Page 21 of A Simple Love
“Hey. If it gives me an edge, then ice cream for dinner it is. I promise.” I shoot Lilly a wink in the rearview mirror and focus back on the drive.
The smile I flash over at Victoria doesn’t leave my face for the rest of the journey to the movie theater. Knowing how important Lilly is to Victoria only makes this evening even more imperative in my quest to show her how much I truly care about her. Even though my plans veered way further off course than I imagined, I can’t help but feel that the turn of events could give me an edge here. I know that winning Victoria’s heart is not a contest, but being able to show her that I accept her and her family and I will adapt and compromise to include her sister, is definitely tipping the scales in my favor. Now if only I could win over her dad, we’d be all set.
Popcorn, sour licorice, soda, and chocolate-covered raisins in hand, we find our way to our theater and take our seats just as the trailers begin. I find myself sandwiched between the two Baker girls, Lilly adamant about sitting next to me as well when we chose our seats. I can’t say I imagined watching a movie about pets and what they do when their owners are away for my second date with Victoria, but the movie turns about to be pretty good and the seating arrangement allows me the opportunity to brush up against her a bit in the dark without her sister noticing.
The anticipation of getting her alone later actually makes this evening even more electrifying, knowing we have to wait to touch each other the way I was awaiting all day. Victoria’s hands find me throughout the movie, her fingers inching their way up my forearm and bicep, along my shoulder and up my neck before landing at the back of my head, where she weaves them through my hair. Her touch makes me moan louder than I intended, which makes her chuckle as she continues to run her fingernails along my scalp. Fuck. I can’t concentrate on anything else, the tingles that follow her trace of my skin climb up and over my entire torso, all the way down my legs to my toes and back up to my dick, which is straining against my pants in this chair. I never thought in my entire life that I would sit next to the woman whom I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since I was ten, and her little sister, who is almost ten, with a raging boner in a movie theater. Just goes to show life doesn’t always work out the way you thought it would, huh?
That movie is the longest two hours of my life, not because it was bad, but because feeling every touch, brush, and caress of Victoria’s hands in the dark is pure and utter torture. If I was ever forced to do one-hundred burpees, I feel that would be a cakewalk compared to what I just experienced.
“Alright, I’m ready for ice cream!” Lilly exclaims as we exit the movie theater, greeted by a thick gush of sizzling air in our faces, the summer heat relentless, even after the sun has gone down.
“Holy crap! I think we just stepped into hell!” Vic jokes as we join hands and make our way back to my truck.
“Are you sure you’re still up for ice cream after all of those snacks?” I jest back to Lilly once we’re situated in my truck.
“Um, yeah! And you promised, remember?” She prods my shoulder from the back seat.
“You’re right. A promise is a promise.”
The best ice cream in Hopetown is actually found inside the gas station the leads into the main part of town. Dave’s Creamy Confections is a locally owned shop that Dave McAllister opened twenty years ago to share his creative and sinfully delicious ice cream flavors. Dave and his wife have owned and operated the shop six days a week throughout my entire childhood, and they never disappoint.
We pull into the parking lot and make our way inside, my hand finding Victoria’s again every chance I can get. Lilly grabs my other hand this time, staking her claim to me as well. The miniature version of Victoria looks up at me and beams, her joy so pure and idealistic, just at the prospect of ice cream for dinner, it makes the wrench thrown in my plans for my date entirely worth it.
We place our orders and wait as each cone is delivered to our three-person high-top table in the corner of the gas station by the snack foods. The scent of chips and beef jerky mixed with chocolate and homemade waffle cones is a strange, but comforting aroma.
Dave himself comes over with our cones hoisted in a serving contraption he welds himself, setting the steel wire rack in front of us.
“Enjoy you three!” He beams before walking away. Lilly almost knocks the whole thing over in her excitement, reaching for her cone filled with a birthday cake flavored ice cream like it might grow legs and walk away from her. One long swipe of her tongue through the thick, frozen treat, and her eyes close shut. “Best. Dinner. Ever!”
Victoria and I both admire her enthusiasm while reaching for our own cones, offering each other a bite of our choices. I chose a caramel turtle flavor and Vic opted for strawberry fudge. The gesture is simple, but it makes me feel like we’ve been doing it for years. Or more importantly, that Icoulddo something as simple as share my ice cream with Victoria for years to come. I grin over at her, taking a moment to relish in the idea of watching Victoria grow older by my side, making a habit of bringing her to get ice cream to share in our old age.
“What?” She asks me, startled by my look.
“Nothing. I’m just really glad I got to spend my evening with you girls,” I say, truly meaning it. The evening is nothing like I planned, but Lilly and Victoria are two ladies I could spend many evenings with, in the future.
Victoria eyes me over her cone, her face softening at my declaration. “Us too, Mike,” she says softly, her hazel eyes sparkling back at me.
“Yeah, this has been the best date ever!” Lilly shouts just as Victoria leans over to remind her to use her inside voice. For a nine-year-old, she still hasn’t quite learned inside voices yet. However, I think the mass quantities of sugar she’s consumed probably doesn’t help right now.
“It has been pretty nice,” I agree, winking over at Victoria, who shoots me a sly grin.
Once we make it back to their house, Vic’s mom has arrived after her long shift, her car already in the driveway when we pull in.
“Hi, Mrs. Baker,” I greet her as I walk Victoria and Lilly into the house, Lilly borderline shaking from her sugar high.
“Mom! Mike took us to the movies, and we had ice cream for dinner!” She lunges to hug her mom, who gives me a wide-eyed expression over her head.
“Is that so?” she questions, just as I shrug.
“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” I attempt to defend myself, but Vic jumps in to save me.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll deal with Lilly tonight if she gets too out of hand. Mike was just trying to show us a good time.”
Leslie Baker walks over to me and gestures for me to lean down so she can whisper something to me as Victoria walks Lilly down the hallway.
“Mike, I’m gonna let you slide on this one since I appreciate you entertaining my girls this evening. However, if you feed my child ice cream for dinner one more time, there will be hell to pay, do you hear me?”
I stand up straight and look Leslie dead in the eyes as she grins at me. “Yes, Ma’am. My apologies. But I promised her, and I didn’t want to break my word.”