Page 6 of Topped

He was smiling too, looking almost self-satisfied. But I couldn’t call it smug. More like he was very pleased and excited about something. That should have worried me, but I was too busy staring at him.

And the two tubs of ice cream he was holding.

“Hello, hello,” he said brightly, strolling over to the counter in a way that oozed confidence and charm. “I know it’s not quite tomorrow, but I have a present for you.”

Oh.

Chapter Three

Milo

In an attempt to get away from Alfie’s and Darcy’s comments about my new lack of hair, I’d decided to be helpful and take some ice cream around to Rupert. We were starting to clear out the kitchen freezer anyway, and I figured this was as good a time as any to be neighbourly. I didn’t think Rupert had popped into the shop all summer, and it would be a crime for us to close for the winter without him trying anything.

Besides, after that morning, I wanted to see him again. And taking him some ice cream was the perfect excuse.

“What is it?” Rupert asked as I put the tubs down on the counter. They were both white, with handwritten labels on and a Lick It! sticker on the lid. We didn’t sell tubs normally, mostly only using them for samples and taste tests so we hadn’t bothered to get anything branded, but it was something I was going to suggest we looked at properly next year. A lot of our customers has asked if they could take ice cream home with them, and I thought it would be an easy add-on to offer.

We’d have to make sure we made bigger batches of ice cream, and find some way to display them, but I’d leave that up to Darcy and Alfie. They were the ones who figured out how to make things work, I was just the salesman.

“Ice cream,” I said cheerfully. “We’re starting to clear out the freezers and I figured, since you haven’t tried any, you should have some. I wasn’t sure what flavours you’d like, so I thought I’d start with some of my favourites. We’ve got strawberries and cream, and cinder toffee.” I pointed to the respective tubs. “Owen’s started making a banoffee too, which is fucking amazing, but there’s only a bit of that left and I’m selfishly keeping it for myself.”

I grinned at Rupert, whose expression was half-pinched, half-smile. Like he was trying to be happy but was also desperately worried about something.

Shit. Did he not like ice cream? I thought everyone loved ice cream.

“That’s very kind of you, thank you,” he said, resting his hand on the counter. “I, er, I appreciate it.”

There was definitely a “but” there. I didn’t know if he’d say it though.

“It’s fine if you don’t want it,” I said quickly. “You can say. I won’t be upset.”

“Oh, no, I do. It’s very sweet of you.”

“Then why⁠—”

“Not to interrupt this charming conversation,” said the older man in the plum waistcoat who’d been watching me suspiciously since I came in. “But where do you expect us to put those? Because if you hadn’t noticed, we’re a sweet shop and therefore drastically short on freezer space.”

Ah bollocks. How the fuck had I not thought of that? Of course he wasn’t going to randomly have a freezer in the back of the shop.

“Norman,” Rupert hissed with a pained look, glancing back at me with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry! I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful. It’s so kind of you to bring us some, and it sounds delicious, but⁠—”

“But I’m a fucking idiot who didn’t think that you wouldn’t have a freezer.” I grinned at him, trying to ignore the uncomfortable stabbing in my chest. I didn’t know why it hurt to be told I’d fucked up, but it did. It was a painful reminder of the fact that, once again, I hadn’t thought something through, and I’d inconvenienced people with my carelessness.

“Shit, I’m such a twat,” I continued, chuckling self-deprecatingly in the hope it would make me feel better. It didn’t. “I’m sorry. Fuck, you must think I’m a complete wanker.”

“Only a little bit,” Rupert said. A little smile brushed his lips, one that finally extended to his eyes. For some reason, seeing it made my chest settle. “I do appreciate you thinking of me.”

“You’re welcome. Why don’t I label it, and you can swing by after you close and grab it?”

“What if you’re not there? I mean, er, are you going to be there all day?”

“Yeah, we’re still open for another month.” And if Rupert still hadn’t dropped by after we’d closed, I’d wait. Although Darcy would probably find me something to do while I waited.

It better not be deep cleaning the kitchen chiller and freezer though. That was his and Owen’s job, and if they were going to piss off to Australia for Christmas and leave us in the rain and snow, then they could bloody do it.

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess, I’ll stop by.”

“Looking forward to it already.” I picked up the tubs and headed back towards the door.