The Bet

3

Two hours had passed and just when she'd finished serving a family of four, another large group of guys clambered through the front door, their boisterous laughs echoing through the small space. They were all sweaty and Aspen was quick to stop them before they came any further. "Take your shoes off."

"Excuse me?"

"The cleats, take them off they ruin the floors."

"What do I get in return?" He remarked crudely, his blue eyes sneaking a peek at her below the neck.

Aspen peered over at him, a fake smile growing on her face. "I'll refrain myself from smacking you in the face."

"Don't be like that sweetness. You know what, I'll go easy on you." He bent over and untied his cleats, his friend doing the same. They set them by the door and continued to walk towards her.

One of her hands lowered to rest on her hip, her anger growing deep within her belly at the way he was speaking to her. Dalton was like this with everyone, rude and narcissistic in thinking that anyone with a pulse desired him. "Just order your ice cream and leave me alone."

"Mint chocolate chip, double scoop."

Being quick, she got the cup and filled it to the top like she did with every other customer. "Is that all?"

"My boys have needs too, don't be rude."

Jake stepped forward with a gentle look in his eye. "Sorry about him, Aspen. He doesn't get out much. Can I have double scoop cookie dough? Make it heavy, he's paying."

She did as he asked, filling his cup until it couldn't fit anymore. Jake was always the nicer one, he remembered her when they had classes together and he stayed quiet when the others got rowdy. "Next."

"The orange one," Hunter ran his hands through his hair, his light eyes running over the flavors before stopping at one. "I never remember what it's called."

"It's mango actually, not orange. Double scoop?" He answered with a nod, picking from the colorful selection of spoons and digging it greedily into the cup once he received it. "That all?"

"No, we have one more coming, he's in the car."

As if on cue, the final boy walked through, he looked better than Aspen wanted to admit, his arms on display in a loose fitting tank top, his legs half covered in khaki shorts. "Now don't yell at me, beautiful but I truly have never seen you here before and we're here a lot."

"I just had my shifts changed two weeks ago, but had I known you'd be here at this time, I wouldn't have bothered."

Eli clicked his tongue at the roof of his mouth, his eyebrows furrowing together as he faked a look of sadness. "That's no way to treat your customers."

"Just get your ice cream and leave."

"Cappuccino and raspberry."

Aspen couldn't help the little grin that came up and it didn't go unnoticed by the senior before her. "That's a weird combo."

"Don't knock it until you've tried it."

"I have tried it, it's my favorite."

Eli took the cup from her, his blue plastic spoon digging into the mixture and leaning it out to her. "Take the first bite so I know you didn't poison it."

"You watched me scoop it."

"How am I supposed to know what tricks you have up your sleeve?"

"I'm not wearing sleeves."

He pushed the spoon further towards her, staying completely in place as his friends watched he exchange quietly. "Just do it, soothe my conscience."

"Will you leave me alone if I do?"

"No promises."

Rolling her eyes she leaned over and ate the ice cream, being sure to step away as quickly as possible and avoid his eyes. "Ten even."

Dalton passed her a twenty, one of his baby blues dropping to a wink at her. "Keep the change."

Before they left, Eli stayed behind a minute. "What time is shift over?"

"I close at ten-thirty, why?"

"One date, tomorrow. I promise, I'm a nice guy and I'll prove it to you by taking you to dinner."

"If I don't like it, then will you leave me alone?"

"You will like it," He said with finality, sending her a dazzling smile. "I'll pick you up."

Aspen scoffed, her hand resting on the metal countertop. "You don't even know where I live."

"I'll figure it out, I'm good at that."