Worlds Apart

Chapter 4 - Ice Cream

The sky was sunny, with just enough heat to make someone want a wonderfully cool beverage or treat. The ice cream stand in the pretty little park they found was having a busy day of customers coming in and out. It was late afternoon, and business had slowed, but was still steady.

Maggie, Addison, and Taylor slowly walked up to place orders. Maggie got a double scoop of cookie dough and fudge brownie, Addison got a single scoop of mint chocolate chip, and Taylor got a chocolate milkshake. They made they’re way to a few shaded benches, where Maggie parked herself and her crutches.

Addison started to sit down next to her, but Maggie stopped her. “You two go for a walk. Don’t worry- I’ll be right here enjoying my ice cream, the sunshine, and my podcast” she said smiling. “I just don’t want to tire myself out, or Heaven forbid, trip” she made a face, causing the other two to laugh quietly.

“Please yell or text if you need anything,” Addison said. She didn’t barter with her sister this time. After a car ride of small talk about how Taylor had moved to London for work several years ago from America, she was ready to question his motives and intentions. He seemed nice enough. Harmless enough. But Addison knew the narcissist type all too well. She’d grown up with a narcissist. She was ready to send him packing if he thought he was just going to be some kind of player and date or sleep with her or her sister.

As they quietly walked in the direction of a peaceful pond, she was silent until they found a shady tree to stand under. She then spun around and questioned him, “Okay, listen, you’ve gotten me ice cream, or paid for the cab to get me ice cream, now you are absolved. You don’t have to stay here anymore.”

His eyes widened in shock, but he simply chuckled softly and said “Well, thank you for that, but I find I rather enjoy your company. Or did” he raised an eyebrow as if to politely point out her current behavior.

“I’m not trying to be rude, I just don’t understand what your interest in us is” she threw her hands up in the air exasperatedly.

“Listen, I don’t know what it is either. You just seem like a sincere, nice person, and I couldn’t help but wish I’d gotten to take you for coffee when I ran into you the other day. It’s not usually my style, but it’s not easy to meet people these days. I thought a longer conversation with you and your stunning eyes would be wonderful.”

Addison felt her pulse increase with his words. What? Could this be for real? He seemed so sincere. Not calculating at all. Still. You could never be too sure.

“I have a question.” She stated, staring straight at him with piercing eyes.

“Okay” he offered.

“Well. In the cab. Why did you choose to sit up front and not with one of us in the back?” For some reason this had been bugging her. She couldn’t even fathom why. She was honestly just extremely curious about his motives.

“I didn’t want to make either of you uncomfortable by sitting alone with one of you, so I just chose to ride in the passenger seat up front. The cab driver was also a man, so I thought you’d possibly be very uncomfortable if you were separated and each had to sit within an arm’s reach of a man you barely knew.”

“Oh” she wasn’t expecting that detailed of a response. She suddenly felt bad and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Hey” Taylor said, causing her to look up towards him again. “I get it. People don’t meet like this anymore. So I’ll try to be as straightforward as possible. I’m single. I’m interested. In you. No definitions on it, but I find you gorgeous and attractive in more ways than one” at this, she blushed a deep deep red. He smiled sweetly, giving away that he could see her blushing, causing her to flush from her neck to her forehead, and continued “I know you’re only here for a short time, or at least it seems that way. However, I’d love to, at the very least, go for a walk with you in this park and get to know you just a little bit better. You never know” he wiggled his eyebrows, “we may have more in common than you think.”

She laughed, but suddenly said “but what if I’m married?”

“Yikes” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. “In that case, I guess I’m full of crap.”

They both laughed at that and she decided to give him some peace of mind, “No worries, I’m not.” She decided not to mention Conner. Why get too personal? She doubted she’d see him after this meeting anyway. He’d find out that she wouldn’t sleep with him and would move on to his next tourist victim.

For the next few hours, the two chatted about all sorts of little details of their lives, much to Addison’s surprise. Favorite foods, cities, and colors. She loved Lavender and he preferred grays and blues. They skipped rocks, photographed ducks, and even rode around in a paddle boat laughing with Maggie. Taylor seemed as nice and genuine as he had originally the entire time. He never hit on Maggie, but was very kind and helpful towards her. Once they had tired themselves out, Addison really didn’t know how to end the evening. “Thank you for such a fun, simple outing. It was great to take a break from heavy crowds and tours and just enjoy” she smiled at him.

“100 percent” Maggie nodded happily. “Anytime” Taylor looked at them both, then zeroed in on Addison, “If you’d ever like to do it again, you’ve got my cell” he winked and with that hailed a cab for the two of them to go home in.