27. Noah
“Then go ahead and order for me then if you think you’re so smart.” I raise my eyebrows, looking away from Dani.
“Do you not recall telling me this morning what you’ve been craving from here for days?” She smiles and her eyes land on Valerie. “Fried chicken sandwich and curly fries.”
“Everything on it?”
Dani nods at Valerie.
“I bet I know what you’re going to get,” I say.
“What does the loser win?”
“You get to buy me ice cream from Sunset Cove Creamery after this. If you win…”
I’ll tell you I’m in love with you. Yeah, there’s no fucking way I’m doing that.
“I’ll buy you one of those big chocolate chip cookies from The Green Sea Turtle.”
“Deal,” she says as she sticks out her hand for me to shake, but I hold onto her hand under the counter for a little bit longer.
“She’s going to have the club wrap. No ham or tomato. Ranch on the side instead of mayo. With curly fries.”
Valerie looks at me while I shift my body in her direction. We’re both waiting to see if I’m right.
Dani rolls her eyes. “Guess I’m buying you ice cream.”
I pump a fist in the air, making a goofy face.
“You guys have fun. I’ll go put your orders in.” Valerie disappears, leaving Dani and I alone.
“How the hell did you remember that?” Dani asks.
I roll my eyes and laugh. “We came here a lot when we were in middle school and you used to get that every single time.”
“I didn’t get it every single time.” She taps her index finger on the counter.
“Almost every single time.”
Studying her face, she looks at me with her eyes moving from side to side.
I love when she’s annoyed at me.
Dani’s basket is basically a ghost town and so is mine.
I’m so full, but I want that damn ice cream, especially because she has to buy it for me.
Valerie walks over to us. “Guess you guys were hungry?”
“You could say that,” Dani says.
“Ready for the check?”
We both nod and look at each other.
If she thinks she’s paying for this, she’s out of her mind.
Valerie goes over to the touchscreen to print out our check, setting it down in between us.
“You’re not paying for this.”
“Noah.”
I shake my head. “Do I need to remind you again of what you’ve done for my family?”
“No, you don’t.”
“Besides, you’re buying me ice cream. It’s a win-win situation.”
“Yeah, for you.”
“You’re. Not. Paying. For. This,” I repeat.
“Fine.” She furrows her eyebrows, sinking in her seat.
“You’re not actually upset about this. Are you? If you are, I’d be happy to have you pay for lunch and my ice cream.”
“No, you’re offering to pay, so pay.”
“You’re mad.”
“I am not.”
“You do this thing with your face when you’re mad.”
“Shut up. No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. Your eyebrows furrow, your mouth turns into a frown, and you cross your arms in front of your chest.”
“Stop making shit up.”
“You’re doing it right now!” I laugh. “I know it’s hard to not think about Lizzie. Having an intense case of writer’s block probably doesn’t help either. It’s nice to spend time with you and not scream at each other.”
“Yeah, I guess it’s nice.”
“You guess?”
“What do you want me to say, Noah?”
There are so many things I want to say to you.
“Just tell me the truth,” he says.