“That’s how desperate he is to have a relationship with you again. He was willing to offer me, a total stranger, anything for just a chance to reach out to you.”
What feels like lava seeps up my chest. “I can’t fucking believe this. Anything to get your ice cream into restaurants like you said, right? Anything to make money. First, you use me to boost your TikTok, then you move on to my dad for something more high-end. Is that your plan?”
She gasps at my muttered words. Pain flashes in her eyes as she looks at me. What I’ve said is utter bullshit. It’s a cheap shot, and I know it. But I’m so angry, I can’t even think straight. Yeah, things moved quickly between us, but I’d never felt this way about anyone before. I thought we had a connection. It felt like she truly understood me, especially when I opened up to her about my dad. But I was wrong.
She blinks quickly. When I see the tears brimming in her eyes, it feels like a punch to the gut.
“You know that’s not true, Gage,” she says, her voice steady and firm. “I care about you so much. I’d never, ever use you like that. You know I wouldn’t.”
My hands ache to reach for her, to take her in my arms and hug her tight and tell her that I didn’t mean it, that I’m sorry.
“Becca, I—”
“You need to leave.”
Before I can say or do anything, she walks off toward her bedroom and shuts the door. My head falls back. I tug both hands through my hair and close my eyes. Fuck. I screwed this up so bad.
I contemplate staying and waiting until she comes back out, but I know that’s not the right thing to do. I need to do what she asked me to.
I walk out of her apartment and drive home.
Chapter24
Becca
Iglance around Sweet Cheeks, taking in how packed it is. All the tables and chairs are full with customers, and the line at the register snakes out the door and down the block.
I let out a heavy sigh. Business is the best it’s ever been, but I don’t feel happy or relieved or any positive emotion. When I smile at customers, all the muscles in my face feel strained. I feel like I’m existing in a stupor, just going through the motions instead of enjoying what’s happening around me.
I rush over to Tori to help her dish up ice cream for the family of five that just ordered. I check on Ellie and Aiden, the part-timers I hired to help with the influx of business we’ve gotten over the past couple of months, ever since our TikTok blew up.
“We’re out of unicorn swirl and rocky road,” Aiden says.
I ask Tori to help me fetch more ice cream out of the freezer in the back. Together we grab the flavors and walk back to the front.
“Becca, wait.” I spin around to Tori, who’s gazing at me with concern in her eyes. “Are you okay?”
I sigh. “Why do you keep asking me that? My answer hasn’t changed from the last time you asked me—or the time before that, or the time before that.”
I know that Tori means well. Ever since Gage and I fought a week ago, I’ve been a mess. She knows what happened. I called her crying after he left, and she came over to my apartment to console me. But Sweet Cheeks is busier than ever, and I don’t have time to sit around and mope. I’m busy from the moment I wake up till we close. I’d rather channel my energy into my work than sulk and cry. I told Tori this. I just wish she’d stop pestering me.
She frowns and shakes her head. We walk back out and restock the flavors. I’m about to help another customer when Tori takes me by the arm and leads me into the back again.
“Tori, what are you doing? We have a line out the door. Customers are waiting.”
“So? They’d be waiting anyway. What’s an extra few minutes?” She crosses her arms and pins me with her stare. “Why haven’t you reached out to Gage yet?”
“What?”
“Why haven’t you texted him or called him?”
I stare at her with my mouth open in disbelief. Is she serious?
“Tori, you know exactly why. You remember what he did, don’t you? You remember what he accused me of, how angry he got at me when I was just trying to help.”
She purses her lips, then takes a breath. She rests her hand on my shoulder. “Bec, I love you. You know that. But I’m tired of seeing you stumble around all heartbroken like this when there’s something you could be doing about it.”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
