“Ring us up, and then I’ll comp it,” Sully told Kenzie.

“Okay.”

After their order had been processed, Jackson led Sully to a nearby table. He licked at his ice cream. It was good, but not as good as the strawberry cheesecake flavor that Sully had. It figured that she would know the best ice cream in the shop.

He kept staring longingly at her cone. Jackson told himself to cut it out, but he couldn’t help but think about how good that ice cream was.

“Is something wrong?” Sully asked him.

“Nope.”

“You’re looking at me like I’m a glass of water, and you’re in the desert.”

“No. I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

“I’m pretty sure you are,” Sully countered.

“Fine. It’s because I know how your ice cream is so much better than mine.”

“Do you want a taste?” She offered her cone to him.

“Yes.” Now that was a generous girlfriend. Er, fake girlfriend. He leaned across the table to get a taste. But instead of holding the cone steady for him, she rammed it into his nose and mouth.

She howled in delight.

“What was that for?” He grabbed a napkin and wiped at his face. Giggling sounded from across the room. Both girls were lined up, staring at him with their hands covering up their laughter. “It’s not funny,” he called over to the girls.

“Yes, it is,” Sully said with a laugh. “It’s hilarious.”

“Just for that…” Jackson smashed his ice cream into Sully’s face, leaving a streak of cookies and cream across her cheek.

“Hey!”

“You’re the one who started this war,” Jackson said.

The people at the table behind Sully were turning to look at them.

“We need to behave ourselves,” Sully whispered, with her head close to his. Their foreheads were almost touching.

A thrill went through Jackson at her nearness. He could smell her sweet coconutty scent, and it was intoxicating. “You’re one to talk,” Jackson whispered back. What he would give to kiss her right now.

“Get a room,” Ella called across the shop. “Sheesh.”

“I think she has a good idea,” Jackson said.

Sully playfully pushed his arm. “You naughty boy.”

“What? It’s true. I’m not going to lie.”

Jackson grabbed a napkin and wiped the ice cream from Sully’s cheek.

“Thank you.” She pointed at his nose. “I think you have a little something there.”

“Oh, do I?”

“You missed it when you were wiping it off before. But you can just keep it there if you want. It’s a good look on you.”

He grabbed another napkin and wiped the ice cream off. “Nah, I think I like the ice cream free version of my face. It’s worked well for me in the past.”