Midnight Sun(28)

When we get to the ice cream shop, I stop short. “Well, here we are.”

“Looks like we’re too late,” Charlie says. “They’re closed.”

“Oh, ye of little faith,” I say.

I peer in the window and wave Morgan over. She and Garver are the only people inside; all the customers have long since gone home.

“Oh, strange,” Morgan says in a stilted tone as she holds the door open for us. “I didn’t see anyone sneak in after hours, I swear, Mr. Bossman!”

“Me neither,” Garver says from behind the counter.

Charlie gives me a look. “Ooooh, you’re smooth, Katie.”

“Now don’t screw us over, friends,” Morgan says, handing me the keys as we step inside. “Make sure to clean up, turn off the lights, and lock up when you leave.”

“You got it,” I assure her.

“I’ll come by and grab the keys in the morning,” she says, and then leans in to me, and whispers, “Have fun. Maybe even too much.”

“You, too,” I say, gesturing toward Garver.

“Not a word,” she says to me, then she heads for the door. “Garver, you coming?”

“No doubt.” He gives Charlie a light punch on his arm as he heads for Morgan and they walk out of the shop.

And then we’re alone again. All the chairs are turned over on the tops of the tables, so we head to the counter. Charlie plops himself down on a stool while I put on an apron and the dorky little paper cap the employees here have to wear.

“What’ll it be, sir?” I say, getting into character.

“Double banana split, hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts, the works,” Charlie tells me.

“Eww,” I say, not making a move toward the cartons of ice cream or toppings. “Nuts. No. They do not go with ice cream. Everyone knows that.”

Charlie pretends to be outraged. “What happened to the customer is always right?”

“You kissed that good-bye when you mentioned nuts.”

“Nuts,” he says, snapping his fingers.

“Tough break,” I tell him.

He leans forward until his forehead is touching mine. I sink into his eyes. He softly kisses me. He adds just the right amount of lips, tongue, and time. The kiss is perfect, just like Charlie.

We pull back and stare at each other. A huge smile creeps up my lips as I pick up the ice cream scoop and grab a big bowl for the two of us to share. Who knew having a crush could feel this great? I’ve spent so many years of my life alone in my room. What a waste. “Now back to the subject at hand,” I say. “We’ve already established nuts are out. Can we negotiate the banana portion, too?”

Charlie shakes his head. “Not a big fan of potassium either, huh? What is with you?”

I shrug. “I just think bananas are gross. Besides, the ones imported from Central and South America can have these huge hairy spiders hiding in them. Like, ones as big as your palm!”

“Pretty sure that’s an urban legend,” he tells me.

“Nope, I’ve done my research. See, banana trees have these tightly coiled leaves going up, and then the banana flower leans down over that,” I explain, using my hands to show how the plant grows. “So it’s the absolute perfect place for spiders to live. One kind, called the wandering spider—it’s from the Ctenidae family—like, rears up on its back legs and opens its fangs when it’s threatened.”

“Kind of like this,” Charlie says, acting it out. “RAWWWWRRRR!”

I laugh. “Pretty much. Good impression. Except I’m pretty sure spiders don’t roar. In fact, I’d hazard a guess they don’t make any sound at all.”

“Minor details,” he says. Charlie’s lips are pressed together and his eyes are dancing. He’s trying not to laugh at me. He’s just barely succeeding.

“What?” I ask him.

“You’re just so cute,” he says. “And smart. How do you know everything?”

I remember too late Morgan’s telling me to avoid spouting all my nerdy knowledge around Charlie. But I can’t help it. I love facts and science and nature and the stars and skies and infinity and beyond. I love it all. I want to know it all.

“I don’t know everything. Not by a long shot,” I say, digging into the cookie dough ice cream. “Not yet, at least. Though I’d like to. It’s an unachievable goal, but I still think it’s a good one.”

“Well, you know a lot,” he says. “I mean, you just graduated high school and already you have a ton of college credits. I just graduated high school and… I know how to swim and fix boats, and that’s about it.”

I plop a scoop of toffee bar crunch next to the chocolate chip cookie dough one, then add another of salted caramel pretzel. Grabbing a can of whipped cream and two spoons, I set everything down on the counter between us.

“Look, you’re only eighteen. You’re not supposed to know everything yet,” I tell him, squirting a huge dollop of whipped cream on top of each scoop. Our dessert looks like a fairy-tale castle now. “Or ever, really. Learning is lifelong, you know?”

“I guess I just worry sometimes that my best days are behind me,” he says, dipping his spoon into the cookie dough scoop and then licking it thoughtfully. “I mean, from where I’m standing now, it’s like I can’t see two feet into my future. I’ve honestly never felt so unfocused in my life. Is that weird?”