Page 13 of Almost Ravaged

Atticus turns on his heel and heads to the other side of the shop. “I’ll grab napkins and snag a bench outside.”

A moment later, the door opens and closes. Other than the employee, who’s at the other end of the counter, scooping, it’s just the two of us. Again.

I peek up at Ty again. “So, what’ll it be, birthday boy? Four extra scoops of…” I nod toward the counter.

With his focus still fixed on me, he shakes his head. “You pick.”

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I fight back a smile. “It’s your birthday.”

“It is.” He gingerly pulls on the end of the strand I’m trying to wrangle. Then, bending lower, hovering dangerously close to being too close by casual standards, he says, “All I want for my birthday is for you to get whatever you want.”

Chest expanding, I blink back at him. “WhatIwant?”

Ty licks his lips, and after a moment, he releases a sigh and reluctantly pulls back. “Whateverice creamyou want.”

I try to school my expression, but it’s no use. So I let myself break into a smile as I turn on my heel and march down to the other end of the counter. “We’d like four extra scoops of Blue Monster, please.”

Tytus’s voracious laughter lights up my insides and sends my heart soaring.

Atty is going to be so mad.

Chapter six

Tytus

“This is justgross.” Atticus dips his spoon into the scoop of mint chip, which has, unfortunately, been contaminated by the surplus of Blue Monster.

Part of me agrees with him, but I wouldn’t dare say that out loud.

Not when Sawyer’s gleefully balancing on the brick retention wall in front of our bench, sneaking glances my way and grinning wide enough to show off her blue-tinged teeth.

“Refill, please.”

She hands me her empty spoon, then pivots with the grace of a gymnast on a beam and takes slow, deliberate steps away from us.

I get to work, gathering up the perfect bite of bright blue ice cream from the enormous, half-melted basin balancing on my lap.

Okay, maybe Atty’s right.

Nothing safe for human consumption should be this violently blue.

“Don’t indulge her,” Atty grumbles, stabbing an untouched scoop of the blue stuff with his spoon in a clear show of defeat.

I stifle a snicker. Indulging her is all I want to fucking do.

Today started like any other day. But then something clicked for me as I sat shotgun on the way to the laser tag arena. It’s our birthday month. We’re all nearly eighteen. I’ve spent so long ignoring my impulses, sating my desire, and pretending like I’m not singularly and obsessively attracted to my best friend’s sister.

But I won’t have to do that much longer.

This is the last year we’re guaranteed to be together for our birthdays.

Instead of fixating on all the lasts, I decided it was time I allowed myself to indulge in what’s next.

There’s always beensomethingbetween Sawyer and me. An unacknowledged awareness. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt a tug low in my gut when she was near.

Our moment this afternoon ripped through every shred of the illusion that we’re just friends. Or that my feelings for her would eventually dissipate. I’m tired of fucking pretending. I can’t ignore her anymore. Can’t pretend I’m not acutely attuned to her every movement or that I don’t cling to her every word.

I refuse to let the next few months go by without ensuring she knows exactly how I feel about her.