Stay Sweet(25)

Cate smiles. “So, what’s Grady like? Because I got to be honest. I reread that article during my break and I’m worried he’s going to ride our asses all summer.”

“I didn’t get that impression, exactly. He’s definitely taking it seriously.”

Cate frowns. “That’s what I mean. I’m kind of loving how chill it is here. Truman is going to be stressful enough. It’s sort of nice to not work super hard.” She lets out a long exhale. “I just want to have fun this summer.”

Amelia swallows. What would she do if Cate didn’t come back? Could she manage the stand, manage Grady, on her own?

“It’ll still be fun!” Amelia says. “It’ll be me and you! Remember, I make the schedule, so we’ll always get to work together!”

“I know, I know,” Cate says, not exactly sold.

“Oh! And speaking of Truman! Cate, you should have seen his eyes light up when I told Grady you were going on scholarship.” At this, Cate flushes, and even though her conversation with Grady didn’t exactly happen like this, it strikes Amelia that Grady and Cate will probably get along famously. Both are driven and smart. In a brain fast-forward, she imagines them meeting, falling in love, getting engaged after they both graduate, serving Home Sweet Home at their wedding, their very cute baby in a little Truman onesie.

Cate examines her manicure, indifferent. “I guess it would be cool to be friends with someone before I even get to campus.”

“Exactly.” And though Amelia is glad she can see things shifting in her favor, it also dawns on her that Cate doesn’t have any hesitation at all about leaving Sand Lake for Truman. Not like she does.

Jordan returns with the teddy bear. It is absolutely terrifying, with an off-kilter eye and cheap fur that makes it seem like it has a kind of stuffed-animal mange. Jordan hands it to Cate, who doubles over laughing. Then Jordan says, “I think you dropped something, Amelia.” He bends down and picks up a red wrapper.

Cate gasps. “Is that a condom?”

Startled, Amelia looks down and sees that her purse has unzipped. As she takes it off her shoulder, a bunch more tampons and condoms spring out and onto the floor like a weird drugstore pi?ata.

Of course, Cate makes Amelia tell them both the story, and soon the three of them are in hysterics.

“I love that you thought to do that,” Cate says. “Protect our honor.” She turns to Jordan and says, “This is why I love her.” And then she breaks the news to him that she is quitting JumpZone and going back to Meade Creamery.

Jordan looks sad, legitimately bummed to be losing Cate. Amelia, of course, doesn’t blame him. Cate tells him that the next time he comes to Meade Creamery, she’ll hook him up. And, as it is with most disappointments, the promise of ice cream makes things a little bit better.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


ON THE RIDE HOME FROM JumpZone, Amelia types a quick text to the rest of the stand girls to share the good news and ask that they report to work tomorrow at six a.m. She reads it aloud for Cate before sending.

Cate has feedback.

“I think it should sound more fun. Like an invite to a party.”

“So . . . more exclamation points?”

“Think ice cream humor. Maybe something about having a sweet scoop on some summer jobs.”

“Ooh. That’s cute. You’re good.”

“Or maybe I scream, you scream, we all scream . . . because I got us our jobs back?” Cate shakes her head. “Okay, no, I like the sweet scoop thing better. But add a winky face, otherwise the girls might not get that it’s a joke. And follow up with the six a.m. thing separately to each girl after they’ve already said yes. Because if you’d told me that before, I’d still be working at JumpZone.” Cate preemptively ducks, knowing Amelia is going to swat her.

By the time they get to Amelia’s house, Amelia has received yeses from five girls. The sixth response is a no that comes in later, after dinner, when Amelia and Cate are upstairs in Amelia’s room.

“Apparently Britnee is loving her new job at Sephora.” Amelia sets her phone down, stunned. “That’s a bummer.”

“Can I be honest?” Cate bites her bottom lip. “I never loved Britnee.”

“Really? Why?”

“Last year, she got super-weird about the newbie chores, as if cleaning the bathroom was some personal slight against her.”

“How did I not hear about that?”

“No idea. But it pissed a lot of girls off, especially Heather. During the last week of summer, I swear, Heather was one eye roll away from straight-up firing her.” Cate shrugs. “I say good riddance. We’ll get way more hustle out of hiring a third newbie.”

Amelia can’t imagine anyone getting fired from Meade Creamery. She’s also reminded that she didn’t mention the need to hire newbies to Grady yesterday. Obviously tomorrow it will be way too crazy to try and train any new girls. But now it can be more than an abstract conversation, because she knows for sure that they’re down three girls, instead of the two Amelia thought she’d have to replace. Three girls adds up to an entire shift.

Amelia brought up a plate of snacks with her earlier—some Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers—but Cate hasn’t touched anything, and the ice is melting in her glass of Coke. “What are you doing over there all secretive?” Amelia sits on her knees and tries to peek at Cate’s phone screen.