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“Where do you want to go for dessert?” I asked, keeping my expression innocent.

“Nothing beats Tacoma Creamery,” she said.

I tilted my head, squinting. “Is that a euphemism?” I asked hopefully. I could be down with visiting her creamery. My truck bench seats weren’t ideal, but we could be at my place in ten minutes. Eight if I slid through a few pink lights.

“No, it’s not,” she paused, chuckling. “You’ve never been to Tacoma Creamery? It’s the best ice cream in town. I’m surprised Rosie hasn’t begged you for a visit. I thought you were a cool uncle,” she teased.

Slightly let down that she hadn’t been issuing an invitation, I clutched my heart. “That hurts, Sunshine.”

The smile flirting with her lips bloomed into a full grin. “What, that you’re not so cool after all, or that you thought I’d suggest your place for dessert? What if I’m the kinda girl that wants to take it slow?”

I huffed theatrically. “I’ve known you too long to believe that.” I leaned in close, dropping into huskier tones, gazing directly into Andi’s eyes. “And, Sunshine, no matter what, you’re my kind of woman.” Her eyes widened and she went still as I leaned in closer to whisper in her ear. “Even if you steal my underwear and subject me to the terrors of the most popular ice cream parlor in town.”

Peals of her triumphant laughter broke over me, bathing me in warmth.

There’d be time enough later to tell her I wasn’t joking.

Chapter 13 – Andi

Tacoma Creamery was overrun with families by the time we arrived. Judging from the uniforms, at least half of the crowd hailed from a local indoor soccer league. Girls and boys in knee-high socks bounced in line, excited to pick out their scoop flavors.

I sank back against Ty as we waited our turn, enjoying his strength at my back. He threw a casual arm around my shoulders, and I snuggled closer, inhaling to seek out the hint of soap beneath the aroma of sugar and waffle cones that hung in the air.

Go-cart racing with Ty had been a blast. Going toe-to-toe with him had been fun because he met me at every turn. In other relationships, I’d held back my competitive nature. Some men couldn’t handle losing. But Ty took it good naturedly. I grinned at the memory of him posing on the threshold to the bathroom. Sexy and confident, even in defeat. Remembered heat washed through me at the memory of the swift kiss he’d seized after handing over his underwear. He’d left me slick with wanting him after the barest touch. Stroking my jacket pocket, the trophy there served to emphasize that whatever I threw at Ty, he could handle it. We were well-matched in that way.

It was the devil inside that made me poke and prod to see if I could scare him in a different way. I gestured to the horde of tiny soccer players around us. “Do all these miniature shin guards running around make you want a mini-Ty to coach? You already coach your niece’s team, right?”

I glanced up, wanting to see his expression. I’d met Rosie, so the question didn’t seem out of bounds. We’d known each other for years, but he hadn’t settled down after Jess with someone new. Like poking at a piece of corn between my teeth, I had to know if he yearned for a family. Would he be satisfied with only me? I hadn’t spent a lot of time around kids. Nervousness sped up my heart rate. My ambivalence about having a family had been a deal breaker for more than one past boyfriend. Before Ty took any more pieces of my heart, I owed it to myself to find out how he felt.

His expression shuttered, closing down, and I bit my lip, regretting the loss of our easy comradery. Had I inadvertently hit on a pain point? Did he have kids running around I didn’t know about? Had Jess been pregnant when she left him? The possibility that he’d experienced that kind of loss had my heart clutching in my chest. Something about the tension in his shoulders hinted at strong feelings.

Ty cleared his throat as the silence lingered, as if considering what to say. I couldn’t put my finger on his expression. Not sadness exactly, maybe reluctance?

“I enjoy coaching Rosie. That’s enough for me for now.”

His answer was the one I’d hoped for. But my need to push, to take things too far, wouldn’t let me leave it alone.

“I don’t think I want kids.”

I put it out there baldly, ripping off the Band-Aid.

“It’s good to know what you want.” Ty’s weak smile didn’t recapture his earlier ease. He didn’t seem shocked, so why did I feel like I’d missed something important? His supportive response didn’t exactly surprise me, but I noticed he didn’t mention whathewanted. Men usually either shared their own dreams for a child-free life or backed away like I was toxic at this juncture. Ty had done neither.

Whether it was the crowded ice cream store or the too-serious talk about future desires, the mood was broken. Ty’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes as he teased me about tasting every flavor before committing to my cone.

His kiss at the end of the evening felt almost contemplative, like he wasn’t sure where to go next, and something in me shriveled. I’d grown used to brash, teasing Ty. This quiet, thoughtful version of him shook me. Had I succeeded in pushing him away, talking too soon about kids, what we wanted from the future? Should I have waited, held back?

I straightened my shoulders as I stepped back from the soft brush of his lips, my smile firmly in place. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t settle for someone who wanted me to be less than myself. I’d believed Ty could be the man who accepted me as is, without wanting me to change. If he wasn’t that man, it was better to find out now.

“Good night, Ty.”

“G’night, Sunshine.”

The soft rumble of his voice echoed through me as I locked the door behind him, letting my forehead fall forward against the cool door.

“It’s better this way,” I whispered around a tight throat.

But I’d wanted to believe he wanted me.Neededto believe.