Runaway Cove by Abby Tyler

Author:Abby Tyler [Tyler, Abby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Casey Shay Press

Chapter 22

Zeke felt about as suave as a thirteen-year-old boy as he held open the door for Cricket at the other end of Main Street. First, he’d blown it three weeks ago. Then, it took his father to save today’s attempt to spend time with Cricket.

And yet, here she was.

The old-fashioned ice cream shop held loads of charm. The exterior was painted in soft pastels, including a mural that depicted three young children licking dripping ice cream cones that melted pink, blue, and yellow down the wall.

Inside, small round marble tables with wrought-iron chairs filled the space. A long marble counter lined the back wall, punctuated with tall stools topped in pink, pale blue, and light green vinyl seats.

Two employees stood behind the counter, a gray-haired man and a young woman, both decked in green and white striped aprons and white soda-jerk caps.

Several families sat scattered around the room, the children all wearing paper versions of the caps. Most were clearly tourists, judging by the swimsuits and overflowing beach bags at their feet.

The man gave them a big smile. “Cricket! And with a young man! Welcome!”

Cricket led them to the glass case that held the ice cream flavors. “Hi, Ed. This is Zeke. He’s from Boston.”

“Welcome, Zeke from Boston,” Ed said. “What can I get you?”

“I’ve been promised something secret,” Zeke said.

Cricket leaned in close. “Are you allergic to anything? Nuts? Dairy? Dislike anything? Coconut? Berries?”

“I never dismiss an ice cream flavor or topping put in front of me.” He frowned. “Unless it’s sardines.”

Ed didn’t miss a beat. “Skip the sardines,” he instructed the young woman.

Cricket laughed. “I love this place.”

“Your usual, then, Cricket?” Ed asked.

She nodded. “Yes, and make it for two.” She didn’t move away after leaning in, and Zeke very much enjoyed having this secret with Cricket, and particularly getting to move in close. She smelled of coffee and floral shampoo.

“Adorable,” Ed said. “Coming right up. Belle, can you prep the ocean wave?”

Belle began pulling bowls from a freezer on the back wall.

“Do I get a hint about what I’m getting?” Zeke asked.

Cricket’s eyes crinkled. “Just watch.”

Her arm brushed his, and a zip of electric connection flashed through him. This was going so much better than he could’ve hoped.

Ed pulled out a large ceramic bowl the color of sand.

“And so it begins!” Ed said with flourish, snatching two bananas from an iron tree and tossing them in the air. He neatly caught them behind his back.

His antics caught the attention of several kids, who charged forward to the counter and climbed on stools to watch.

“First you make the boat,” Ed said. He swiftly peel both bananas and sliced them down the middle. He set one pair in the dish, but the other got their tops and bottoms lopped off, leaving two more or less straight pieces.

He laid those in the bottom between the other banana halves, forming a canoe.

“Whoooooa,” said a boy of about seven. “He made a boat!”

Ed pulled out what looked like a brown glue gun from under the lip of the counter.

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