Their Roommate

Episode 4: Ice-Scream and Smiles

The Majestic Moo was exactly the kind of place Thomas would adore — bright neon lights, cartoon cows wearing sunglasses, and an actual disco ball spinning lazily from the ceiling. The smell of waffle cones, melted chocolate, and something buttery and warm hit me the second we walked through the door, almost making me dizzy with how... happy it all felt.

After the mess of the day, it was almost too much. Almost.

Thomas practically bounced up to the counter, rattling off an insane order involving triple fudge, rainbow sprinkles, crushed cookies, gummy bears, and a drizzle of hot caramel "for emotional stability." Edward muttered something about needing a drink instead, but even he cracked a small, reluctant smile when the teenage girl behind the counter offered him a sample of "Birthday Cake Blast." As he reached for the tiny spoon, I caught him glancing my way — quick, almost sheepish. His gaze dipped lower than my eyes for just a second before he cleared his throat and turned back to the counter, ears tinged slightly pink. I pretended not to notice, but a flicker of warmth stirred low in my belly.

Daniel stayed close, his hand brushing mine occasionally like he needed to reassure himself I was still here — that we were still okay. That I hadn’t shattered into pieces back at Marc’s door. His touch was grounding, a silent promise that he wasn’t going anywhere.

"What are you getting?" he asked, his voice low, somehow threading through the background hum of conversation and laughter.

I blinked up at the menu, the dozens of ridiculous flavor names blurring together — Funky Monkey, Cherry Bomb, Unicorn Tears, Space Llama, Electric Mango Tango. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or cry or both.

"Uh..." I hesitated. "Something ridiculous. Something... loud."

Daniel’s mouth twitched like he was holding back a grin. "Loud ice cream. Got it."

When it was my turn, I picked something called Galaxy Swirl — a mess of black raspberry, blue vanilla, and popping candy that sparkled like stars.

"Good choice," Daniel said approvingly, bumping my shoulder lightly with his. His cone was more straightforward — chocolate chip cookie dough, classic and safe — but the way he ate it, with that tiny, satisfied hum in the back of his throat, made it seem like the best thing in the world.

We grabbed a booth in the corner, a little battered but cozy, tucked under a string of fairy lights shaped like tiny cows. Thomas slid in first, dramatically shoving Edward over with his hip, earning an unimpressed grunt. Then he winked at me, waving a plastic spoon like a maestro’s baton.

"To fresh starts!" he declared, raising his cup of chaos like a king toasting his court.

Edward rolled his eyes but clinked spoons with him anyway. Daniel lifted his cone toward me instead of the guys — like this moment was ours first, and theirs second.

I bumped my cone lightly against his.

"To fresh starts," I echoed, meaning it.

For a while, we just sat there, letting the sugar and the laughter and the absurdity of it all fill the cracks. Thomas launched into a truly awful story about his first breakup involving a karaoke machine, a cowboy hat, and two-for-one margaritas, his hands flailing animatedly as he spoke. He managed to "accidentally" bump my knee more than once under the table, shooting me a grin each time that was a little too charming to be purely innocent.

Edward deadpanned his way through a horror story about a camping trip gone wrong — bears, rainstorms, and a tent that "may or may not have tried to eat him." Every now and then, his gaze would slip back toward me. Subtle, brief — but lingering a little longer each time. When our eyes caught, he gave a tiny, unbothered smirk, like he wasn’t the least bit sorry for getting caught. Once, I caught him mid-bite, his spoon frozen halfway to his mouth, just staring. He recovered quickly, but the blush on his cheeks gave him away.

Daniel mostly listened, chiming in with dry, perfectly timed remarks that had me laughing harder than I had in months. Every now and then, his fingers brushed my shoulder where his arm stretched along the back of the booth, a touch so light it felt like a secret — one he didn’t mind keeping just between us.

At one point, Thomas leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a mock-serious whisper after a fit of laughter. "Careful, gorgeous," he said, his breath warm against my ear. "Smile like that and I might start thinking you’re flirting back."

He said it lightly, playfully, but there was a weight behind the words, a spark in his eyes he didn’t bother hiding. I arched an eyebrow at him and stole a spoonful of his ice cream in retaliation, making him laugh. His knee knocked into mine again, this time lingering just a beat longer.

And me? I ate my ridiculous, sparkly ice cream and let myself enjoy it — let myself be messy and real and here. No expectations. No pressure. Just the warmth of them around me like armor I hadn't realized I needed.

When I caught Daniel looking at me again — really looking — I felt a warmth unfurl in my chest, slow and steady, spreading until it reached my fingertips.

"You okay?" he asked, just for me.

I thought about lying. About giving the easy, automatic answer. But something about the way he asked — the way all of them had stood around me today without hesitation — made the truth feel lighter.

"Getting there," I said. "Thanks to you guys."

His hand squeezed my shoulder gently. "We'll get you all the way there. Promise."

Across the table, Thomas was trying to balance two spoons on his nose while Edward watched him with deep disdain.

"You’re stuck with us now," Thomas said brightly, failing spectacularly as both spoons clattered to the table. "No take-backs."

Edward smirked without looking up from his cone. "Even if you wanted a refund, it’s too late."

"Lifetime membership," Thomas added with a grin, tossing a napkin at Edward and then at me for good measure.

I laughed, a real, full laugh that felt like it cracked something open inside me — something that had been locked away for too long.

Maybe today hadn’t started the way I wanted. Maybe it had been messy and hard and full of old wounds.

But it was ending in the best way possible — with ice cream, ridiculous friends, and a future that didn’t seem quite so distant or impossible anymore. A future that, if tonight was anything to go by, was going to be messy, bright, and just the right amount of chaotic.

And maybe, just maybe, filled with a little more heat, a little more laughter, and a lot more stolen glances than I ever could have planned for.

Something told me the best adventures between the four of us were only just beginning.