Ice cream was her usual go-to when she was feeling down, and she knew the exact place to find what had been affectionately dubbed “Food Porn” by her and her friends when it had opened. Sundaes was a fifties-style diner in the middle of Main Street and only served the most wicked of treats. Miranda walked there quickly, and as she opened the door a bell jingled above her head. She smiled at the boy who was serving and perused the menu.
All of them, she thought. I literally want all of them.
After she had ordered her mega, chocolate fudge and fruit-topped sundae, she sat by the window and looked out as the world walked by. She pushed the ice cream around in the glass and found it impossible to enjoy.
“God, if this isn’t working, I really am fucked,” she said aloud.
A woman at the table next to her smiled and said, “I hear you there.”
Miranda laughed and realized it was the first time she had in a whole week. Her phone vibrated on the table, and she looked down to see a text from Ryan:
R: Where are you Babe? I got out of work early.
M: I’m at Sundaes, you coming over?
R: Yup, be there in two.
Even though she didn’t really want to see him, she needed to talk to someone and really, he was all she had.
Less than ten minutes later, the door jingled and Ryan entered, his scrawny arms swinging down by his side.
“What’s happening?” he said, “How come you’re not at home?” He looked at her up and down and scrunched up his face, “You look like you’ve been to a funeral,” he snorted.
“Well, I feel like I have, too,” she said as she took a bite of the ice cream.
“What?” he said with irritation.
“My own…” she laughed. “Just… Well, I went to see Mr. Blake to try and clear all of this mess up.”
“Jeez, Miranda,” he whistled and pulled the sundae out of her hands and began to eat it himself. “Just fucking leave it… they want to set you up, you don’t need that place.”
“Well, I can’t just sit around the apartment all day, can I, Ryan?” She reached back for the ice cream, but he pulled it further away.
“Why not?” he said. “Fuck those guys,” he shook his head and laughed. “Anyway… I like having you at home… One hundred percent dedicated to me.” He looked at her and grinned with menace in his eyes.
Within an instant, an ice-cold wave washed over her. It was him. He had made the whole thing up to get her fired… The twisted bastard was getting out of control.
“Ryan…” she said slowly, “Please tell me you didn’t do this to me?”
He rested the spoon down on the side and tried to take hold of her hands, but she wriggled free and glared at him.
“Like I said, babe, fuck that place. I like you being at home looking after me, okay?”
“What the hell!” She got to her feet, and the chair screeched back on its legs. “You’re supposed to be the one person I can trust, and you’re trying to ruin my life! What is wrong with you!” She grabbed her jacket and barged out of the diner, bashing into a teenage kid as she rushed down the street.
Within seconds, Ryan was behind her, grabbing at her shoulders.
“Don’t touch me,” she spat, “Just get out of my life!”
He dug his fingers into her and pulled her down a side street before pushing her up against a wall. He had a rage in his eyes that she had only seen once before, the night he had lost control and lashed out at her.
“Don’t speak to me like that,” he said as he held his finger up in a warning. “I’m just looking out for you, babe, okay?”
She tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he held her still and whispered in her ear, “If you speak to me like that again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Her skin prickled in terror, and she stopped struggling. She knew when she had to give in. She’d lost this battle for sure. Somehow, she had been so naïve and stupid, blinded by dumb love that she had let this psychopath in too far. He had her in his clutches, and he was already ripping her apart.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into his neck, “I won’t do it again.”
“Good,” he said pulling back and smiling at her, “Now let’s go home and you can cook me dinner.”