Chapter 12: Endgame

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, unable to fathom why I'm doing this. I can't even remember how Jay convinced me into doing this. Knowing him, he probably exploited my weaknesses and used his J-charm...or bribed me with food. Yeah, knowing me, it's probably the latter.

I notice Jay standing behind me. I meet his gaze through the mirror and glare at him accusingly – he got me into this. "Mirror, mirror on the wall," I chime, "who's the sole reason behind my torment, suffering and all?" I ask aloud, making sure my fiancé hears. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the evilest of them all?"

That should get the message across...

Jay folds his arms across his chest and smirks at me, highly amused. "Now, now, aren't we being a little dramatic?"

I whip around to scowl at him. "How's this for dramatic? I'd rather be shot at this point than see this thing through." I kinda actually mean it.

"See. This is exactly why I keep you around," Jay chuckles before forcing me into a hug. "You know what I love most about you?" he asks me, refusing to take me seriously. "You make life so much fun," he teases me, cradling me against his chest while running a hand through my hair. "I'll never be bored ever again."

I shove him away. "Stop it. You're crinkling my dress and messing up my hair!" I snap at him. I can't believe he's enjoying this. "I've been successfully ghosting this kid for years and somehow, by some miracle, you manage to twist my arm and convince me to go on a date with him, of all people!"

Jay shrugs, uncaring. "I can't take all the credit for this one...just most of it."

I send him a flat look. "Take all of the credit, Jay Taylor. It's entirely your fault." No way is he getting off this easy!

"You're welcome then," he replies, unfazed by my ranting. "What do I get in return?" he has the audacity to ask me.

"You get to stop breathing," I tell him in a sing-song voice and look at myself in the mirror again. "Now, if I'm doing this, I'm doing this right. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." That's my new catchphrase, I just decided it.

"If that applies to eating too, you're going to get very fat very fast," Jay lectures me, still smiling in enjoyment at the predicament he's forced me into. "But don't worry, I'll still love you, even if you turn into the size of a house," he reassures me, and as sweet as it may be, he's saying it to annoy me and I must remember that.

Scratch that catchphrase.

"Shut up!" I whirl around before him before he can say anything more, my dress following me. "Now, how do I look?" I ask him, wanting a truthful answer. I'm going to attempt to sweep this kid off of his feet without being squashed in the process.

Jay drinks me in with his eyes and grins, satisfied. "You render me speechless, as always. Like a vision that rivals gods," he answers me in all seriousness even though I know that he's not serious.

And I'm being dramatic?!

I narrow my eyes at him, unbelieving of how bold he can be. "Don't go and try make up for your sins with smooth comments. It won't work, Taylor!"

I lie...it's working a little bit, okay, a lot bit.

"Sure, it won't," he replies in sarcasm. "'Cause, I mean, it fails me every time when I use my smooth comments on you," he tells me with a playful wink. "I never end up getting exactly what I want," he concludes with a lazy smile, meaning the opposite of everything he just said.

There's no use in avoiding this. I might as well adopt a better attitude. I mean, Blubber is kind of cute in an obese-pug kind of way. I'll humbly rise to the occasion and make his dream of dating me come true. I'll also accept much praise along the way for my heroic sacrifice. I'll just have to acclimatize to greatness again – an easy task for me.

"I'm gonna make this the best and probably only date Blubs has ever been on!" I decide then and there. "Watch this space!" I challenge Jay. He can't exactly mock me and relish in my suffering if I'm enjoying it.

"Trust me, 'Queela," he glances at me from head-to-toe again, sending me a flirtatious smile that makes my heart flutter, "it's difficult for me to watch anything but."

"That's strike three!" I huff at him and hit his arm -- hard. He can't play these games with me and expect to always win and come out unscathed.

He frowns boyishly at me and rubs his arm. "No warning? What happened to strike one and two?"

"They died a tragic death for asking too many questions!" I hiss at him before using a 'shoo' motion on him. "Now, go and make me a stiff drink. I need something to take the edge off before this date," I command, hoping that he'll listen.

He arches an eyebrow at me, confused. "Like...alcohol?"

I shake my head profusely. "No. I need chocolate Nesquik," I correct his blind assumptions. "That always hits the spot."

He holds his hands up apologetically, stifling a grin, "Oh, of course, of course, that's my mistake, milady," he bows before me. "Total oversight on my part but I'm on it. Coming right up."

Before Jay can even make it two steps, the doorbell rings.

I internally groan. Kill me now. Or kill Blubber...yeah, that would be better.

Jay opens his mouth to comment but I hold up my hand to stop him. "Save it. I've got this," I tell him while confidently making my way to the front door. "By the way, while I'm on this date, where will you be?"

"Therapy session," he informs me quietly, his entire mood deflating under the topic. I know he hates talking about his problems but he's trying so hard and I appreciate that. I appreciate all of his efforts.

I ignore the door and approach him. "I'm proud of you," I tell Jay and spontaneously place my lips against his for a second before pulling away. I touch his cheek and meet his gaze. "You know that, right?"

He glances down at me and shakes his head. "No, not really," he says firmly. "Maybe some more of that 'you being proud of me' affectionate stuff might help to get your message across," he suggests and leans forward. "I can be quite dense," he says and jokingly puckers his lips for me.

He always finds a way out of the dog box so easily with me and I'm pretty sure he knows it.

I laugh and stand on my tippy-toes to press my lips on his a second time. When I try to step back, he holds my wrist, refusing to let me go. "Jay," I mumble against his lips and smile, "the door," I remind him of the continuous noise echoing throughout the house – Greg is going to have a fit.

He releases me and sighs. "Fine. Go." He folds his arms across his chest and shakes his head again, declaring his disappointment in me. "Go on a date with a guy who isn't me. Go and cheat on me behind my back," he jokes, just kidding around.

I swat his chest and throw an accusatory finger in his face, "Let's not forget that I'm cheating on you, to your front, by the way, with an underage boy because it's what you asked for!"

Boss Man chooses that exact moment to step into the room. He eyes Jay and me weirdly, having heard what I just said, before giving voice to the thoughts running rampant in his head:

"You two are such a strange couple..." he trails off, stumped, and heads back to his room, deciding against breakfast. "And can one of you please answer the doorbell after you're done cheating on each other with children? It woke me up five minutes ago and it's still ringing!" he calls over his shoulder, close to kicking us out...I think.

I look over to Jay to see him stifling a chuckle. I flip him off and then hesitate behind the front door – this is my last chance to escape Blubber. Still, I'm adamant about not letting my resolve waver.

Determined, I slam open the door and accidentally hit Blubber in the face in the process. "Shoot! That was an accident this time!" I apologize to him, fighting back a laugh – it's been a weird morning.

"You saucy, little minx!" Blubber complains but recovers quickly, instantly forgiving me. "Not to worry, my goddess, I know you mean me no harm. I'm just ecstatic that you've finally come to your senses! You've finally realized that me and you, we're endgame."

As if on pure instinct, I shut the door in his face after hearing that. "Nope. I'm out. Can't do this," I say to myself and then look up and meet Jay's bemused grin with a frown. "What? Did you really think I'd go through with this?" I ask him.

"It's so unlike you to refuse to rise to a new challenge," he toys with me, knowing exactly how to get to me.

I glower at him, knowing that he has me there, and take a deep breath before courageously opening the door again. "Hey, Blubber," I greet, turning my back on Jay so I don't have to see just how much he's loving this.

"What's poppin', Babe!" Blubber exclaims enthusiastically, his arms wide open as if expecting a warm embrace from me.

God...please help me through this. Really, I mean it.

"I'm going to have to set boundaries for you, aren't I?" I ask him as he forcefully takes my hand into his and begins dragging me to Simo's car.

"Most definitely," he admits to it and opens the backseat door for me. "I'm going to sit up front with Simo. You can sit at the back with my mom."

Fantastic. Perfect first date...I love sitting at the back with the mothers...

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Wilson," I hum and send her a smile. "How have you been?" I ask her, trying to make conversation despite this extremely awkward encounter – fortunately, I thrive in these types of situations.

Mrs. Wilson smiles back at me and pats my knee in a friendly manner. "Please, call me Patricia."

If I were her, I'd be arresting me right about now for being a cradle snatcher.

I nod. "Alright, Mrs. Wilson," I reply. I do what I want.

"My goddess...you remember my father-person-thing somewhat, Simo," Blubber formally does the introductions for reasons beyond me -- Simo has been one of my best buds for years now.

"Hi, Simo!" I say and shoot him a small smile too. "A pleasure to meet my date's father," I add. I might as well go along with everything. There's no point in fighting this.

Simo's eyes light up at hearing my voice. "Hi, Sprinkle!" he smiles widely at me, unable to contain himself. "Simo is thanking you so much for giving my son a shot," he tells me, grateful that his son is actually going out with a real, living girl and not a doll – yes, Simo has told me that he caught Blubber in the act with an inflatable doll.

"I'd also like for him to be shot," I tell Simo, understanding where he's coming from. I totally get it.

"I'm not your son!" Blubber hisses at Simo like a venomous asp, lashing out at his father as any typical teenager does.

Before I can intervene, Patricia suddenly places a hand on my stomach, startling me. "Blubber tells me that you had a pregnancy scare not too long ago?" she states more than asks.

"Uh...yeah," I nod, refusing to tell her the truth. "Indeed."

"Is there a baby on the way yet?" she prods with a grin intact, clearly in a chipper mood. "Jay knocked you up yet? Preggers? Are you infanticipating? A Joey or a Jay in the pouch? Storked? A bun in the oven?"

I subtly move so that her hand falls from my stomach. She's making me highly uncomfortable. "Only a food baby in the oven," I tell her and pat my belly, making light of the moment. "Just a real bun, no baby bun," I assure her with a laid-back smile.

She laughs at me. "Oh, nonsense! That stomach is flat." To my dismay, she pats my belly again. "I bet Jay's still enjoying his private time with you."

Honestly, who doesn't love private time with me?

Honestly, who asks these kinds of questions to someone you barely know?

Honestly, probably me.

I immediately flush under her gaze, knowing exactly what she's trying to get at. "Yea...sure," is all I manage to say.

Why is this everyone's favorite subject when talking to me these days? We're not even married yet and they already want me popping out his babies. It's vexing me! That's right, I'm getting vexed!

"So, no eating for two?" she asks again in a very roundabout way, making extra sure that I'm not misunderstanding her.

I shrug while pondering over her words. "That's not an accurate question. I always eat for two," I answer her truthfully.

Mrs. Wilson laughs again, finding me to be hilarious – can't blame her.

"Simo still enjoy private time with his big lady," Simo saves me by attracting everyone's attention. He waggles his eyebrows at his wife, staring at her through the rear-view mirror with a lewd look. "Lots of private times."

He just had to emphasize the 'lots' part?!

I'm going to vomit everywhere. I'm going to keel over and puke out my life.

However, my perspective changes when I spot the garden rock on Simo's finger. I can't help but be nostalgic. I remember when the two of them first got engaged. Simo was ecstatic.

I smile slightly at the memory of me accidentally setting them up. Some accidents are good. They clearly make each other happy and that, in all honesty, makes me so very happy.

Patricia giggles like a schoolgirl and blushes uncontrollably. "Simo, stop! Not in front of Blubber!"

Or me! Not in front of me either!

I cringe and then feign a smile, "That's so...sweet." And disgusting. Mostly disgusting.

"And disgusting," Blubber voices my exact thoughts.

"Love between two people is a beautiful thing, Blubber," Patricia scolds her ignorant son. "It's not disgusting. Part of it is just a physical act that consummates—"

Blubber covers his ears with his hands. "Blah, blah, blah!" he shouts like a giant, immature kid -- like me, now that I think about it -- blocking her out completely.

Maybe Blubber and I are more alike than I realized.

Now, that's a scary thought.

Mrs. Wilson shakes her head and turns to me expectantly. "Well, tell him Aqueela. Tell him that it's the same with you and Jay, that it's beautiful," she orders.

Can she stop dragging me through her crap alongside her?!

"No," I disagree with her, refusing to play this weird game with her, "Blubber's right. It's disgusting," I clarify. It's disgusting hearing about someone else's love life. Thinking about my own with Jay is completely different but I'm not about to share that with everyone here.

Mrs. Wilson falls silent and looks at me in shock. "You and Jay haven't...?"

I shake my head at her. "Nope," I tell her with a carefree smile.

"But how do you...he's so good-looking though," she points out, befuddled by the news.

"He is?" I arch an eyebrow at her, swallowing back a chuckle. "I didn't notice," I lie.

"I just assumed..." she falters, "because Blubber mentioned you were pregnant..." she trails off sheepishly, now embarrassed.

"I wasn't pregnant," I correct her calmly, "I just thought I was."

She furrows her eyebrows, lost. "But if you haven't been intimate with Jay then why would you think..." she stops midsentence, beyond confused.

I shrug again, not having a legitimate answer for her. "Have you met me? I'm insane," I tell her, putting it simply for her – it's the only valid explanation. "Many people can vouch for me on that one, starting with Grey Ferrot."

"Sprinkle cray-cray," Simo agrees even though he doesn't have any legs to stand on with this one.

Blubber turns in his seat to look at me, deciding to join in on the conversation again, "Just to clear the air between us, my goddess, you going out on a date with me...does that mean you're leaving Cool-Guy-Jay? That you two are done-zo? Especially because he can't make you conceive?"

"Absolutely not," I answer him, saying it like it is. "It's a hard pass from me, bud. A hard and resounding 'no'."

He accepts my words way too easily, "Good, good, just checking. You'd be an idiot to leave Jay for me! And I'd totally tattle on you to him if you tried to make a move on me. My body and my ice cream may belong to you, you delicious snack of a woman, but my loyalty and heart lie with him."

As long as I get the ice cream then I don't really care how the rest of it pans out.

I roll my eyes and yawn, already feeling tired. This is one draining crowd. It's going to be a long day with this 'Rice Krispie treat' breathing up my neck the entire time.

*~*~*~**~*~*~*

"Give me all the finest bubble-gum ice creams in the land!" I demand aloud while banging open the store's doors. I draw everyone's attention in the process. I send them all a friendly wave and smile in return, now feeling more upbeat -- ice cream is good for the soul and revitalizes the heart.

Frankenstein narrows his eyes at me after having witnessed my fantastic entrance. "Why don't you go to the counter and order like a normal person, Aqueediot?" he asks, his tone giving him away: he's very happy to see me.

"Because I'm no ordinary person, I'm an ice cream connoisseur!" I debate it out with him, always ready to argue – it's like second nature to me.

"And because she's her own woman and can make her own choices!" Blubber rises to my defense, proving that he can be useful at times. "Just like me!"

Okay, so, he also managed to prove just how incredibly stupid he is.

Frank looks over at Blubber and groans. "Great. Are you one of those 'gender is fluid' dudes?" he queries.

Blubber furrows his brows just like his mom does, unaware of what he just accidentally implied. "Huh?" he asks, dumbfounded.

I stifle a grin and nudge Blubber in the side playfully. "Where did we lose you, buddy?" I tease him.

You didn't lose me, you weirdo," he smiles and shakes his head at me as if I'm stupid, "I'm right here."

If he keeps this up, I'll make sure that he's lost to everyone forever.

Simo enters in after us before I can retaliate against Blubber's idiocy.

"You're late," Dylan immediately makes his presence known, directing his attention to Simo, "again."

"Simo sorry. Simo picked up Sprinkle for date with Blubber," Simo explains to him, apologetic.

Dylan spins around and spots me. He automatically starts smiling. "Hey! Wasn't expecting your company today," he greets me all too happily. It's good to know that some people still appreciate me.

"Nor were we looking forward to it," Frank chips in while walking past us and over to a customer.

"Don't mind him," Dylan brushes him off. "So..." he drawls with a mischievous look glittering through his sea-blue eyes, "you're on a date with Blubber?" he asks me before bursting out into laughter, unable to hold himself back.

I nod and sigh in admission. "He's been vying for my hand for years and finally, the time has come," I explain, leaving out the part that it's all Jay's fault. I mean, I could've said no but it's difficult to say not to Jay; he's very persuasive.

Dylan chuckles again, just as amused by this as Jay is. "That much has been obvious to everyone," he tells me straight-forwardly.

I roll my eyes at him playfully, disappointed in him, and his lack of sympathy for me. "You're supposed to be one of my nice friends," I remind him. I don't have many of those so I value Dylan a great deal above the rest.

"I am," he insists instinctively. "I'm sorry, c'mere here," he steps toward me and gently takes me into a side hug. "I couldn't resist teasing you just a little," he says, giving my waist squeeze.

I lay my head on his shoulder, playing it up for the heck of it. "Pray for me," I tell him sadly.

I'm messing around here but, in all honesty, any girl would be lucky to land Blubber. For one, he's ridiculously loyal and devoted – that I've seen with my own eyes; I'm getting married and he still hasn't quit me. He's fun to be around. He's funny. He's also a charmer and has a way with words – he'll either make you feel beautiful or gross and cheap. I know the right girl will come at the right time. In the meantime, I'm more than happy to keep him in line for her.

Dylan grins and rests his head atop of mine. "I'll do you one better, my friend," he replies and pauses for a second before clarifying, "I'll make you one of my original bubble-gum ice creams."

I immediately raise my head at hearing his words and accidentally knock the side of his head with mine. "What?!" The pain comes quickly after that and I wince. "C'mon now, Dylan. Are you serious? My head!"

Dylan chuckles and rolls his eyes at me. "Sure, blame the nice guy."

"When did you start making your original bubble-gum ice creams again?" I ask him, elated at hearing the news.

"We've been working on it for a while now. Blubber has given a lot of input into perfecting the ice creams. After Bell is done with the interior decorating, we'll celebrate and have a huge re-opening," he explains, making my day in the process.

Blubber might be the only who I fully trust to develop the perfect bubble-gum ice cream.

"This is the best news I've heard all day!" I chirp and embrace Dylan, over the moon. Honestly, if he can bring back the best ice cream in the world, I'll make him my new favorite person.

Blubber yanks me away from Dylan, clearly jealous. "Hey, hey, hey! She's my date, not yours. You had your shot and you blew it!" he accuses Dylan, shoving his pudgy finger into Dyl's chest. "This is my woman!"

Dylan stifles a chuckle and holds his hands up apologetically, "That's my bad, pal." He hesitates and then grins deviously, "I keep forgetting that she's your fiancé," he adds jokingly.

Blubber frowns, suddenly remembering Jay's existence again. "I'll have you know," he starts to defend himself, "that I'm honored to lose my goddess to a man like Cool-Guy-Jay. It's a privilege to lose to him in anything, I'll tell you that much. You should be grateful that you lost Aqueela to him too."

Dylan furrows his eyebrows, trying to contemplate Blubber's words. "I really don't understand your logic."

"Also," Blubber continues on with his pathetic rant, "one day, when Jay finally figures out that he deserves a better crowd to run with, that's when I'll make my move on Aqueela...when she's at her lowest and when she least expects it." I mean, I'm kind of expecting it now. "I'm playing the long game, my friend," he adds, revealing his ingenious plan to all of us.

"Slow your roll, Cinnamon Bun, I reject that entire combination of words," I speak up before he can get even more carried away in this fantasy world of his. "After hearing all of that, I can't say that you're selling yourself very well. You've got to set limits for yourself, Kid," I scold him. Jay is never going to willingly leave me!

"Hot, sexy manager dude is the one who needs to set limits here! He's macking on my future wife!" Blubs lashes out grimly, taking his fury out on poor, innocent Dylan.

Clearly, this child has no idea what setting limits means, or else he wouldn't have just said that! He needs a reality check!

I glance over at Dylan to see his reaction. He's just smiling wryly, finding amusement in all of this.

"I can't even blame him all that much. I mean...just look at you!" Blubber speaks again before I can retaliate and blow up like Hiroshima. "Curse your feminine wiles, Aqueela!"

He calls it feminine wiles; I call it the unstoppable 'Lawson effect'.

"It's totally your feminine wiles," Dylan teases and playfully nudges me.

"Stop flirting with my wife!" Blubber hisses at him, sidling up to me and pushing Dylan away.

I sigh internally. I really messed up somewhere along the line -- this kid is obsessed with me. I should be worshipped but not to this level of commitment. I wasn't ready!

"Blubber, I'm all about living your truth..." I pause before yelling at him, "except when your truth is a complete lie! You have such a skewered perception here!"

Blubber merely grins in a carefree fashion, unfazed by my words. "I'm totally feeling this moment. Should we kiss? I feel like we should kiss," he says and begins leaning into me without a second thought in mind.

Defensive, I jump back into Dylan's arms and look around for Patricia.

Where the hell is this kid's mother?!

"Looks like she's made her choice," Dylan jokes, loosely wrapping his arms around my neck and tugging me to him with a mischievous look on his face.

Fortunately, Blubber gets side-tracked by ice cream that Simo is busy preparing. He immediately tosses me aside like trash and heads over to his first love.

I hide my smile and turn in Dylan's arms to face him. I peer up into his clear blue eyes and shake my head. "Why encourage him? I thought you're better than this."

"In spite," he admits, still just kidding around. "He just outright told me that I blew my shot with you."

"Well..." I drawl and then burst out laughing at his shocked expression.

"I really wish I handled things better then," he confesses, turning serious all of a sudden.

I frown. "It's okay," I reassure him, not wanting him to have any regrets, especially ones about me. "Given the circumstances, I understand why you left me alone on our 'date'," I tell him, wanting him to know that I understand.

Dylan can be very hard on himself at times. He strives to be this ideal, perfect gentleman, and sometimes, especially around me, that flies out the window. At least, it did back then. He's never got angry at me like that again.

Dylan releases me from his grip and smiles. "You were so cute when I first met you."

My mouth falls agape. "How dare you?! I'm fricken adorable now!"

He chuckles. "Sorry, that's not what I meant. I was just getting nostalgic and remembering how you were in that restaurant. You were a bit timid and I think it's because you knew Jay was the one then already. Meanwhile, I was sure Ms. Right had come along."

I cringe and pull an apologetic face, feeling bad. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I just have a habit of picking the worst people for myself," he replies, forlorn.

I immediately take offense to his comment. "Hey! Don't lump me in with Melinda and Bex!"

"Again, not what I meant," he says with a sheepish look. "You were before my taste in women went to hell. Actually, maybe you're the reason that my taste in women went to hell."

I take his hand into mine for a second, offering him some comfort. "She, Ms. Right, is on her way, I'm sure," I tell him confidently. "I mean it, Dyl," I add when he gives me a doubtful look, "you're a catch. It won't be long before you get snagged up. You're my second choice after Jay for a reason," I tell him in jest.

He grins and decides to humor me. "Really? I thought it would definitely be a toss-up between Ben and Grey. There's so much chemistry there."

"You're not funny anymore, Dylan. I'll kill you!" I threaten him.

"Are you triggered?" he asks me while pushing me toward an empty booth.

"Yes, it seems to be my reality baseline lately," I answer him bluntly before explaining to him why neither of those options would ever work. "Ben has feminine wiles of his own, which is worrying, and Grey represents all that is evil in this life, which is a bit less worrying."

"Really? Less worrying?" Dylan furrows his eyebrows, puzzled. "You know what, I'm not gonna question it. Please, continue."

I happily continue, "D, if you pick up a deck of cards, you'd recognize Benley as the Queen of Hearts, and if you pick up a deck of tarot cards, you'd recognize Ferrot as the symbol of death."

Dylan laughs and makes me take a seat. "Okay then, point taken, what about Troy?"

Troy is the Joker in the card deck and I only settle for the aces. Guess who my ace is...

I glare at Dylan and point to the opposite side of the store. "Go. It's time for you to go now." He's crossed a line that should never, ever be crossed. EelTro must never, under no circumstances, be brought back to life.

"Alright, alright," Dylan surrenders and starts walking backward, "don't be offended, everyone in America is already so offended."

I can't help but laugh at him because it's true. That immediately stops when Blubber takes a seat before me. He has an irritated expression on his face.

"You're the worst date," he tells me bluntly, attempting to put me in my place. "You're actually just the worst."

"Hey!" I protest, disagreeing with him. "I'm a gem!"

"You've barely spoken to me," he reminds me of the facts. "Since when are you a mute? I think everyone would prefer it but since when?"

I nod, aware of this as it's not accidental -- I haven't been too thrilled about this date at all and I guess it's time to change that. "Fine," I cooperate, playing nice, "how is school going? Have you made any new friends yet?"

"I'm not four!" he snaps at me. "I'm eighteen."

"Enemies then, at least?" I ask. When I was in high school, I had no shortage of enemies. Most of those enemies are my friends now – Mase, Laik, and Melinda...somewhat.

"Well, yeah, there's Stacey, cheer captain, Michael, Liam, and..." I zone out as Blubber begins to name an endless list -- unsurprising. "See! This is what I mean. You haven't been paying me enough attention," he points out, upset, realizing that I stopped listening to him. "Is this how you treat all of your dates?"

Yes, and Jay somehow puts up with me anyway.

I sigh and cave for my pork chop, feeling the slightest bit guilty. I guess what he's saying is kind of true. "Okay, okay, I'm all ears now," I reply, genuine. "My attention is one-hundred percent yours for the next few minutes."

Yeah...so that doesn't happen...

I take back my words extremely quickly when Dylan places a perfect bubblegum ice cream down in front of me. I look closely at the vibrant, blue color and smile in content, unable to hide my joy. It takes me back five years. Dylan's ice creams are the only ice-creams that match the color of Jay's eyes precisely.

"Forget you, Blubber, this is way more important! This is...it's...ah!" I shout, too excited to form more words. Screaming describes what I'm feeling more adequately.

Fortunately, Blubber doesn't seem to care because he's already savoring his own ice cream, not sparing me a second thought.

And I'm the terrible date here...

"Is this real?" I question aloud, in awe. I pick up the ice cream cone and admire how tasty it looks. It serves as a reminder of so many good things in my life, things that I never want to forget.

"Don't say I never did anything for you," Dylan chuckles at us before leaving me and Blubber to it.

Yeah...Dylan's my new favorite person in the entire world.

My mouth automatically begins watering at the sight of the ice cream. I don't waste a second to taste it and as soon as I do; I'm swept up in an array of amazing memories. An indescribable feeling surges through me at just knowing that these ice creams are going to be officially back in my life again.

"It tastes heavenly!" I say at the top of my lungs, floating on cloud nine. I honestly never thought that I'd ever get to taste these ice creams again. I was sure that it was a thing of the past. There really is always a silver lining. In fact, this lining is golden. Among the bad days, look to the good ones, the small moments that make up for all the darkness.

Blubber and I down our ice creams as fast as we can. Once we're done, we both fall silent, merely staring at each other, both of us at a loss for words. I'm still processing the reliving of a magical experience and Blubber...I don't know, he just has a small vocabulary.

Dylan notices how quiet we are and nervously approaches us. "You guys hated it, didn't you?" he asks warily.

Before I can say anything, an enraged Blubber jumps to his feet and points an accusing finger in Dylan's face. "We...you...it...how can you...just...shut that ignorant hole in your face!" he stutters before erupting, a furious expression on his face as he falters in defeat. "Perfection doesn't sum it up!" he eventually yells before storming off.

And there goes my date...

Dylan looks to me for an explanation, beyond lost. After all these years, he still doesn't speak 'blubber'.

I shrug before elaborating it to him. "It was fantastic! We loved, loved, loved it! It tasted so great that Blubber's so angry that you'd even question it." Still hyped, I continue, "I love it so much that I'll marry Frankenstein right here, right now!" I tell him, trying to get my point across as best I can.

Dave scoffs at me while walking past us. "You're delusional, woman."

Being delusional is wonderful...

"Anyway," I stand up and face Dylan with puppy eyes, silently pleading with him, "can I order like five more of those before I go?"

"No," Dave speaks for Dylan, being as bossy and sassy as ever, "that was a special order. You can only get more of them when we re-open the store. And you'll have to actually pay for them."

Dylan smiles apologetically at me. "Sorry, Aqueela. He's right."

Frank nods appreciatively at Dylan for having his back. "Thank you," he says before walking back to the front counter to complain about something to Simo.

Honestly, how does Simo still have a job?

"Well..." I drawl and look up at Dylan with a small smile, "thank you for today, D. That ice cream was the best thing ever! You're awesome," I hug him briefly, super grateful for the ice cream.

Dylan and his team have recreated one of the best things that have ever happened to me, not the ice cream in itself but the memory of tasting the ice cream for the first time before spilling it down the jacket of my soon-to-be husband.

Dylan returns my smile with warmth. "You're welcome," he replies. "I'll slip some home with Simo for you. Don't tell Frank."

I grin in delight. "Wouldn't dare to," I flash him a thumbs-up, just to reassure him, and head for the exit.

"And I don't care what Frank says, you'll never have to pay here. I won't allow it," he adds, grabbing my wrist before I can leave, stopping me in my tracks.

Have I mentioned how much I love Dylan?

I smile at him again -- he's too nice for this world. "Sexy, hot manager dude, I'd consider it the highest honor to pay for your ice cream," I tell him truthfully.

"Still don't get the logic but okay," he agrees, settling on the matter.

"For now, it's time to bust outta this joint!" I say and slam open the doors with a dramatic flair to the action.

"Why can't you enter and exit like a sane person?!" Frank shouts after me, having had enough of my antics for one day.

I flip him off over my shoulder. "I think you just answered your own question!"

Now...how the heck am I getting home?

*~**~*

Hey guys :)

Sorry for the looong wait...again :\ Life is very busy at the moment, as per usual. I'm in the middle of relaunching 'Pause',  launching new books, re-diting old books, and this all apart from normal life. Thanks for the patience and always know that I will never leave this book unfinished :)

1. What do you think happens in the next chapter?

2. What was your favorite part of this chapter?

3. Do you think the date lived up to Blubber's expectations?

4. What does it mean for Aqueela to have the original ice-creams back?

5. Thoughts on Simo in this chapter?

6. Is Frank's hatred for Aqueela valid?

7. Thoughts on Aqueela and Dylan's friendship?

8. Who will be Dylan's Ms. Right?

9. Who believes in the long game?

10. Who believes in Patricia's parenting skills?

Thanks for reading and supporting me despite everything! I appreciate it, always! And I hope you enjoyed this chapter :D The next chapter will be up next week. You can check it out on Radish for free in the meantime.

Take care!

~ CJ