Frosting and Fur(in-Progress)

Chapter IX: Caramel

D'Angelo put the last grocery bag in the trunk and slammed the door closed. He stared off at the ShopRite, but didn't really see the supermarket. What he saw was the cop with the punisher tattoo, what he felt was the man's glock pressed against his hip. There'd been a crowd, but the officer didn't care about manhandling Angelo on camera. He had a message from Tabitha's boss, El Jefe...

Fuck.

When D'Angelo started taking their money, he'd been desperate and figured they'd lose interest. He should have known better. Green Wolf had warned him, but the money was too much to pass up. D'Angelo's mother was on the verge of losing her home and desperation made him reckless. El Jefe was done waiting for results and his dirty cops would only be the beginning.

Looking through the rear window, D'Angelo noticed Nyssa watching him. They'd shopped in near silence, saying the bare minimum. It had been like he wasn't even there. Get it together. He'd offered to give her a raincheck, but she refused. She wanted to spend the evening with him. The least he could do was show her a good time.

Actions have consequences, Angelo. Don't let this storm ruin another night.

Silencing the nagging what ifs, he went over to the passenger side door and knocked. Nyssa made a concerned face and opened the door. He knelt, so they were relatively eye to eye. She was quite tall.

"If you keep asking whether I still want to hang out tonight, I'm gonna get the hint and go home." Nyssa's face was neutral as if his response wouldn't bother her either way.

"Actually, I wanted to ask if you wanted to get some ice cream?"

"Ice cream," her eyes lit up, interest piqued.

"Yeah, ice cream. I'm still on edge after that cop threw me against the trunk and a good ice cream cone would go pretty far in bringing me back down." D'Angelo smirked. "I have a date tonight and I don't want some random asshole to ruin it."

She studied his face for a long heartbeat.

"I could definitely go for two scoops of Cookies & Cream."

"Cookies & Cream, coming right up. That's my favorite too," he said with a wink.

He grinned, closed the door, and went around to the driver's side. He climbed in and checked his mirrors. In the rear view he noticed a familiar Hispanic beauty whose boss had just sent him a very clear threat. He spun around and looked through the rear window, but she was gone... or she'd never been there in the first place. Shaking his head, D'Angelo turned the key in the ignition. Nyssa touched his arm, her hand perpetually warm to the touch.

"Everything's going to be okay."

Looking into her eyes, he believed her.

"Ice cream, then the next stage of our evening."

"What is the next step of our evening? You took me grocery shopping, a first as far as dates go. Now what, laundry?"

"You got jokes." D'Angelo tried not to look at the bloody napkin on the dashboard. The cop had busted his lip.

"I'm just guessing."

"Isn't it obvious? I'm cooking you dinner tonight."

Nyssa's smile warmed his heart.

"Good thing I brought antacids."

D'Angelo burst into a fit of laughter while he drove out of the ShopRite parking lot. They took Linden Boulevard to the Conduit and Conduit Boulevard to Atlantic Avenue. When they reached Baskin Robbins, he left Nyssa in the car while he ran inside. Two scoops of Cookies & Cream each. They enjoyed their treats while D'Angelo drove them back to his place.