Page 32 of Fractured Mind
“The gelato shop. I can tell you right now that you have never experienced any frozen treat as good.”
I suppress a laugh. “I’ll take your word for it.”
When we’ve walked along farther, I ask, “Did you used to hang out with Maree and all of those girls?”
She scoffs. “When the guys are doing their own thing, yes, but trust me, it had more to do with convenience than anything else. I wouldn’t call any of those girls close friends.”
“So, if I wasn’t here, you’d be hanging out with them today?”
Her nose scrunches. “Hmm . . . probably.”
I recoil. I’d prefer being alone than having to fake being friends with them.
She sees my reaction and giggles. “Luckily, you saved me.”
My lips curve up in a small smile. “I’m glad I’ve made friends with you and the guys.” But then I correct myself. “Well, everyone except your brother. I don’t think he likes me.”
When we reach the store, she opens the door for me. We wait in line to be served.
“Don’t take it personally. It takes a lot for Jackson to trust people.” With a haunted expression, she says, “After our parents died, he changed. He was once a carefree kid. Now, most of the time, he’s distant with me, and we’re twins.”
“What will it be?” the woman behind the counter asks. She has an Italian accent.
Ruby looks up, and I follow her line of sight to the board listing gelato flavors. They have names I can’t pronounce, but their ingredients are listed in English below.
“My mouth is watering already,” she says from beside me before answering the lady. “Chocolate chip cookie, medium, please.”
The woman looks at me and waits. Although I decided what to get when we stepped in the door, I skim over the options on the board. “A medium coffee.”
She spoons the ice cream into the cones and hands them to me while Ruby pays.
When the icy sweetness meets my tongue, I sigh in delight. On our way back, I lick the ice cream that’s dribbling down the cone.
“Uh-oh, look.” She points toward the pier. Ashton, Levi, Roman, and Jackson are heading toward us, and my feet briefly grind to a stop. Ashton’s walking so fast that he’s close to jogging. I can’t see his eyes because he’s wearing sunglasses, but his body is stiff. The trio follow, relaxed and engaged in conversation.
I wince. “Did we do something wrong?”
Ruby chuckles and returns her tongue to her ice cream. I wonder whether she’s deliberately ignoring me or there’s no issue and I’m seeing something that isn’t there.
As the guys move closer, my gaze travels over Ashton’s chest and trace his abs to his shorts, which are hanging dangerously low on his hips. When they reach us, Ashton grasps my arms. “Are you all right?” he asks through heavy breaths.
I frown. “Yes, I’m fine... why wouldn’t I be?”
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows. “We got onto the boat and both of you were gone.”
Ruby snorts. “We were going to tell you guys, but all of you were...busy.”
I bite back a smile at Ruby’s taunt, but a twinge of guilt from worrying Ashton ruins the jab. “We didn’t mean for you to worry. It’s hot, so we came here.” I try to reassure him. “Next time we leave, we’ll let you know.”
Ashton’s shoulders drop. “Are you ready to go back to the boat?”
I look at Ruby, waiting for her to answer. “Fine,” she says through a sigh. “But I need another cocktail.”
Levi and Ruby are walking ahead of us. He gazes at her and her gelato every so often. “You could have gotten us one,” he grumbles, sounding hurt.
She faces him, and she’s grinning like the Cheshire cat. “There, there, precious,” she coos.
He scoffs, giving her a filthy look.