Hailey’s POV
The cold bites into my teeth as I take another spoonful, but I don’t slow down. The sweetness helps. Or maybe I just want something to focus on that isn’t the knot sitting in my chest. Roy is halfway through his cone, relaxed now, shoulders loose, one ankle hooked around the leg of the chair.
I glance at the counter through the window again.
“Wait,” I say suddenly, standing up.
Roy looks up, confused. “What—did you drop something?”
“No.” I hesitate, then clear my throat. “I want to get some extra.”
“For later?” he asks.
“For Ryan.”
The name lands between us. Roy doesn’t stiffen, but I feel the subtle shift. He leans back, studies my face like he’s reading between lines I haven’t spoken yet.
“He still deserves something,” I add quickly. “Even if he’s being… difficult.”
