“Cookie dough is by far a better flavor.” He raises a challenging brow before pulling his ice cream to his lips, licking his towering two scoops from top to bottom, and now I’m the one watching his movements closely. He smirks knowingly, and it's enough to snap me back to reality, and I avert my eyes. Why does my best friend have to be so hot?
“Have you ever tried mint ice cream before?”
“Why would I even think to try it? I bet it tastes like brushing your teeth right after eating chocolate.” He shudders at the thought, and I let out a giggle.
“Try it,” I tell him and hold out my cone. I laugh as Ryland wrinkles his nose. “Please.”
He rolls his eyes, leans over, and takes a lick of my ice cream. My eyes widen at the sight, and I wait patiently for his response. He smacks his lips together, using his tongue to wipe the ice cream at the corner of his mouth, and gives me a thoughtful look. “Nope. Not for me.”
Before I can argue with him, Pops walks up with a cup in his hand and points a spoon full of dark-pink ice cream toward us. “That’s because the best flavor of ice cream is sherbert.”
Ryland looks over at me, and we both burst with laughter. “Pops, you’re showing your age with your choice in ice cream flavor,” Ryland deadpans before taking another bite of his cone.
Pops rolls his eyes and takes the empty seat next to me. “You kids have it all wrong with your chocolate-flavored everything. Sherbert is where it’s at.”
Ryland and I steal licks from each other’s cones, refusing to admit that we like the other’s flavor, before finishing up and hopping back into the truck. Pops requests a quick trip to the nearest Walmart so he can pick up a few things. Ryland and I choose to load up on snacks. How we are still hungry is beyond me.
Driving around with Ryland and Pops has been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Unfortunately, it’s a school night, and we both need to head home before it gets too late.Ryland pulls the truck into the driveway of my house, and I freeze as soon as I notice Davis’ black truck sitting in the driveway.
Ryland senses my hesitation, his eyes searching my face when I turn and look at him. “I’m going to walk her to the door,” he says to Pops, his hazel eyes never leaving mine.
Pops hums an approval, his eyes closed and a hand on his stomach, clearly uncomfortable from our choices today. “See you around, Raine.”
“See ya,” I say softly before following Ryland out of the truck through his door.
He reaches down and takes my hand into his as we walk toward the door. My heart is pounding so loudly in my chest, especially when I see the curtains to the living room window move as someone watches us. I close my eyes, inhale a breath, and wait for Davis to stomp outside and cause a scene. But he never does.
I tug Ryland toward one of the overgrown bushes, where I know we’ll be hidden from watchful eyes. I’ve wanted a moment alone with him all day. Even if it’s only a minute. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. “Thank you for today,” I whisper and give him a gentle squeeze.
“You’re welcome. Oh, hey, I snuck and got you something at Walmart when you were in the restroom.” His lips curl over his teeth as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small gold chain that has a rainbow pendant dangling from it. I raise a brow, taking it into my hands to study, before he explains. “Remember in church, last Sunday, when they were talking about Noah and how the rainbow brings us hope and beauty after a storm.”
I stare at him, my lips parting in surprise. “Yeah.”
If I could bottle up one look of Ryland’s to have forever, it would be the way he is looking at me right now. His eyes, greener in the setting sunlight, hold a sparkle to them as they dance with my own. The side of his lip is turned up into a shygrin, one that speaks so much more than words could ever say.
“You’re like that. You bring a rainbow wherever you go. So, I just, um…wanted to give you this.”
This is the sweetest, kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. To know that he saw this and wanted to gift it to me makes me feel like I’m floating in the clouds. He probably meant this as a nice gift between two friends, but to me, it feels like so much more.
“Will you help me put it on?” I ask, handing the necklace to him and turning around.
He hesitates for a moment until his fingers graze the back of my neck, sending goosebumps across the exposed skin. “Yeah,” he says, his voice raspier than before.
My hands hang loosely by my sides, and I feel his fingers run down my arm until they snag the hair tie I keep around my wrist. He slides it off and runs his fingers through my hair before pulling the strands into a braid. I love it when he does this. Once the braid is finished, he allows it to fall over my shoulder. He places the necklace around my neck, and the rainbow pendant falls against the dip of my collarbone once it’s fastened.
“Thank you. I love it,” I announce and touch it with my fingers. I’ll never take this necklace off.
“I’m glad, Rainbow.”
“Is that my nickname now?” I question, and he gives me a grin in return.
“Yeah. I want it to be a special nickname just for me.”
I practically jump into his arms, almost causing us both to fall down, and the plastic bag in my hand swings as it bumps against his back. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me in another hug before I pull away and move my braid over my shoulder. He looks down at me, his brows pinched together in a discomforting look, and he parts his lips to say something.
“I—”
The words seem to be lodged in his throat. He coughs, his shoulders tensing up, and the glossiness in his eyes washes away with a blink. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
