Page 121 of 16 Forever

“We don’t even know if he’s there right now,” I say.

“Actually, we do.” Shana stops the car, with Scoops ’n’ Sprinklesjust up ahead. “Lizzy told me he and Bodhi have a shift together.”

“Oh.” My heart is flipping out. “Then maybe... Okay, fine. Inch us forward a bit.”

“On it.” Shana drives again, slowly rolling to a stop once we have a view into the store.

And there he is, behind the counter.

And here I am, eleven years old, seeing him for the first time.

Carter Cohen.

His dark hair has gotten longer. Messier. It only makes him more attractive.

The store is empty right now, just him and Bodhi.

I want to dash out of the car. I want to kiss him.

And I’m about to.

But then I take in how happy he is.

He and Bodhi are laughing about something.

Was he ever that delighted when he was with me?

Bodhi tries to send a crumpled-up ice cream cup into the trash with a jump shot. He misses, and Carter laughs harder than ever.

If I go in there, I ruin this moment.

Why would I once again force him to confront the fact that he doesn’t like a Spear sister as much as she likes him?

That’s what got him into this mess in the first place.

A pack of rowdy middle school doofuses stomps past the car and into Scoops ’n’ Sprinkles.

Just as well.

“Shane,” I say, staring at an empty bottle of Peach Tea Snapple on the floor. “It’s not happening.”

“Why? Because of those kids? Who cares—”

“Let’s go,” I say. “Please. Drive.”

She does, as I silently convulse.

Carter

“Cookies and cream,” Bodhi says, counting on his fingers. “Chocolate chip. Strawberry dream.”

Apparently, all summer he’s been trying to memorize every ice cream flavor in the exact order they appear in the Scoops ’n’ Sprinkles display. Unclear why. But he’s taking advantage of this rare quiet moment on a hot August afternoon to try to prove that he can recite them all without looking.

“Blue monster,” Bodhi says, bouncing in place as he nears the finish line. “Fudge swirl, black raspberry, pistachio, MOOSE TRACKS!” He throws his arms in the air. “That was it, right?”

“That...” I hold for a dramatic pause. “Was it.”

“YEEEEEEESSSS! In your face, ice creams!” Bodhi shouts into the freezer. “You thought I couldn’t do it, but I COULD!”