Scooping ice cream for a living sucked. Steve could sit down and think about every decision that led him to this job, but the overriding force was you.

You worked here first, something Steve discovered by walking through the mall one day. His plan wasn’t exactly solid, ending in him applying for the job that day. It got his dad off of his back, an extra plus to what he thought was going to be a great job.

Great was a major exaggeration. While he didn’t hate Robin by any means, he could not get a single shift with you. Sometimes he wondered if you still worked there, having only seen you at his interview then…never again?

But the Scoops Ahoy god shone down on him today. Robin had caught a stomach bug, leaving her spot open, and who else would take it but you? Sure, he was still elbow deep in ice cream tubs, but you were here.

He wasn’t going to throw away his shot. “Hey!” Steve whirled around with an over enthusiastic smile, his scooper sliding from his hand and clattering onto the countertop beside you. Shit.