Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
Chase looks around. "Where's Rye and Frankie? Are they okay? How did you guys make out last night?"
The corner of my mouth tips up in a sheepish grin. "Rye took Frankie to the shop to make a new flavor, which she and Frankie thought up this morning. As far as how we made out, do you really want a play-by-play?"
Chase stops looking at the car and turns to me, raising an eyebrow. "Not when you put it that way. So, are you going to pursue something with Rye? Don't get her hopes up just to let her down or Frankie, man."
"I have no intentions of doing anything like that. I like her. It's moving quick as hell, but I can just feel it in my gut that we're meant for something more than a shared night together. The way Frankie took right to her makes me want to try love again."
Chase smiles as he hooks my car up to his tow truck. "Good for you. It's about time you start dating again. Even better that it's my lady's younger sister. About your car, I can let you drive one of mine until yours is fixed. It might be a few days, but I won't know for sure until I get under the hood and see how deep that dent goes."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
We shake hands and part ways. My mind wanders to Mariah and Frankie bonding over ice cream recipes. My heart warms in a way I haven't felt in forever. Yet, I don't want to feel like I'm forcing Rye to blend our families.
5
MARIAH
"Are you sure you want to go camping with us, Miss Rye?" Frankie asks as I yank the gate open.
Fortunately, the generator's still humming as we head inside to start opening. "Of course I want to go. Don't you want to give your dad another shot at just a trip with the two of you?"
"I don't mind." She shrugs. "We don't really like the same stuff anymore. He's always busy with work, and I mean, I don't want to be stuck in the woods with just my dad. He'll start telling me the same old stories from his job."
"You don't like what he does for a living?"
"It's not that," she says with thoughtful consideration trickling across her face. "His job is actually really cool. He's like one of those guys you see in action movies where things explode, and he saves the president or something."
"That sounds dangerous."
Frankie nods. "It is. But he doesn't ever tell me about the explosions. He tells me the same stories about the one time he guarded some really famous pop star and saved him from a crazy fan."
"Wow. I imagine he must have a crazy kind of schedule."
Frankie sighs. "Not really. The last person he was in charge of protecting let me hang out with their daughter, and we went to the same school. We have a regular schedule. What's your schedule like, Miss Rye? Do you have to get up before sunrise or something crazy like that?"
I chuckle. "Oh no, I can't do that every day. If I were running a bakery or restaurant that sold breakfast, I would. Luckily, all I have to do is make my ice cream bases for whatever I'm selling for the week."
"That's so cool. What's the craziest flavor you've ever made?" she asks excitedly.
"Um, good or bad?"
She giggles. "Bad."
"That would be chocolate creme brulee toffee. It ended up tasting like black licorice." My nose scrunches, my mouth desperate to never remember that flavor.
"Eww," she says, sticking her tongue out. "Okay, what's about the best good one?"
"If we're talking about crazy and tasting good? That would be my seasonal Thanksgiving Fixins."
"As ice cream?"
"Yup. I was able to make a macaroni and cheddar waffle cone. Sweet potato ice cream with a marshmallow swirl and a sage sausage crumble. I don't know how I even got to those flavors, but I only do it for the month of November because it's a nightmare trying to get everything right."
"I'd have to taste it. I can't imagine it in my head. Can you show me how to make it after we make this pancake one today?"
"Sure, why not? It's better to share the recipes so they're not lost to time."
Frankie lets me walk her around the kitchen and shop to show her how everything works. She's attentive and asks questions as if she has plans to work here. I don't mind, and it's nice to have someone as interested in ice cream as I am.
We spend the next hour crafting different parts of the newest recipe with her name on it. Once Dallas arrives, he smiles as we sit him down to try out every variation we’ve crafted.
"How's the car?" I ask him as he tastes the first sample.
He nods. "This is good but very sweet. The car's going to Chase's shop. He's bringing me a loaner until it's fixed."