Page 60 of Until Then

Adjusting my hold on Wonton, I walk deeper into the store, between the full shelves, breathing deep. I love how they’re overflowing, with books stacked on the floor in some spots. I pause halfway down one aisle and scan the shelves to see if anything else jumps out at me. When I come across a cookbook solely dedicated to salads, I laugh out loud and snatch it up, certain it’ll make Derrick laugh, too.

Is it odd that I find myself thinking of him in ways like this?

It makes sense, right? We’ve been living together and?—

Closing my eyes, I blow out a breath. I have to stopoverthinking things, especially when it comes to him. I’ll drive myself insane if I don’t.

For a moment, I consider putting the book back, but decide to hell with it and take it with me as I head back to the counter.

On my way, I stop at a section of coastal books—a collection that consists of nonfiction books about Maine and the ocean, and even a few romances set in the area. Unable to resist the New England summer vibe, I snag one of the romances.

“I found it!” Ella comes around the corner, holding the book proudly out in front of her, just as I’m approaching the counter. She scans it and holds out a hand for the other selections I’ve made. “A cookbook on salads?” She arches a brow, her lips quirking like she’s trying her hardest not to laugh at me. “That’s interesting. I didn’t even know we had that.”

With a grin, I tap my card on the machine.

She holds the small paper bag out to me. “Will I see you at book club?”

“Yeah, of course,” I say with a wave as I head for the door.

“Cool. See you, Izzy!”

The warmth of the summer sun on my skin is rejuvenating when I step outside and set Wonton on the sidewalk. I’m rounding the corner when I catch sight of the ice cream shop. It’s only open in the spring and summer, and right about now, it sounds like exactly what I need.

“Would you like some ice cream?” I ask Wonton.

I swear his tail wags faster in response.

Luckily, the ice cream shop isn’t busy, so I tie Wonton up outside and pop in to order, making sure to keep an eye on him while I wait. I’ve been beyond paranoid since he escaped during the storm.

Once I’ve got a scoop of strawberry ice cream and a pupcup, I head back out. I can’t help but grin when Wonton greets me with an excited yip.

I set the cups on the table and untie him so I can set him in my lap. Then I scoot his cup closer, and he goes to town licking the vanilla ice cream, completely ignoring the bone in the middle. He likes to save that for last.

While he’s occupied, I have a taste of my own. Some may consider strawberry a basic flavor, but nothing beats it, in my opinion. I swirl my tongue around the plastic spoon, making sure to get every drop before I dive in for another bite.

“I never thought I’d be envious of a spoon.”

Jolting, I snap my head up, finding Derrick stopped a few feet away on the sidewalk. His cheeks slowly turn from their normal tan to red, like maybe he didn’t mean to say that out loud, and my own cheeks warm as well.

“Hi.” It’s perhaps the dumbest response in the history of responses, but it’s the only word rattling around in my brain at the moment. I’m too stunned to even come up with a witty quip about his comment.

He clears his throat and nods toward the chair across from me. “Mind if I join you?”

“Not at all. Do you want ice cream?”

I point with my spoon at the window into the shop. When I catch the spoon in my periphery and remember his comment, I blush all over again.

I’ll never look at the utensil the same way again.

“Yeah, I should… I should do that.” He runs his fingers through his hair. It’s gotten long. I don’t think he’s cut it once in my time here, and I hate to admit it, but I’ve had dreams of pulling on his hair, riding his?—

“Izzy?”

I want to melt into a puddle under the table like ice cream,never to be seen or heard from again. Just a sticky, forgotten mess on the sidewalk. “What did you say?”

“Do you want anything else while I’m in there? A drink?”

“No, I’m good.” Somehow, the words come out with more confidence than I feel.

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