Page 20 of Worth the Risk

“Yeah.” She lets out a little laugh. “It’s fine, the first two days just always suck.”

“What makes you feel better?” I think I would do just about anything to make sure she wasn’t in pain.

“Honestly? A heating pad and ice cream.”

“Do you have those things?”

“I have one of the two.”

“Which are we missing?”

“The ice cream.”

“Alright, let’s go.” I pick up her backpack, slinging it over my shoulder and putting one hand on the small of her back to guide her out the door.

On the way to Emilia’s I take a detour, she gives me a puzzled look when I turn off on a street that doesn’t lead to her house.

“Trust me?” I ask before she’s able to get any words out herself.

“I do.” I’m not ready to admit how good that feels. Fifteen minutes later we pull up to my favorite ice cream stand just outside of town. I back my car up against the small fence that separates the rolling hills of the farm that meets with the back of the ice cream place.

“Liam, is this an ice cream place?” There’s a sweet, gentle smile on her lips.

“You said you were missing ice cream and I can’t have you just eating any old ice cream. This place is a family-owned creamery, complete with their own little farm.” I shut off the engine, opening my door. I jog around the front of the car to try and open Emi’s door but she’s out before I make it around.

On the weekends in the summer this place gets packed but today since it’s the middle of the week there’s just a few other families and couples around. We stand back, letting Emi take in the menu, I already know what I want.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Lightly, I press my hand to the small of her back again, it felt right earlier so I think I’m going to keep testing my luck with this motion, leading her to one of the open windows.

“What can I get ya?” The older woman in the window asks.

“I’ll have a small purple cow with chocolate jimmies, in a cup with a cone on top, please.” Emi smiles at the woman, while I stare at her confused by the choice.

“That’s what you’re going with?”

“Yes? That’s my favorite flavor.”

“Interesting.” I file that bit of information away not sure if I’ll ever need it, but you never know. Turning my attention back to the cashier I give my usual order. “I’ll have a small cookie dough in a cup.”

“Wow and you’re judging me? That’s so boring.”

The cashier watches us thoroughly amused, laughing at our interaction. “That’ll be eight dollars and fifty cents.” Pulling out my wallet, I fish out a ten-dollar bill.

“I can pay.” Emilia chimes in beside me, pulling a card holder out of her back pocket.

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head and she just rolls her eyes at me. If she thinks she’s ever going to pay for something around me she’s sadly mistaken.

Ice creams in hand we head back to the Jeep, I pop open the trunk so we can sit down and watch the sunset while we enjoy our treat. We sit in silence for a bit, watching the blue of the sky fade into hues of oranges and pinks. The silence is comfortable, I feel like I could sit here forever with her, my mind and body totally at ease.

“So, why athletic training?” Emilia asks, her pretty eyes on me. She piles a scoop of ice cream on her cone before licking it off. I swallow, I don’t think she even realizes what that’s doing to me.

“It fits with wanting to play baseball, useful I guess.” She nods, thinking about my answer.

“Makes sense, I guess. I thought a lot of athletes either went for business or something easier than those two things.”

“Yeah, it’s a mix. I don’t know I just wanted to do something helpful, for me and future teammates.” That is exactly why I chose the major but I don’t bring up that athletic training feels more like a calling than baseball now. It doesn’t matter anyways, baseball is my destiny. “Why psychology?” I ask, ready to shift the subject off me. Her eyes leave mine, flicking back to the field and sky in front of us.

“There’s a few reasons. One being wanting to understand my mom, understanding her addiction.” She shrugs, eyes still on the sunset and she takes a bite of her ice cream. “I want to be a school psychologist, specifically working in a high school, helping students who might not have resources for therapy or someone to talk to.”

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