As he turns on the car, I pull up the directions and set up the navigation. Once ready Callum pulls out into traffic. In no time at all we are pulling up to my favorite mom and pop ice cream shop.
“This place looks nice,” he says hesitantly. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“I promise, now come on,” I say as I jump out of the car.
I bounce on my toes as I wait for Callum to get out of the car and walk around it.
“Come on.” Callum chuckles as he opens the door.
“Cleo!” Mrs. Wright cheers as I walk in. “It’s been too long, doll,” she says as she walks around the counter, giving me a hug.
“I know. Dang life had to go and get busy on me,” I joke as she lets go.
“What can I get you two?” she asks as she walks around the counter.
“The usual for me please,” I tell her. Turning to Callum I find him checking out the display. “It’s all good.”
“All?” he says, raising a brow.
“I’ve tried them all.”
“Cleo here is our best taste tester,” Mrs. Wright boasts, making me smile.
“You're too kind.” I smile.
Once she’s done making my cone, she hands it over and takes Callum’s order.
“I’m going to go sit in the back.” I point toward the far back booth.
“Sounds good.” Callum nods as I walk toward the booth.
I sit down, with my back to the door, knowing a man like Callum will want the one facing it.
“So what did you get?” I ask as he sits down.
“Chocolate caramel with brownie bites.”
“That one is addicting,” I tell him.
I watch as Callum takes his first bite, eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head.
“Holy hell,” he moans.
“Told you,” I singsong.
We eat our ice cream in silence until I finally can’t take it anymore.
“Tell me something about you, something that nobody knows,” I say as I take my last bite.
“I’ve never met my mother,” he says after a few moments of silence.
“Really? Do you know why?”
I watch as Callum shifts uncomfortably. “She was never supposed to meet my father, let alone sleep with him. Hell, she was promised to another man. When it came out that she was pregnant her family wanted her to have an abortion. Thankfully my father and his family convinced her to carry me to term and then hand me over.”
“That’s sad,” I say softly. “So you don’t know who she is, or even if you have any other siblings.”
“No, I know who she is.” He shakes his head. “I just have no desire in getting to know her. As for siblings, she had a child.”
