Elodie’s POV
The compliment lands somewhere soft and unguarded in my chest, and I have to look away for a moment, busying myself with the small stack of notes still clutched in my hand.
'She likes you,' I say finally, quietly. 'A lot, actually.'
'The feeling's entirely mutual,' he says, something raw and honest in his voice that catches me off guard.
We stand there another long moment, something unspoken and complicated passing between us, until the woman behind the counter clears her throat gently, drawing our attention back to the practical matter of six confused flavour choices and an entire beach full of children waiting on ice cream.
'Right,' I say, forcing myself back into something resembling composure. 'Better get this sorted before Lena sends a search party.'
'Wouldn't want
