Sofia’s pov
Ryan was the only one who drove me home from the beach tonight.
Ethan had to run some errands, so it left Ryan with the job. Ryan definitely didn’t mind, and neither do I.
It was already really dark outside, and it felt almost weird to be actually having a conversation with Ryan here in the car, in a place where we’ve never spoken except necessary because Ethan is always present with us no matter what.
I liked speaking with Ryan. He’s so intelligent and it’s so interesting and he always has a lot of things to say as soon as he feels comfortable. I found that extremely endearing but there was no way I was letting him know that.
“Did you thoroughly enjoy your time spent with your new friend?” He asked, and because he sounded curious, and because I was still currently feeling extremely excited, I proceeded to give him a run down of how it had gone down with him.
Ryan listened attentively as I spoke, and it pleased me immensely, prompting me into continuing more and more.
By the time I was done, I wondered if he was even still listening– but that was right before he responded.
After about thirty minutes, a small but comfortable silence had settled over us, and I was enjoying it, while my mind drifted away, head getting filled up with the thoughts of Luca, right before Ryan spoke.
“Bunny.” His voice was unsure as he spoke, like he was testing how the word would feel on his tongue. It sounded weird and unfamiliar in his voice but I felt myself flushing in embarrassment at being called something that was for just Luca.
“You know, that’s a pretty lame name.” He continued moments later and my mouth fell open at once in shock.
“What?” I found myself whispering, while watching as he shrugged his shoulders. I was currently seated in the pack of the car, which prevented me from being able to see his face right now.
“You gotta admit that it’s not the most brilliant one.” He continued and I huffed out a breath, mouth pursed because I really liked that pet name. It’s a pet name that had become a significant part of the relationship between Luca and I.
“It’s perfect.” I mumbled and on listening to Ryan chuckle comfortably, I knew he was just joking about all of this.
“Hm, well… who am I to judge?” He ended up saying and I rolled my eyes even though the side of my lips pulled up a little.
When we had to slow down for traffic, Ryan glanced back at me and did a dramatic double take.
“Aw, are you mad at me?! That was honestly a joke, I didn’t mean to make you mad.” As the words spilled from his mouth, I instantly felt bad for feeling annoyed and insulted at first, because it was currently clearer to me that he had been joking and nothing else, and so I hastened to reassure him that it was okay, and that of course, I wasn’t mad at him.
“You sure?” He asked once I was done speaking, throwing me one last look right before the traffic lights turned a bright green.
“I am.” I responded with a soft smile dancing around my lips.
“Have ice cream with me then.” He continued and I blinked se being taken aback in shock, because I hadn’t been expecting what came next.
“Ice cream?” I asked and he hummed in response.
“We could have fun, I know you’d have fun there at least. Have you been to an ice cream shop before?”
I shook my head slowly, and he hummed once again.
“See?”
Even though we always have ice cream at home, I ended up agreeing, because I’m extremely curious about how going to an ice cream shop is going to feel like.
~~~
“It looks so colorful and beautiful!” I gushed as I took in the bright colors bursting out of every corner of the ice cream store.
I had dismissed Ethan as soon as we arrived here, while Ryan accompanied me into the shop, to protect me, in Ethan’s eyes, meanwhile he’s the one I came here with.
I knew this is most likely a really bad idea, but what could it hurt? It’s not like it’s unheard of for friends to visit ice creams shops together, and besides, Ryan and I haven’t gotten the chance to go anywhere together, so this definitely feels nice already.
“It’s as colorful and beautiful as you are.” Ryan responded, pulling me out of my thoughts at once and I offered him a bashful smile as we both placed our orders.
The entire place was bubbling and a few kids were running around, screaming at each other while the adults that brought them in here, hurried after them.
“You know, I used to see places like this on television while growing up, but I was never allowed to go somewhere so unsophisticated. We always had ice cream at home while growing up so there was no point in me going. And when I finally got married and got the freedom to go wherever I wanted, it never crossed my mind to ever visit an ice cream shop.”
As I spoke, I picked up my ice cream and all my toppings, walking alongside Ryan to a table beside the window, and then I picked up from where I had stopped.
“I’m really glad you suggested we come over here.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” Ryan responded while taking a sip of the drink he had ordered in place of an ice cream.
After about an hour, we moved off from the table to standing beside it, eyes trailed outside the slightly busy road while we both remained silent.
“Today was fun.” He spoke up this time and I glanced at him instantly while nodding my head.
“It really was, I enjoyed every second of it.” I responded and for the first time since we got here, a bright smile stretched out on his face.
It distracted me a little, that I didn’t notice when his hand began to move towards me at first until his thumb came in contact with the skin beside my lips to wipe the little stain there. I gasped a little in surprise while watching as he pulled his hand away.
“It was a little distracting.” He murmured on a small huff and I found my mouth moving but nothing came forth.
I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination or happening in real life, but it suddenly began to feel like the space between Ryan and I shortened and shortened until I felt my heartbeat slow down drastically while I blinked a couple of times.
A fleeting moment later, the feeling of a kid bumping into my leg made me let out a startled gasp and at once, the little confusing moment I found myself trapped in with Ryan, got severed at once.