put it in a safe place.” She and Maggie exchange a look, and she says, “You need to take a little road trip with us.”
While Colleen’s feet pound up the steps with purpose Maggie yells out, “Get her the spare helmet!”
“Wait.” I ask, “Where are you taking me? I really should study for finals.”
“Hogwash,” says Maggie. “You need to learn to live life, Olivia.”
I recall Courtney telling me the same thing, and I suppose I can spare a little time for two sweet old ladies. “Fine. Just tell me where we’re going.”
Colleen says, “For ice cream.” She scowls at me. “And don’t you dare order vanilla.”
I open my mouth to protest and then frown because I wonder how she knew it’s what I always get. She gives me a stern look, and I turn toward Maggie coming back to us. She hands me a plain white helmet and says, “This is the only vanilla you get.” She turns to Colleen. “We really need to dress that thing up.”
I smile at the women and ask, “Okay, who am I cuddling up to?”
“Me,” says Maggie, and she revs her engine. Her face lights up when she says, “Listen to that baby roar . Get it? Roar?”
I chuckle as I swing my leg over the seat behind her and clasp onto her tiny frame. I say, “You’re a regular comedian.”
The Vespa jerks a little as she takes off, and I wonder how wise this decision was. Do the sisters even have driver’s licenses? I push my fear away, though, because we’re going about twenty-five miles an hour, and while it would hurt if we fell, we’d probably survive.
The ice cream shop is less than a mile away, and we arrive in a few minutes. We approach a white building that has brightly colored picnic tables set out in a variety of colors. The sign is homemade, with each flavor listed in a different color too. I gaze at the list wondering what I should get. I ask, “What’s the best flavor?”
Colleen says, “I usually get butter pecan, but Maggie gets something different each time.” She winks at me. “My sister is the wild one.”
I turn to Maggie as I decide I’ll get whatever she picks. “What’s it going to be today?”
She gives me a mischievous smile. “How about bear tracks?” Bear tracks is raspberry ice cream with chocolate chips.
I shake my head at her as I say, “Of course. Why not?”
Once we get our cones, Colleen leads us over to a blue table. I lick my treat and let sugary flavor flood my mouth. It’s good and makes me wonder why I always get vanilla. Maggie reaches over and places her cool fingers on my arm. “Tell us what’s wrong, dear. What’s keeping you from being with Aaron?”
I shrug. “We’re not right for each other.”
Colleen says, “You couldn’t be more right from what we hear.”
“I think destiny screwed up,” I say.
Maggie says, “No. Destiny doesn’t screw up, dear. You two are meant to be, and sweet Aaron is trying hard to let you figure that out.”
“We’re too different, and I’d make him miserable.”
“He’s bear tracks, and you’re vanilla?” asks Colleen.
I nod as I lick my ice cream and notice the flavor is so much better than my regular choice. I say, “And I’m afraid he’d get bored with me.”
Maggie frowns. “You’re making excuses. That’s not what you’re really afraid of, is it?”
I open my mouth to protest, but the glare I get makes me feel as if I’m talking to my own grandmother, and I know I’m not going to get away with a lie. I say, “No.” I sigh. “I’m not sure I can trust him. He’s going to tour with the band in a few weeks.” The tabloid images of him with women hanging off his arms flash in my mind, and a sharp pain slices through my heart. “Women love him...”
“But he doesn’t love them, Olivia. He loves you.”
Tears burn in my eyes as I recall the pain of seeing Nick with Cherri. We were supposed to be forever, but he changed his mind. I’m not sure I can live through that agony again. “But what if it’s not
While Colleen’s feet pound up the steps with purpose Maggie yells out, “Get her the spare helmet!”
“Wait.” I ask, “Where are you taking me? I really should study for finals.”
“Hogwash,” says Maggie. “You need to learn to live life, Olivia.”
I recall Courtney telling me the same thing, and I suppose I can spare a little time for two sweet old ladies. “Fine. Just tell me where we’re going.”
Colleen says, “For ice cream.” She scowls at me. “And don’t you dare order vanilla.”
I open my mouth to protest and then frown because I wonder how she knew it’s what I always get. She gives me a stern look, and I turn toward Maggie coming back to us. She hands me a plain white helmet and says, “This is the only vanilla you get.” She turns to Colleen. “We really need to dress that thing up.”
I smile at the women and ask, “Okay, who am I cuddling up to?”
“Me,” says Maggie, and she revs her engine. Her face lights up when she says, “Listen to that baby roar . Get it? Roar?”
I chuckle as I swing my leg over the seat behind her and clasp onto her tiny frame. I say, “You’re a regular comedian.”
The Vespa jerks a little as she takes off, and I wonder how wise this decision was. Do the sisters even have driver’s licenses? I push my fear away, though, because we’re going about twenty-five miles an hour, and while it would hurt if we fell, we’d probably survive.
The ice cream shop is less than a mile away, and we arrive in a few minutes. We approach a white building that has brightly colored picnic tables set out in a variety of colors. The sign is homemade, with each flavor listed in a different color too. I gaze at the list wondering what I should get. I ask, “What’s the best flavor?”
Colleen says, “I usually get butter pecan, but Maggie gets something different each time.” She winks at me. “My sister is the wild one.”
I turn to Maggie as I decide I’ll get whatever she picks. “What’s it going to be today?”
She gives me a mischievous smile. “How about bear tracks?” Bear tracks is raspberry ice cream with chocolate chips.
I shake my head at her as I say, “Of course. Why not?”
Once we get our cones, Colleen leads us over to a blue table. I lick my treat and let sugary flavor flood my mouth. It’s good and makes me wonder why I always get vanilla. Maggie reaches over and places her cool fingers on my arm. “Tell us what’s wrong, dear. What’s keeping you from being with Aaron?”
I shrug. “We’re not right for each other.”
Colleen says, “You couldn’t be more right from what we hear.”
“I think destiny screwed up,” I say.
Maggie says, “No. Destiny doesn’t screw up, dear. You two are meant to be, and sweet Aaron is trying hard to let you figure that out.”
“We’re too different, and I’d make him miserable.”
“He’s bear tracks, and you’re vanilla?” asks Colleen.
I nod as I lick my ice cream and notice the flavor is so much better than my regular choice. I say, “And I’m afraid he’d get bored with me.”
Maggie frowns. “You’re making excuses. That’s not what you’re really afraid of, is it?”
I open my mouth to protest, but the glare I get makes me feel as if I’m talking to my own grandmother, and I know I’m not going to get away with a lie. I say, “No.” I sigh. “I’m not sure I can trust him. He’s going to tour with the band in a few weeks.” The tabloid images of him with women hanging off his arms flash in my mind, and a sharp pain slices through my heart. “Women love him...”
“But he doesn’t love them, Olivia. He loves you.”
Tears burn in my eyes as I recall the pain of seeing Nick with Cherri. We were supposed to be forever, but he changed his mind. I’m not sure I can live through that agony again. “But what if it’s not
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