Valentine (troyler AU)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I'm sorry for being a lazy potato, so i gave you some smut

Tyler's pov

"Oh god, not this place Ty!" Troye whined as we pull into the small, empty parking lot. He glared at the building that looked more like a lodge than anything else. The only thing distinguishing it from a private campsite was the neon sign hanging from the door, brightly notifying us of the 'ice cream' located inside. I was obviously willing to take the chance of going into the small, abandoned-looking, and possibly murderer-inhabited building for the delicious treat, but Troye seemed wary after our last visit. There wasn't even a sign saying if the shop was open or not, simply the one. Only ice cream.

"It'll be fun," I said, climbing out of the car and breathing the fresh air. This entire area, completely secluded by trees, was so remote and relaxing that it almost distracted you from how out-of-the-way it was and how easily you could get kidnapped or killed. Almost. It was surprising that the shop was even able to stay open, much less profit. Who else, besides Troye and myself, even knew about this place?

"I'm trusting you," Troye warned as he exited the car, circling to the front to stand next to me. I grinned at him, debating grabbing his hand, before simply walking towards the shop with Troye on my heels, my nerves overcoming my desire to link our hands together. I wasn't entirely sure if i deserved Troye's trust, as the last time we came here an old, grumpy man yelled at us and kicked us out of the shop, but it was nice to know that he was willing to put his trust in me even though it was probably given without rationality.

We approached the creaking door, myself grabbing the handle cautiously as the fact that we were on a date began to actually hit me. Troye and I were going on a date, for ice cream, together, on a date. A date where we might hold hands, or share ice cream, or, god forbid, kiss (as if we hadn't before). Sure I'd had a crush on him for quite a while now, and sure I'd tried to suppress those feelings as much as possible, covering them up with a sense of confusion and maybe even ignorance, but now that I could actually show those feelings, I wasn't sure how to react. Should I just blatantly show how I feel, letting him know that I was completely head over heels for him, and had been for quite a while? Or should I play it cool and a little hard to get, let him come to me first?

I hadn't realized how long i had stood at the door, my hand fixed into a tight grip around the handle, until Troye prompted me with a quite, "Tyler?". I blinked quickly, releasing an awkward laugh as I yanked the door open, the cashier (still that grumpy old man, who I'd honestly thought would've died by now) staring at me in confusion, likely at how I'd loitered outside the door for who knows how long. We approached the counter quickly, my mind tumbling through an assault of worrying. I wasn't sure if it was too early to hold Troye's hand, even though we'd done so before, every single doubt in my mind deciding to make it's appearance now.

"What can I get you boys?" The grumpy old man asked, except this time he didn't sound very grumpy. In fact, he sounded as if he were in a good mood, and if I looked hard enough, and squinted my eyes a little. . . Yes, that was definintely a smile. What had put Grumpy McGrumppants in such a good mood?

"Can I get-" Troye began, breaking off as a voice interrupted him.

"Grandpa!" The voice squeaked, and I leaned over the counter a bit to see a small girl tugging on the man's pantleg. The man, who's name tag I could now see (it read "Lloyd"), swung the small girl, possibly six, up and onto the counter. With her now situated on the tabletop, Lloyd returned his attention to us.

"Sorry, what would you like?" He repeated, and Troye smiled kindly, ordering himself and ice cream cone, which I simply doubled.

While the man busied himself making ice cream, the girl crawled across the counter, stopping a little ways away from Troye. "Are you boyfriends?" She asked, and Troye blushed, and began to stutter. I remembered last time, how Lloyd had assumed we were on a date, only this time we were.