He grinned. “I know—it’s a sty.”
“I didn’t notice it when I rode with you to the mall.” I laughed.
“That’s because I cleaned it out.” I raised an eyebrow and stared at him. “Okay, I threw everything in the trunk, but it was clean in the car.”
Wait. He cleaned it? Did he plan for me to ride with him?
Chay’s car rumbled to life. He shifted into drive, sat for a moment, and then shifted back into park.
“You wanna go get something to drink? You don’t have to be home yet, do you?”
“Um, sure. We can go somewhere and get something.” My heartbeat increased even more, though I didn’t think that was possible. I was sure it was going to give out from exhaustion any second. There was no way it could keep beating that fast and not suffer irreparable damage.
“What do you feel like?”
Kissing you. I paused and bit the corner of my bottom lip. Whoa! “How about a milkshake?” I said, and then cringed.
A milkshake? A milkshake, really? How nineteen-fifties can I get? Geez, way to wow him with your über sophistication, Milayna.
He smiled. “I knew I liked you for a reason. I love milkshakes. Well, ice cream in all forms. And I know just the place to get the best milkshakes in town.”
Wait, he likes me? Like, he likes me, likes me or just likes me? “Okay, let’s go.”
He shifted into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. I looked out of the window as we drove through town and forced myself to watch the buildings pass by instead of staring at him. According to him, I wasn’t able to keep my crushes a secret, so I decided looking at him would be a mistake, because I was pretty sure I was crushing on the guy.
Unfortunately, my eyes had a mind of their own and traveled to him more than once. And occasionally, I’d catch him glancing quickly in my direction. Neither of us spoke, but we couldn’t help the tentative smiles that touched our lips. When the corners of his mouth lifted in a grin, my toes curled and my stomach felt like it was free falling.
We pulled into the parking lot of a little ice cream shop. He got out and jogged around the car to open my door. The awkward feeling was back. No one had ever treated me that way, carrying my books and opening doors. Even past boyfriends hadn’t done that.
Chay held the door to the ice cream shop open. It was a simple place. The back wall, the first thing I saw when I walked in, was lined with a counter-high freezer full of dozens of flavors of ice cream.
“Some of them are made here. You can’t get them anywhere else,” Chay told me.
“Wow, Ben and Jerry’s better watch out, huh?”
At the front of the store were booths and tables, all done in red vinyl and shiny metal. The floor was black-and-white checkered tile. There was a jukebox to my right. Nineteen-fifty’s nostalgia hung from the walls and neon signs directed you to the bathrooms, the cashier, and proclaimed Uncles the best ice cream in Michigan. It was the coolest place I’d seen.
An older man behind the counter greeted Chay. “It’s been a couple of days since your last ice cream fix. I was worried something was wrong. You here for the usual?” A broad smile broke out across his face.
“Hey, Uncle Stewart. Yeah, hook me up with the usual, please. How are things?” Chay asked with a grin.
“Good, good. How are things with you?” He lifted one bushy eyebrow and his gaze darted in my direction. “Who’s your friend and why is someone so beautiful hanging around with the likes of you?” he teased.
“Uncle Stewart, this is Milayna. Milayna, this is my Uncle Stewart. He owns the place.”
“Hi.” I reached out to shake his hand.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said, turning my hand over to kiss the top. I felt a blush crawl across my face, and Chay’s uncle smiled. “Call me Uncle. Everyone does. Now, what can I get you?”
“A chocolate milkshake, please.”
“Well, now, that’s Chay’s pick, too.”
Smiling, I felt the blush grow deeper.
I watched as he mixed the milkshakes, squirting lots of whipped cream on them and plopping three cherries on top of each.
“Here we go. Two chocolate milkshakes, extra whipped cream, and three cherries, because Chay is spoiled.” Uncle grinned, and I laughed. Chay rolled his eyes. I took out my wallet to pay, and Uncle just stared at me. “Family doesn’t pay here, dearie.”
“But I’m not—”
Family? He’s an angel. But how did he know I was a demi? Do I put out an aura or a beacon? Does he have angel radar? Is that even a power?
“Yes, you are.” He winked. “Enjoy your milkshakes.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, and Uncle gave me a wave.
“Let’s sit outside.” Chay held the door open to the patio area.
We walked to the white café tables at the side of the building. They were shielded from the sun by cheery, yellow-and-white striped umbrellas. When Chay pulled my chair out for me, I decided he was really starting to freak me out. He had this whole Invasion of the Body Snatchers or The Stepford Children thing going on.