Page 77 of Scoop Me Up
“I love you.”
I smiled, warmth spreading through me. “I love you too, Bug.” I hesitated once again. “And one more thing.”
She looked up at me with the most trusting eyes. I knew I never wanted to move away from this town, not if Ellie was still living in it.
“I’m moving to Maplewood.”
“Really?” When I nodded, she threw her arms around me in a tight hug.
After breakfast, I took Ellie home and headed back toward the shop, determined to help Sam with any last-minute preparations that needed to happen before the grand opening the next day.On my way, as I passed in front of the vet clinic next door to the ice cream shop, I ran into Cooper, who stopped to chat.
“Hey, Coop,” I said warmly.
Cooper sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m worried about Sam,” he said without preamble.
“You are?”
He nodded. “I don’t want you to leave and break his heart.”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Not a chance. I’m moving here permanently.”
“For real?”
“Completely for real.”
He nodded thoughtfully before speaking again. “In that case, welcome to Maplewood. Vermont’s Queerest Town.”
I chuckled at the town slogan and nodded. “Thanks. I’m glad to be here. For as long as Sam will have me.”
“Just don’t go running back to Burlington, announcing you were really straight this whole time.”
I hesitated at that. I hadn’t really given much thought to my sexuality or labels since I’d started seeing Sam. “Definitely not. I don’t think straight fits me so much anymore. Queer, I think, so I guess I fit right in.”
Cooper grinned, slow but wide. “I’ll remember that if anyone asks. Is that okay?”
“Be my guest,” I said. We chatted a few more minutes before Cooper had to leave, and I continued toward the shop.
I turned the corner and pulled the shop door open before stepping into the cool space, a welcome relief from the hot morning. Above where the tiles stopped on the walls, they were brightly painted. The ice cream case was shining and white, ready to be filled. Behind the counter were rows of ice cream cups, boxes of cones, toppings, and a milkshake blender. The main seating area was dotted with borrowed tables and chairs, thanks to the community rallying when I asked them for help. Ifound Sam standing in the middle of it all, chatting with Mayor Axlerod.
“Sam, we’re all really proud of you,” she said as I crossed the floor to join the two of them.
Sam bashfully rubbed the back of their neck before looking back to the Mayor. “Thank you. I’m excited to see how this thing turns out.”
With a wide smile, she turned to me. “And you. I hear you’re Maplewood’s newest resident. Welcome to the town, officially.”
“Thanks,” I murmured. “I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
She turned to Sam again. “Have you given much thought to how you’re going to weather the winter with a new ice cream shop? Tourism doesn’t slow down, but ice cream consumption definitely will.”
“I was thinking about that. Hot chocolate would be a good addition to our menu, don’t you think? Mulled cider for the fall. Maybe even eggnog.”
“That sounds lovely. I was wondering… have you given any thought to s’mores?”
Sam’s brow dipped. “S’mores?”
“There are shops popping up here and there that are exclusively dedicated to s’mores. I learned about them at a conference I went to recently—there weretwos’mores restaurants in that town alone!”
With a solemn nod, Sam smiled. “I’ll give it some serious consideration. I hadn’t thought of it, but it sounds clever.”
