onto the pavement.
I sat between them, licking my ice cream, amused by just how much Arch wasn’t over what had happened earlier. I didn’t know if it was what he had almost admitted, Rush barging in on our time alone, or what Rush had said to him.
But Arch was still pissed.
“How long have you hated Rush?” I giggled.
“Since he became an annoying little shit this afternoon,” Arch said.
My lips curled into a smile. “Oh, yeah? Hear that, Rush?”
When I looked over at him, he was already staring at me, but not like he usually did with that intense, smoldering stare. With a softer, hazier one, his gaze focused on my lips. Warmth gathered inside my core.
“Mmhmm,” Rush hummed, though he didn’t look at Arch once.
Arch growled and took a bite of his ice cream. Yes, a bite. Then he clenched his jaw, his gaze distancing, as if he was thinking about something else entirely. I nudged him with my shoulder.
“You contemplating murder?” I asked.
“I don’t like sharing.”
“Yeah, well,” Rush said, stretching his legs out in front of himself, “neither does Frasier or Calix or Cairo or even me. But you’re gonna have to get used to it, Arch. Because none of us are going anywhere.”