Ice Cream

Chapter 6 – Summer Party

The thump of bass echoed through the backyard before Lily even stepped past the wooden gate. Fairy lights zigzagged overhead, strung across tall trees and the edges of the patio. The whole yard glowed like a makeshift carnival—music, laughter, people crowding around a firepit, and the smell of grilled burgers weaving through the warm night air.

“Remind me why I agreed to this again?” Lily muttered under her breath, clutching the soda she’d brought as a contribution.

“Because you need to loosen up, Vanilla,” Ethan said, appearing at her side with that maddening smirk. He balanced a six-pack in one hand like it weighed nothing. “Besides, parties are fun. Haven’t you heard?”

She rolled her eyes, though her pulse quickened just at his proximity. It had been a week since the dare at the ice cream parlor, and ever since then, her thoughts had been annoyingly occupied by Ethan. His voice, his grin, the way he teased—it all lingered far longer than she cared to admit.

The party was hosted by one of their coworkers, Mark, who lived a few blocks away from the shop. The yard was packed with familiar faces from campus, and Lily quickly spotted the other part-timers from the parlor already gathered near the firepit. She could’ve just blended in—laughed, chatted, maybe grabbed a burger—except her gaze snagged on someone she hadn’t expected.

Jake.

Her stomach dropped.

Jake stood at the far end of the yard, leaning against the fence with a beer in hand, surrounded by his group of friends. His laugh was just as smug as she remembered. Jake—the ex she’d been trying not to think about all summer. The one who had made her feel like she wasn’t enough, like her dreams were too big, too messy.

“Lily?” Ethan’s voice cut into her spiraling thoughts. He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he followed her gaze. “Who’s that?”

She tried to play it off, too quickly. “Nobody.”

The corner of his mouth lifted, but not in amusement this time. His eyes softened, though. “Ex?”

Her cheeks heated. “Something like that.”

Before she could stop him, Ethan shifted closer, his shoulder brushing against hers as if anchoring her in place. “Want me to make him jealous?”

Her jaw nearly dropped. “Ethan—”

He grinned now, that infuriating grin that said he was absolutely enjoying himself. “Relax. I’ll behave. Mostly.”

Before she could argue, Jake had noticed her. Of course he had. His gaze swept over her, then flicked to Ethan beside her. A sharp smile spread across his face, the kind that always used to make her feel small.

“Well, look who it is,” Jake drawled as he strolled over, his friends trailing behind him like shadows. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Lily.”

Her throat tightened. “Hi, Jake.”

“And…?” His eyes flicked to Ethan, sizing him up. “Your new flavor of the month?”

The insult was obvious, crude enough to make her wince.

Ethan’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew sharper. He slung an arm casually around Lily’s shoulders, tugging her closer so her body pressed against his side. The move sent a bolt of electricity through her, even as her brain screamed this is fake, this is fake.

“Actually,” Ethan said smoothly, his voice edged with cool amusement, “I’m her favorite flavor. You know—caramel pretzel? A little salty, a little sweet, keeps you coming back for more.”

Lily’s eyes widened. Did he seriously just—

Jake’s smirk faltered, but he recovered quickly. “Cute. I didn’t realize you liked clowns, Lily.”

Ethan leaned in, lowering his voice just enough for Jake to hear but still loud enough for the others. “Nah, I think she just got tired of guys who talk big but can’t handle a real woman with real dreams.”

The words hit like a spark to tinder. Lila froze, staring up at Ethan. How did he—?

Jake’s expression darkened, but before anything else could be said, one of his friends tugged him away toward the drinks table. With a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes, Jake muttered, “Enjoy the circus, Lily.”

As soon as they were gone, Lily let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Ethan’s arm was still around her, his warmth too distracting.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered.

“Sure I did,” he replied easily, finally dropping his arm. “Guy was a jerk. Someone had to shut him up.”

She looked at him, really looked at him, and for once the teasing edge was gone. His eyes were steady, protective in a way that made her chest ache.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

He shrugged, but his gaze lingered. “Anytime, Vanilla.”

And just like that, the moment dissolved. He grinned, stealing her soda and taking a swig before handing it back. “Now, come on. Let’s go beat Mark at cornhole. I need a partner, and you look competitive.”

Lily laughed despite herself, the tension slowly ebbing away. But inside, she knew something had shifted. Ethan wasn’t just the teasing coworker anymore. He was someone who noticed when she faltered, someone who stepped in when she needed it.

And that terrified her more than she wanted to admit.