The Beginning Of The End | Cosmic Love Series

seventeen - d as in date

The minute I set foot inside the ice cream parlor, Mr. Ricci came out from behind the counter with a huge wide smile dancing on his lips, and extended his arms out to pull me into a hug.

"My Zoey!" His accent couldn't be more Italian. My lips curled upwards and I hugged him back. "How are you, my little super stella?"

Super stella was an endearing nickname he always called me, referring to my outstanding performances at the swimming competitions.

"I'm good...Craving my raspberry special." I smirked. "What about you, Mr. Ricci?"

"I'm good, as always." He said with a sparkle in his eyes and a fierceness in his movements. "I heard you beat everyone's timing in the last competition."

"Guilty as charged." I threw my hands up in defeat, admitting the true claims.

"That's my super stella!" His wide grin was battling his mustache. "Go join your friend over there and I'll be right back with your special."

He went behind the counter to prepare my dessert, and, from where I was standing, I searched the room, trying to spot Kyle, who I was meeting with at Frozen Amore this afternoon.

There he was. Corner booth, on the right side of the parlor. Just behind the group of young teenagers who were celebrating a birthday.

I walked towards the table and sat down across from my best friend.

"You couldn't find a larger table for us?" I sarcastically asked, referring to the multiple-seat booth he was sitting at.

"The guys are meeting us here." I nodded in realization. "Well, Chloé and Harper as well, but I think that's just implied, you know?" He said before taking the straw to his mouth and taking a sip of his chocolate milkshake.

"Oh, okay then."

"I asked you to meet me here earlier because I have to talk to you about something."

I studied his face for a minute, in silence, and was able to tell right away that something was up. "Shoot."

"I like Carter. A lot." He started, sounding every bit as direct and honest as his personality.

I tried to conceal my knowing smile. "I hate to break it to you, but that's not surprising to me. Or anyone, for that matter."

"Yeah, well... It wasn't that surprising to me either. Or Carter." His blue eyes smiled, as they looked into mine. "He likes me too."

"Again, can't say I'm surprised."

So far, so good. I couldn't really see where he was going with this and why the need to sound so serious about something that seemed to be amazing news.

Mr. Ricci interrupted us for a second to serve me my raspberry special. The three of us exchanged smiles and once the Italian man turned in his heels and left, I picked up the spoon.

"I get your point, alright?" He sounded a tiny bit mad. "Can you just... hear me out?"

Sensing the tone and thinking that this was probably more than just admitting that he liked Carter, I quit with the sarcastic comments and, with a serious expression on my face, I nodded and waited for him to continue.

"I came out to him as bissexual."

Oh, so Carter didn't know.

"And?" I asked, knowing all too well from the look on my best friend's face that Carter's reaction wasn't what Kyle had expected.

"And..." Kyle's wheels started turning in his head as he was probably reliving the moment in his head, and while he thought of the right way to tell me. "He freaked out a little."