The Next Now

Chapter 39: "-the place and the space"

Henrietta's P.O.V

"I definitely see why you love the Chocolate Chip" I moan and Romeo chuckles

"That's your fifth foodgasm in four minutes" He laughs, and I shrug

"You're the one who's counting" I say and he nods and laughs again

Since our little Ice Cream adventure on Wednesday, Romeo and I have gone for many more Ice Cream outings.
He thinks we could somehow discover my favourite Ice Cream flavour.
I don't think that'll happen since I love them all too much. But who's to say when there's free Ice Cream and a pretty boy, daily?

I look at the picture I've just taken of Romeo and I.
He's given me permission to take pictures of him anytime I want, and he doesn't think I'm a creep.
I can't say I've not used the situation to my advantage. A lot.

I have tons of pictures of him; you'd think my camera and phone belong to him.

Don't think too much about it, He's just really a sight to see.

"Your Ice cream is melting" I hear Romeo say

"Mmm?" I ask, absentmindedly.
I just continue staring at the pictures, my hand chill from holding my now melted Ice cream.

Oh no. My Ice cream

"Shit. Shit. I'm so sorry" I say hurriedly, searching for tissues as Romeo chuckles to himself.

He reaches over to the Glove compartment in front of me and I shrink into myself

"Focus on the road" I shriek, and he startles and looks at me.
He quickly turns back to the road, ready to look for a place to park

"Shit" He curses and swerves quickly, nearly missing a Dog running across the road.
Only for him to turn quickly towards a little Boy on a Bicycle.

"No. No. No. No" I shut my eyes tightly as the car skids to a stop.

I could hear Romeo's heavy breathing as I opened my eyes.
Then the Car door.

I ran out, to the little Boy who was now just staring at his Bicycle on the ground.

I had to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"Hey, Kid. Are you alright?" I rush, and he barely nods as I kneel beside the Bicycle and check that it's okay and safe.
We'd only missed it by a few inches

I stand the Bicycle and hand it over to him
"Now, I want you to ride off very carefully, okay?" I tell him, taking a few steps back, and he just nods quietly

"Be careful, okay?" I repeat, brushing off little of his hair away from his eyes.
I give him two pats on the back, and he waves at me before turning to leave.
I find myself smiling as I watch him peddle away.

I let out a breath that I had been holding, and get into the car beside Romeo who had just been watching my interaction with the kid from the Car.

I feel his unwavering gaze on me and turn to look at him with raised brows

"Wow" He breathes out

"What?" I snap and he shakes his head

"Nothing. It's just- I've never seen you so-"

"What?- Caring? Helpful? Nice? Well, don't get used to it" I tell him harshly and he shakes his head again

"That's not what I was going to say" He says, and I raise a brow

"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure yo-"

"You were amazing" He blurts out, and I immediately want to beat up myself when my cheeks warm