Page 12 of Almost Ravaged

“All right, birthday boy.” Atty grips Tytus by the shoulders, squeezing harder than necessary, given the grimace on Ty’s face. “I know how much youloveice cream and sweets. So what’s it going to be?”

I shake my head at my brother’s sarcasm.

Tytus gives me the quickest of glances, then shoves Atty away.

“Same as last year, bro. It’s tradition.”

Same as last year.

On the outside, the ice cream shop is the same, from the butter yellow façade to the bubblegum-pink walls inside. It’s a true hole-in-the-wall establishment. The interior is narrow enough that the guys could spread their arms wide and touch the serving counter on one side and the wall on the other.

But beyond where we are, absolutely nothing else feels thesame as last year. Not to me.

I roll my lips to fight back the grin that keeps threatening to give us away.

“You’re telling me you want to eat fifteen scoops of ice cream?”

In answer, Ty makes his way up to the counter to ding the service bell.

Atty snickers. “Dude. Idare youto eat all fifteen scoops.”

Ty gives him an unamused glare as an employee comes around from the back.

I elbow my brother in his side. “Don’t be a dick. He doesn’t even like ice cream.”

Atty throws his arms up in mock outrage. “That’s what I’m saying. We’re only here because you like it.”

Scowling, I cross my arms over my chest. “And we only played laser tag because it’syourfavorite. Seriously. We’re all having a good day. Don’t ruin this.”

The part I don’t say out loud?

Don’t ruin this for Tytus.

A sense of protectiveness flares to life inside me. I refuse to let my brother spoil today because he’s annoyed about losing at laser tag.

“You’re feisty today, Sawy.”

As immature as it is, I stick my tongue out at my brother. “And you’re a sore loser today, Atty.”

“Enough, you two.”

The words aren’t so much a scolding as they are an exasperated plea. Tytus scratches at the back of his neck and shifts from foot to foot. “Can you stop with the twin shit and come pick out what flavors you want?”

Head held high, I brush past Atty and make my way to the counter. “Are we getting the King Kong?”

Tytus rolls his eyes, though he’s biting back a smile. “Yeah,” he confirms under his breath. “It’s still your favorite, right?”

It is my favorite. What’s not to like about fifteen scoops of ice cream served in a massive basin bowl? It means I don’t have to choose.

I peek up at him through my lashes and smile. “Still my favorite.”

With a nod, he turns to the employee waiting patiently behind the counter, fresh gloves already in place. “One King Kong, please. We’ll have a scoop of every flavor.”

She surveys the ice cream cartons in the cooler and grimaces. “We only have eleven flavors available today. I’ll start on those while you decide which you want to double up on.”

Atty sidles up to Ty’s other side, draping an arm over his best friend’s shoulders. “I was just teasing, man. Sharing a vat of dairy and sugar will most definitelymake up for the painful loss we suffered earlier. But please at least let me have my own spoon.”

With a roll of his eyes, Tytus play-punches him. They’re such boys.