Chapter Sixteen

I parked the truck across the street from the 24/7 ice cream parlor. I didn't even know those were a thing. I thought we would go to a seven-eleven and buy a pint of ice cream but Claudette had other plans. Not that I was composing because the place looked really cool. But it also looked really packed.

I looked down at my penguin pajamas and old boots and shrugged. The things I do for ice cream. Claudette grabbed myself hand and rushed us across the busy street. I definitely saw a few familiar faces but I was too focused on the giant selection of ice cream and toppings to care. This place was amazing. Just stellar, really. The inside was set up like an old school fifties diner with an OG jukebox to boot. I was in love.

"Do you like it?" I looked at her like she had lost a few brain cells. "Do I like it? I LOVE IT! This is amazing, Claudette! There are so many flavors to choose from. I didn't even know most of these existed. I feel like I haven't lived until this very moment." She looks at me the way you look at a baby that just got a new rattler- with awe and a little fear.

I'm busy being entranced by the paradise of frozen sweetness in front of me when I hear a familiar voice. "Hey, Claudette. Craving some ice cream tonight?" I turn around and see Matt behind the counter. His eyes go wide when he sees me.

"Riley, hey. I texted you earlier. I just wanted a chance to apologize but I understand if you didn't want to hear it." The sincerity in his voice makes my heart melt a little and I smile.

"It's all good, Matt. I just got busy. But hey, I thought you worked at that cool little coffee shop?" He looks relieved that I'm talking.

"Yeah, I do. But I work here too. Football camp isn't going to pay for itself." He works for what he wants. I can dig that. "I'm glad you dig that, Riley because I dig you too." He laughs when my face flushes.

"Yeah, I totally meant to say that out loud. Anyway, let me try the Secret Breakfast please. Two scoops in a cup. And can I get two scoops of Rocky Road to go for my dad before we leave? I'll just go ahead and pay for it now if that's okay." I look back up at his sweet blue eyes. He's so dang handsome. Focus, Riley. You can't lose focus.

"Yeah, no problem. Secret Breakfast is my favorite by the way." He winks at me and I nearly die. What the actual heck is wrong with the boys on the west coast? I never got this much attention back home. In fact, I was so invisible I doubt they've even noticed I left.

"I've never had it but I'm down to try new things lately." I don't know where I've gotten the sudden courage from, but I wink back. Now it's his turn to blush.

Claudette clears her throat and grins knowingly at us. "I knew you two would hit it off. Look at you, having eye sex and what not. You guys are so cute together. Now, lover boy, I'll take three scoops of birthday cake in a sugar cone and throw some gummy bears on top of that please." She smiles sweetly at him. He's just grinning. I'm just slightly outraged.

"No one is having eye sex and lower your voice!" She laughs rather loudly at me. "Oh hush, Georgia. We move fast over this way." I throw my hands up in surrender because she's right- they do. Doesn't mean I have to though.

Matt serves us our treats and refuses to take our money. He insists that it's on him. We slide into a corner booth and dig in. We're so busy pigging our that we're actually silent for the first five minutes or so. "Riley, you know Matt is really into you. He's a good guy, give him a chance."

I lick my spoon. "Matt can't be really into me because he doesn't even know me. I haven't even been here a week, Claudette." I lick my spoon again and moan a little. Secret Breakfast is on point.

"I don't know how you all did it back in Georgia, but I told you we move fast up here. We don't believe in wasting time. You have two of the school's hottest guys fighting over you, girl. They know what they want, do you?" She's staring next down at this point and I'm wondering if she's really asking if I want Trevor. She warned me off of him the first time I met him and she's pushing me to get with Matt every chance she gets.

"What I want is to focus on my grades so I can high tail it back to Georgia as soon as I graduate. I can't lose focus, Claudette. I'm too homesick for that." She nods in understanding and I hit her with a question. "What happened between you and Trevor?"

She looks shocked and even a bit pale.

"Why do you ask?" Now she sounds defensive. I sigh. No way would I lose this girl over a guy. I take another bite of ice cream, saddened by how much of it is gone already.

"You've been trying to keep me away from him since I got here. I see the way you watch him when you think no one is paying attention. I also see the hurt in your eyes when he doesn't watch you back. I'm not mad at you, I just want to know what happened. Our friendship is really important to me. I would never dare jeopardize it over some guy. Just help me understand, please." I watch her eyes water up and instantly hate myself.

"He took my virginity on a bet. He made me feel special without even trying. I thought I had the same affect on him but apparently not. It just happened one night and the next day he acted like it didn't. Ignored all of my messages. I decided to wait on him at his car in the school parking lot to see what was going on and he laughed at me. He actually laughed. 'It was just a bet, Claudette. The guys didn't think I could get it and I knew I could.' My virginity was just a damn bet."

I watch a few stray tears fall down her pretty face before I rushed to her side of the booth to comfort her. "I'm so sorry, Claudette. That is just evil. He's a moron." I hugged her gently. "I'm glad you told me. Thank you for trusting me." She sniffles before going for more of her ice cream.

"I wish I could say I warned you off just because I didn't want it to happen to you too but truthfully, I'm still hung up on him. I know that makes me sound like a horrible person. I'm sorry." I laugh and reach for my cup only to be disappointed at the lack of ice cream in it.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, girl. Believe it or not I get it. I just hate that you can't see your own worth. You could so much better than that jerk." She looks up at me and smiles.

"I'm glad we found each other, Peaches. You're a diamond in the rough. Best friends forever?" I grin at the childish endearment and take her extended pinky in my own.

"Best friends forever, L.A. Are you ready to head out? I feel a sugar crash coming." She snorts and says something about me being a lightweight. I get up and head to the counter to grab my dad's Rocky Road.

"See you later?" Matt hands me the ice cream and I nod at him. "Yeah, see you later. Thanks again, Matt." He smiles and lightly touches my hand.

"No problem, Riles. By the way, I especially dig those damn pajamas. Penguins are life." I laugh a little too hard and a little too loud.

"I bet they'll look even better on you, football star." He grins mischievously and leans across the counter so we're nose to nose. He smells good.

"I think I really like you, Riley Brinks." I lean even closer. Our lips are practically touching. "I think that's a bad idea, Matt Snyder." I watch him look at my lips as he licks his own. "How would you know if you never try?"

Again, reality hits me. My first kiss will not be over some public counter, dang it. I back up. I look at those gorgeous eyes one last time. "I'm not worth the risk. Or the effort for that matter." He looks a little stunned at my response. I head to the door and wave as I look back. Matt deserves better than the chaotic mess that is Riley Brinks. He would figure that out for himself sooner rather than later and I would rather not be around when he did.

Claudette is already waiting for me at the truck. I unlock it and we climb in. "Girl, why did the two of you remind me of Anastasia and Christian back there?" I smirk at her comparison. "Because you're fifty shades of hopeless romantic probably. It can't happen girl, I can't lose focus." She snorts.

"Focus smocus. Matthew Snyder has it bad for the new girl. And as far as I know, he had never been in a fight until it came to you."

I don't know what to say so I just turn the music up and drive. I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper into the mystical rabbit hole that is quickly becoming my life.