Chapter 6

 

 

“You want what?”

They were at Baskin Robbins, as Kate had guessed, but she could never have imagined his request. It was half an hour before closing time and no one was in the shop. The kid behind the counter, who couldn’t have been more than seventeen, stared at Reed like he’d sprouted a second head.

“I’d like a sample amount of all the flavors on a single cone please.”

“What’s the matter?” another girl drifted over. “What does he want?”

Reed repeated the request and the girl smiled. “Tammy warned us you’d be coming in. Joey can make one while I make the other.”

“You called ahead?” Kate murmured as the two employees set about making the strange ice cream cones.

“I didn’t want them to refuse,” he whispered back.

“But all 31 flavors?”

He grinned at her. “A night so tinted, remember? Can’t just have a regular flavor.”

Kate read them as the girl put a tiny amount of each flavor into the cup. Banana Nut Fudge, Chocolate Almond, and Cherry Macaroon were added to Eggnog, Lemon Crisp, and Raspberry Sherbet. The two employees were quickly swept up in the moment, laughing as they added strange flavors next to each other. When it was finally presented, the rainbow colored ice-cream cone was larger than Kate had expected, and she accepted it gingerly.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she said.

“I can’t believe you’re doing it,” the girl said, ringing up the order.

“It’s the Full Robbins,” Reed said with a smile. “I’ve always wanted to try it.”

Kate took an experimental lick and tasted several odd flavors. She grimaced and turned it over, trying again with better results. The employees watched her to see her response but ultimately she smiled.

“It’s odd,” Kate said. “But every bite is unique.”

Reed accepted his own cone and took a bite, his expression twisting in surprise. Kate glanced back as they left, and saw Joey grab a cone and start making his own Full Robbins. Kate smiled and took another bite, blending Chocolate Mint with Peppermint Stick.

“Tonight really has been fun,” she said as they walked to his car. “You’ve taken all the normal facets of a date and made them better. I don’t think I’ll ever look at ice cream the same way again.”

“Sometimes the most fun dates are simple ones with a twist,” he replied. He grimaced after a bite. “Eggnog and Coffee do not mix well.”

They laughed and experimented with different flavors. All blended together it was hard to discern the flavors by the color, leading to surprising and sometimes delicious combinations. The tastes were fleeting and impossible to replicate in the same cone.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said. “Why do you ask?”

“When I picked you up, you just seemed burdened.”

She blinked in surprise, and realized she’d all but forgotten her concerns of the previous days. Time with Reed seemed to take fears and burdens and cast them aside, like he was an emotional epicenter that did not permit the presence of fear.

“I realized a few days ago that you graduate in December,” she said.

“Ah.” He said it like he’d expected the question.

“You mentioned it a few months ago, but that was before we got together,” she said. “Then Dr. Freeman reminded me about your internship in New York.”

“And you were worried.”

“I was,” she admitted, glancing his way to gauge his reaction. “Are you leaving after graduation?”

“I was going to,” he said, pulling into her driveway and putting the car in park. “But now I find my excitement has waned.”

All at once the words tumbled from her mouth. “We’ve only been dating for a month—I know that, and I know I don’t have any right to ask you to stay. It’s your career and you’ve been working toward these goals for years, but if you—”

His kiss silenced her, the passion driving her doubts into a corner, casting it aside as if it was nothing. She clung to him, her arm reaching around his neck and threading into his hair. When they parted he held her gaze, his blue eyes intense.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

“But your internship. Dr. Freeman said it was a prestigious opportunity where they only choose a few candidates and they chose you and—”

He kissed her again, and again her worries faded, replaced by a burning in her gut that spread to her throat. This time when they parted she looked into his eyes and scowled.

“I don’t like how easy it is for you to erase my worry.”

“Yes, I was offered the position a couple of months ago. No, I’m not planning on leaving anymore, because I’m looking at other potential internships.”

“Why would you not take it?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, and kissed her again.

“I told you that wasn’t fair,” she said, her breathing ragged.

“I like this new power,” he said, a trace of smugness in his tone. “But you have wielded it on me, so you have no one to blame but yourself.”

“You’re really not going to go?”

“Not if I can help it,” he said. “I’m scheduled to talk to Dr. Caldin next week. He said he’d reach out to a few friends and see what he could find.”

A surge of elation burned away Kate’s previous fear. They’d been sort of dating for seven months, and now Reed was placing her as his priority, even above his career. Even Jason had always chosen his career goals over hers. He may have invited her to be part of them, but they had always been his.

As they talked about his other possibilities her elation gradually faded into guilt. Was he sacrificing everything for her? Did their relationship merit such a choice? Would they still be together in December?

“I think you should go to New York,” she blurted.

He paused. “Why?”

“I don’t want you to give up something you’ll regret,” she said.

He laughed lightly and leaned in. “Right now, leaving would be my greatest regret.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I have other options,” he said. “I’m late in applying but my grades are excellent and I have the highest recommendation by my professors. I’m confident I can find something closer.”

Closer to you.

He didn’t say it, but his fleeting smile implied it. Her guilt shrank before the affection in his eyes. “I don’t want you to regret it,” she said.

“Never,” he replied.

They got out of the car and he walked her to her door. As his arms folded around her back she looked up into his eyes and smiled, suddenly intensely grateful for whatever God had blessed them to meet.

“I’m sorry we didn’t finish the List,” she said.

“I’m not worried,” he said. “I look forward to playing with you in the future.”

“And I want a rematch on pool golf,” she said.

“Anytime,” he said, and then amended. “Anytime except Friday. I have a quiz in Advanced Anatomy.”

She went up on her toes and kissed him. Then she turned and opened her door but he caught her hand and held on. She cast a look back to find him smiling at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Sleep well, Kate. I look forward to your next invite.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked.

“Let’s do breakfast at my place,” he said. “I’ll make waffles.”

“I’ll see you then,” she said.

She smiled and then slipped inside. When the door shut she leaned against it and closed her eyes, releasing a sigh. She imagined Reed walking to his car and driving away, but it seemed like he never left.

“You have it bad.”

Kate opened her eyes to find Brittney sitting at the table. The clock on the wall marked the time as after one, late for a date with Reed, who preferred to finish by midnight. Ember and Marta were asleep on the couch, sprawled as if they’d been waiting for Kate’s arrival.

Kate walked to the table and sank into a seat next to Brittney. “You think so?”

“It’s obvious to everyone,” Brittney said with a smile. She leaned back in her chair and cocked her head to the side. “I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other.”

“We’ve only been dating a month,” Kate said.

“You’ve been dating for seven months,” she said. “And you’ve acted like this from the beginning.”

“What do you mean?” Kate asked.

“The way you look at him—and the way he looks at you—has been the same since the first night. It may have taken you a few months to get rid of your baggage, but what you feel hasn’t changed.”

“Is that what you see?” Kate asked.

“That’s what we all see,” Brittney said, sweeping a hand to their slumbering roommates. “It’s why we help you plan the invites, because we see in you what we want for ourselves.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?” Brittney said, rising to her feet. “You’ve made us believe in love again.”

“I think it’s a little early for that word,” Kate said, trying to keep the flutter in her heart from showing on her face.

“Is it?” Brittney said. When Kate didn’t respond Brittney smiled and nodded as if she understood. “Good night, Kate.”

Unable to speak, Kate watched Brittney go to her room. She thought she knew how much she felt for Reed, but was her emotion deeper than she realized? Even as she lay in bed that night the question burned.

Was she in love with Reed?