Page 145 of Moonlight Hearts

Soyer took my hands in his.“Amory, my heart, I bought you an ice cream parlor.We’re having the opening today.And since you wouldn’t guess, we’re serving only cherry and butterfly pea ice cream.It’s blue, and that’s fitting.We’ll have the best blue ice cream in the underground here.”

“My recipe!”Kasey hollered from behind Dwayne and Valentin.

I gaped at his wavering snakes.“How did you get here so fast?”

Soyer cackled.“I led you in circles, my heart.Hence the blindfold.”

Elias cleared his throat.“That was my idea.But come, let’s go get a milkshake, Amory.Blue and cherry pink, with lots of cream on top.”

“Not today, young Hawthorne.”Soyer pulled me close.“He’s sharing one with me tonight.”

“Aww…”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Simeon lead Elias away, and we had a moment to ourselves.

“This is my present for you this holiday season, my heart.It’s just a small thing, but you’d make me very happy if you would accept it.”

“It’s… An ice cream parlor isn’t small, Soyer.”

“You’d be surprised.There really isn’t a lot of room here.”

“But I have the Moonlight.”

He nodded.“There’s staff, actually.That’s a bit—you know what, we’ll talk about it later.Do you like it?”

My eyes welled up.“You turned an offhand comment into a big romantic gesture.”

He nodded.“That’s because I want you to be absolutely positive about me flirting with you.I considered having a sign made, but this seemed more useful.”

A tear rolled down to the center of my cheek before Soyer caught it with his thumb.

“I…I love it.I really do.”I laughed.“I bought you a pair of red underwear.It’s supposed to be a joke.”

Both his eyebrows shot up.“Well, fuck me.Didn’t see that coming.I’ll have to wear them because you gave me them.”

I nodded as the tears flowed freely.“Yeah, you will.”

“Right, you’re such a beautiful mess when you cry with joy.My heart, will you have a sundae with me tonight?”

I nodded.“Yes.Tonight and every other night.Unless we have a milkshake.”

“I’m glad.I’m ecstatic.I love you, Amory.”

In response, I kissed him until heat bubbled where our lips touched.It was a long time before we broke apart to cool our fire-drunk mouths with the sweetest cherry ice cream fit for only the brightest firebirds in the whole wide sky.