Last Kiss

chapter 71- i can't stop drinking about you (Jeremiah and belly's version)

The summer sun was blazing, and the ice cream truck was the only thing on Belly's mind as they walked back from the pool. Jeremiah had been talking about something—probably another one of his wild stories from college—but Belly couldn't focus. She spotted the truck first and sprinted ahead, calling back to him.

"Last one there pays!" she shouted, laughing as she ran.

"Hey! No fair!" Jeremiah called after her, breaking into a run to catch up.

They both reached the ice cream truck at the same time, panting and out of breath, but laughing so hard that neither of them cared. Belly slapped her hand on the side of the truck triumphantly. "I win."

Jeremiah narrowed his eyes, trying to catch his breath. "I think that was a tie. But because I'm a gentleman, I'll let you pretend you won."

"Pretend?" Belly crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "I totally won, and you know it."

"Uh-huh, sure," he said with a grin, rolling his eyes dramatically. "You can have this one, Isabel Conklin. But you're paying."

She groaned, pulling a couple of crumpled bills out of her pocket. "Fine, but I'm getting the biggest sundae they have. And you're not getting any."

He gasped in mock offense. "No fair! I was the one who spotted the truck first!"

Belly gave him a look, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Nice try, Jere, but we both know I spotted it first. You were too busy talking about that time you fell into a fountain."

Jeremiah burst out laughing, his whole face lighting up. "Hey, I was trying to impress some people, alright? Not my finest moment."

"You've had worse," Belly teased, stepping up to the truck's window to order. "One double fudge brownie sundae with extra whipped cream, please."

When the oversized sundae arrived, Jeremiah's eyes widened. "Oh, come on! You can't eat all of that by yourself."

"Watch me," Belly said with a grin, taking a big spoonful of ice cream.

Jeremiah leaned in, giving her his best puppy-dog eyes. "Just one bite?"

She shook her head, holding the sundae protectively. "You should've run faster."

But she couldn't keep up the act for long. With a dramatic sigh, she held the spoon out to him. "Fine. One bite."

He took the spoon, his eyes twinkling as he made a show of savoring the ice cream. "Mmm, maybe I should make you pay more often."

Belly laughed, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "Don't push your luck."

They sat down on the curb, passing the sundae back and forth, talking and laughing like they always did. Belly loved this about Jeremiah—the way he could make her forget about everything else and just enjoy the moment. No drama, no complications, just them, like it had always been.

"You know, you're gonna miss me when summer's over," Jeremiah said, his tone teasing, but there was something softer underneath it.

Belly smiled, leaning back on her hands as she looked out at the ocean. "I'll miss you, but I'm pretty sure you'll miss me more."

Jeremiah laughed, but he didn't argue. "Yeah, maybe I will."

And for a moment, everything felt easy, the way it was supposed to in summer.