Page 18 of If I See You Again
David
W e pulled up outside the cutest little red-and-white building next to the Waukegan docks. The train station wasn’t far off either. Dockside Ice Cream is what the sign said. It was old, with the paint chipping in several places.
“Marcus wanted to go swimming one summer, and Mom brought us out here by the pier. It was a shitty idea. It’s a boat launch. There are many better swimming locations, but Mom and her ideas. Instead, we ended up here… it sort of became a tradition after that.”
Malcom cut the engine off, opened the door, and climbed out of his seat. I didn’t hesitate to follow him.
The street was empty. No one else seemed to be out and about. It made sense with the way the wind blew harshly off the lake. Malcolm approached the front door to the small shop, picking up a tiny sign before turning back to me.
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but it appears they’re closed for the season.”
I snorted out a laugh before joining him next to the bright red door. Looking inside the glass window, you could see the large ice cream display and a couple of scattered tables. The place looked severely outdated, but it also had it charm.
“That just means you’ll have to bring me back.”
Malcolm chuckled, glancing behind him at the door and then at his car. “You think you’ll be in Chicago that long?”
I was pushing my luck, but he hadn’t pushed me away entirely at the mall. Malcolm needed to know I wouldn’t give up on him that easily. I stepped closer into his personal space, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning in close to his ear.
“Gorgeous, I only want to be wherever you are.”
He shivered against me, and I turned to place a soft kiss against his cheek. The skin heated beneath my lips, and he uttered a small whimper.
“David, that’s playing dirty.”
“Is it?”
Another laugh. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I know exactly what I want.”
Malcolm pulled away then. He scanned my face, his brow creased, as if doubting my words.
“You don’t—”
I couldn’t let him finish. There was no reason for him to think anything different. I pressed my lips to his, and Malcolm’s arms looped around my neck. There was no fighting me, just the simplicity of the two of us melting into each other for the first time in weeks.
We only broke apart when another blast of icy wind made us both shiver and remember that we were standing on a pier.
“Should we head back?” I asked, resting my forehead against his.
Malcolm bit his bottom lip, but nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. I’d hate for you to die of frostbite from this stupid lake.”