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“I can’t believe I let you drag me out here in this heat,” my best friend Riley gripes as she trudges along behind me with her oversized Michael Kors bag and Dollar Tree flip-flops.

Her fashion sense kills me. She’s one of those girls who pinch pennies on certain things to save money on others – like a dollar and twenty-five cents flip-flops over a purse that costs two hundred bucks.

She unzips it, takes out a small battery-operated fan that she probably bought from Dollar Tree, too, and moves it in front of her face like she’s seconds away from passing out, then lifts her shirt and holds the fan in front of her boobs.

It’s hot.

It ain’t that hot.

I’m used to the low nineties in the dead of summer.

Riley says it’s because I have some Native American in my blood.

I say it’s because we go through this every year and I’ve adapted.

Granted, I could’ve just gone home and avoided this altogether, but I really wanted some ice cream after I got off work.

Most of my colleagues opt for the liquor to kick off their weekend.

Me? I don’t have to have alcohol. I stick to social drinking and even then, it’s a two-drink max.

Plus, who can avoid this ice cream at The Decadent Freeze?

It's top-tier. If you ask me, it’s worth having a mild heat stroke behind it.

I look at Riley and say, “Girl, if you don’t put that fan up.”

“And ain’t. The girls are sweating, and thanks to you, I didn’t even have time to go home and splash some water on them.”

“Don’t worry. This delicious ice cream will cool you off.”

Riley gives me a strong side eye. She’s not into ice cream like I am, but place a drink in front of her and watch her eyes light up. Honestly, I might be hard up for a drink, too, if I had her job. She’s a high school P.E. teacher. High school…

Yeah, no thanks. I spend my days working at the recreation center in Arden.

It’s tucked away down a tree-lined, two-lane road, immersed in nature.

It’s challenging at times, but I love it there.

Riley says I love it a little too much. Said I was a tree hugger – a title I’ll never take offense to.

If more people loved nature, they’d spend less time destroying it.

I digress.

We step inside the ice cream shop, immediately greeted by ice-cold air conditioning and the smell of freshly baked waffle cones and sugar. I caught a contact high the moment I walked in.

“What are you getting, Autumn?”

“I’m thinking two scoops of dark chocolate in a cone.”

“Ugh…if the words dark and chocolate aren’t describing men, you can miss me wit’ it.”

“Girl, hush. You ain’t looking for any kind of chocolate . You’re too busy chasing them kids around.”

I chuckle and take a step as the line shifts forward.

“I think I’ll get the vanilla,” she says.

“Of course. You always get the vanilla. Talking about me and my chocolate. Why don’t you try something different?”

“Because you can’t go wrong with vanilla.”

“Riley, get the—”

“Nope. I’m good. You stick to your dark chocolate and leave me alone,” she says, crossing her arms and pattering those cheap flip flops on the floor.

“Welcome to The Decadent Freeze,” the girl behind the counter says. “What can I get for you today?”

“I’ll have two scoops of the dark chocolate in a regular cone,” I say.

“And give me the big-back special,” Riley says, humoring herself. “That’s three scoops of vanilla and add chocolate syrup and peanuts. You happy, Autumn? I switched it up.”

I smile and say, “Good job. I’m proud of you.”

“Did you want that in a bowl or cone?” the girl asks.

“How about a waffle bowl? Then I can get the best of both worlds. We big-backin’ and snackin’ all summer, baby!”

“Chile…” I say, shaking my head while looking at the worker. “Don’t pay her no mind. She works with a bunch of teenagers and tends to get a lil’ rowdy.”

“It’s cool,” the worker says.

“See, it’s cool, Autumn ,” Riley says, blinking excessively fast as if trying to prove a point.

I leave it be and move on up further as the line moves again.

There are a few people in line in front of us paying for their orders.

When the girl hands us our ice cream, I use the tap-to-pay option and head toward the double glass doors.

Riley pushes it open with her butt and makes it out unscathed.

I try to dart out behind her, but I’m not so lucky.

As soon as I step out, a woman accidentally bumps into me, or maybe I bumped into her – I’m not really sure.

All I know is, two beautiful scoops of dark chocolate are lying on the sidewalk.

My poor ice cream that I’ve been dying for all day long is on the ground. Deceased.

“Oh, shoot! Autumn…” Riley says, turning around.

“I’m so sorry,” the woman tells me. She’s very apologetic, even offers to buy me another one, but I turn her down. I’m not going to make this lady buy me ice cream.

“Riley, it’s okay. I’ll just go get another one.”

“We can share, girl. I ordered three scoops. Just go grab a spoon.”

“No need for all of that. Here. You can have mine,” a man says in a deep voice that’s strong enough to slice right through me. What in the baritone…?

I look up to see him, connecting to his light brown eyes that seem to claw right into me. As quickly as I looked up, I turned away, unable to contain the beauty of this man. Good Lord he’s handsome! And he’s offering me his cone. Ice cream cone.

Oddly enough, he too has two scoops of dark chocolate, but there’s no way I’m accepting his dessert, especially when I can easily go back in there and get another one.

No way. I’m not so fragile that I can’t handle an ice cream mishap.

I’m a grown woman – a grown woman who apparently has difficulty making eye contact with handsome, six-feet-something men.

I say, “You’re so kind. Thank you so much, but it’s fine.”

Yeah, because how would I look eating and licking ice cream he’s already tongued down?

“I insist,” he says.

“Yeah, Autumn, take it,” Riley instigates. “He insists .”

Along with encouraging me to take the handsome stranger’s offer, she nudges me out of my trance with the man. I don’t want to, I really don’t want to, but I take his melting ice cream, gripping the cone by the little napkin and say, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, satisfaction flickering in his honey-colored gaze before he turns and walks toward the parking lot ice- creamless .

Meanwhile, I’m still standing here stunned with dark chocolate melting down my fingers. I lick it and start eating before I’m left with nothing but cream with no ice.

“Girl, are you kidding me?” Riley hisses. “You better get your butt over there and talk to that man. He’s as cute as a freakin’ button and you didn’t even get his name. Get over there.”

“Riley—”

“Go!” she says, nudging me. “Hurry up before he leaves.”

“Okay, stop pushing me before we be fighting out here.”

She huffs out a laugh. “Yeah—this from the woman who helps worms successfully cross the sidewalk. Girl, bye. All I know is, you better go on over there before he leaves—man done gave you his ice cream. He drove all the way here for nothing, leaving empty-handed and you won’t even go over there and say thank you. ”

“I thanked him before he walked off.”

“So. Thank him again. Go!”

“Okay, okay. Jeez. I’m going.”

I speed-walk, licking ice cream on the way to his car and when I get there, I tap on the window.

He rolls down the glass and says, “Hey, I’m not taking that back, by the way.”

“Oh,” I smile sheepishly and say, “I was just coming over here to thank you again. I feel really bad about stealing—I mean, taking your ice cream.”

“Don’t. I’m glad I was in the right place at the right time.”

“I’m glad you were, too. Oh, and I’m Autumn.”

A half-done smile appears on his face. “Autumn—like the season?”

I grin and say, “Yes…like the season.”

“Why is that funny, Autumn?”

I shake my head. “It’s not funny as much as it is obvious. Other people just recognize my name matches the season, but they don’t ask. You are the only person who’s ever asked me that. Ever.”

“Impossible.”

“You are, but it’s cool. Hey—if I see you again, I’ll buy you an ice cream. How about that?”

“You don’t have to do that, Autumn.”

“Of course I do, um...I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Judah.”

Judah.

I love his name. It sounds so powerful and authoritative. And it matches his well-sculpted face.

Judah…

Sounds like a king. He looks like a king.

“Hey, you may want to…” he says, glancing at my hand.

“Oh,” I say, coming out of a trance to lick my melting, dark chocolate. “Thanks again. It was nice to meet you, Judah.”

“You as well, Autumn.”

I’m caught in a daze with those eyes of his yet again, and when I have enough feeling in my legs to actually turn and walk away, I hear him say, “Hey, I’m going to meet up with some friends later if you would like to join us.”

“Oh,” I say, taken aback by his invitation. I don’t know this man and not only has he given me ice cream, but he has also invited me to hang out with him and his friends?

Strange…

Do I want to go? Yes. Should I go? That’s the question.

“Can you give me a minute?”

One of his brows raises. “Uh, sure.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Licking ice cream, I hustle back over to Riley and say, “Girl, he asked me to come hang with him and his friends. What should I do? Should I go?”

“Autumn, don’t make me smack you out here. Yeah! You’re going! You ain’t doing nothing else.”

“Riley, can you turn it down a notch? You don’t have to tell the whole United States about my boring life.”

“Okay, then shuffle your narrow behind back over there and tell cutie pie you’re going, because, why not?”

“How about because I don’t typically do stuff like this?”

“Welp, you do now.”

With Riley in my court, I take a deep breath, eat some more ice cream, and then walk back over to Judah’s Mustang.

“Well?” he asks as I approach.

“Okay. Sure. Where will y’all be?”

“Arden Hideaway Campgrounds in Swannanoa. Ten o’clock. Eat your ice cream, Autumn. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay. Later.”

He rolls up the window and starts the car, the loud engine revving, turning heads as he drives off. I stand here in the parking lot eating his ice cream, feeling my stomach flutter at the thought of seeing him again.

“Girl, are you going or what?” Riley asks, creeping up behind me.

“Yeah, I’m going.”

“You better. He’s fine.”

“He’s beautiful,” I say, still enraptured by the good vibes of his brief presence and generosity.

Even so, I would be remiss not to acknowledge specifics of that face – the milk chocolate skin, a carved jawline, a contoured nose that pairs well with his commanding presence, and light brown, glorious eyes.

He’s tall, too. I’d guess six-five or so – makes me feel so small.

I like that. He had on a pair of khakis and a plain white T-shirt.

He looked so relaxed and casual, but when you’re that fine, you don’t need to be overly dressed. Not at all.

“So, where are you meeting him?”

“Arden Hideaway Campground.”

“Oh. Dang…”

“Why do you say that like it’s a bad idea? You’re the one who told me to go.”

“Yeah, but I ain’t know he was taking you up in the woods. Nothing good comes out of sitting around a summer campfire with strangers. Sounds like the makings of a Dateline episode.”

“Riley, now you got me scared.”

“You ain’t scared,” she says, shoving a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “This is exactly the kind of crap you like, isn’t it? Hiking, nature…all that nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. It’s good for the soul. But I will say, I’m usually at home relaxing by ten at night—not fanning away mosquitos, and smelling smoke.”

“Your hair gon’ smell like smoke, too.”

“Ugh…yeah, definitely not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to talking to Judah.”

“Oh, that’s his name?”

“Yes. Judah.”

“Look at you saying the man’s name like you’re in love already.”

“Well, he did sacrifice his ice cream for me.”

“Really, Autumn? Sacrifice? You take things entirely too far.”

Shaking my head, I say, “Nope. I have never in my life had anyone do something so kind for me. It was sweet. Literally! So, yeah, I’ma head out to the woods, but I’m taking my mace and stun gun with me just in case it gets wild out there.”

“Smart.”

“Are you going out tonight?” I ask Riley.

“Yeah...I got a date. My coworker set me up with her cousin.

“Oh, no...bad move.”

“Why?”

“If it doesn’t go well, she gon’ be actin’ weird. And if it does work out, she’ll want all the details.”

“Dang. You’re right. I’m going to stand him up.”

“And you’re going to hear about that, too.”

“I’ll get out of it somehow,” she says, throwing her empty cup and spoon away. “Anyway, you go hang out with your new boo and we’ll meetup tomorrow and finally have something to talk about other than trees and butterflies.”

“Alright, Riley. I guess I’ll go home and get cute.”

“Please do. And don’t be wearing those army green cargo pants with a crop top. That’s your go-to outfit. You do realize that, right?”

“It’s not.”

“It is. You wore it when we went out last weekend. Wear something feminine.”

“Like what? We’re going to be in the woods. I think cargo pants are perfect.”

“Ay yi yi,” she says, releasing a long breath of air loudly through her mouth while massaging her temples. “Wear some jeans and a cute blouse, preferably low-cut and thin. It’s gon’ be hot. And if you pull out a pair of them combat boots, me and you gon’ fight for real.”

Amused, I say, “Okay, Riley. I got it. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

Riley wraps her arms around me and says, “Alright, girl. Have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I say as she walks toward her car.

She turns around and says, “And check in with me when you get home.”

“Yep. Will do.”

I walk to my car with a feeling of excitement – something I haven’t felt in some time. I’m doing something different for a change and with someone other than Riley. And this man—Lord have mercy—he’s something to behold. I can hardly wait to see him again.