Page 30 of Chain Reaction

Memories that would never be recreated.

His heart thudded with disappointment.

However, he did remember that Raven had loved vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and nuts.

Maybe she’d also like a drumstick.

“Coming right up.” Serena disappeared into the back before reappearing with the ice cream.

Jake handed her cash for the ice cream, plus a tip. Then he headed back inside.

He’d probably been too impulsive. He wasn’t sure if Raven still liked ice cream. Even if she did, the fact he remembered that she liked vanilla ice cream with chocolate and nuts and was bringing it to her now could be taken the wrong way.

He briefly thought about sticking the ice cream in a trash can as he passed it outside.

But he changed his mind.

He wouldn’t make a big deal of it, and hopefully Raven wouldn’t either.

However, this entire situation felt entirely more complicated than it should.

CHAPTER 13

Raven’s stomach grumbled when she smelled the sandwich as Jake brought it inside. He set the bag on the table in front of her.

That was when she noticed he held something else also.

“Is that ice cream?” That was when she remembered the delivery driver drove an ice cream truck.

Instead of offering an explanation, Jake walked to the freezer and placed two items inside.

But not before she realized what he’d bought.

One of them was a Drumstick ice cream cone. Her favorite.

Coincidence? Or did he still remember that?

What was he trying to do?Dig up the past even though she’d asked him not to? To remind her that he’d once fooled her into thinking they had something special when all along she’d been disposable to him?

Irritation flashed inside her. She’d fallen for him once before but never again. She was no longer that naive girl. But she had a feeling Jake was even more calculated now than when she’d fallen for him.

Men like Jake only perfected the challenge of making women fall for them just so they could break their hearts.

With multiple avenues available, there was no excuse for him not to have contacted her. Even if it was to break up with her. He could’ve at least respected her that much. But he hadn’t. And she’d do well to remember that fact.

Raven tried to shove the thoughts aside and put on a neutral expression.

But she wasn’t sure she was succeeding.

To distract herself, she pulled out the sandwich wrapped in brown paper. Jake had also ordered french fries. She set them on the table between them.

He’d ordered Raven food but nothing for himself. He had to be hungry too, right?

She might be irritated with him, but she didn’t want to see him go hungry. Nor did she want to give him anything to hold against her.

She split the sandwich, gooey cheese stretching between the two triangles. Slivers of peaches protruded between the melted goodness.

This would be an interesting meal.