Bedmates Soulmates

Austyn was sceptical. 'Is that so?

'Of course!'

It was Austyn's turn to be struck dumb.

That was it?

Ice cream?

He didn't want her to eat ice cream and that was enough of a reason to get mad?

He said no because it wasn't good for her.

She had just come in from the sun.

Wouldn't the cold dessert be a shock to her system?

What if she had an upset stomach or a sugar crash?

Wasn't that too high a price to pay for just a moment of pleasure on the lips?

'It's for her own good, Austyn said simply.

The owner did what he had not done in years; he rolled his eyes.

'Young man, nine out of ten women have a sweet tooth. Sugar makes them happy, doubly so if it's bought by their men. Look around you. Almost every couple have an ice cream cone in their hands." Austyn scanned the shop, both inside and out.

The owner was right.

He looked at Kira, who was resting her head on her arms

Was she really mad because of

of ice cream?

"What do you think, young man? The owner swept an arm over the display case. 'Why don't you get your wife something she likes? Chocolate? Banana peanut butter?"

Austyn ignored him and went straight to Kira

The owner shook his head.

'Such a waste of my time,' he muttered.

Austyn sat down opposite Kira.

Her eyes were lowered.

'Are you mad at me because I didn't buy you ice cream?" he asked.

She wasn't.

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Terms of Endearment

Okay, she was a little mad at him because of the ice cream, but that wasn't the main reason.

The main reason was because of what the ice cream represented.

He said they were on a date, so she wanted them to act like any other couple on a date.

The girl called the shots.

The guy snapped to it.

The girl had the privilege of being spoiled for the duration of the date.

But Austyn didn't play his part.

Instead of acting like a boyfriend or a husband, he acted like a parent, an overbearing, dictatorial parent.

It ruined the mood.

if you won't tell me

Austyn said in a gentler voice, 'I'll never know why you're upset if you

Kira tilted her chin towards the young couple at the next table. 'Are we on a date now?"

'Sure.'

"Then why can't you act like the other guys on a date?"

Austyn looked over.

The couple looked to be about the same age as Kira.

The boy had gotten the half-pint of strawberry ice cream.

The two of them were now feeding each other with a spoon.

'You want me to feed you ice cream? Austyn asked.

'No' Kira wanted to bang her head against the table.

Why was he being so dense?

'Then what do you want?"

'I just want you to be...nicer to me."

'Like?"

Kira opened her mouth but no sound came out.

As if right on cue, the young couple at the next table gave a demonstration.

The girl said, "Honey, I can't finish the ice cream."

The boy said, 'It's fine, babe, leave it to me."

"But I don't want you to get a stomachache.'

'I won't. Even if I do, it's worth it. For you."

'Oh, honey, you're so sweet."

"Not as sweet as you

'Come here!

Then - Mwah.

Austyn heard the entire exchange.

He stared at Kira, incredulous. "You want me to do that to you?"

Kira thought the couple were a little too mushy-gushy for her taste as well, but Austyn had never used any of those terms of endearment on her before. He'd never called her 'honey' or 'babe."

So Kira nodded

Yes!!

She would like to hear him use those terms, even just for onc

Austyn opened his mouth but couldn't bring himself to utter the word 'babe.'

He was about to say no, but then he saw the expectant look on her face.

Kira was watching him eagerly, her eyes shining

Austyn patted her head. "Don't you think it's a little too...corny?!

He refrained from using the word "disgusting, though that was what he felt.

'A little.'

"Then why do you still want to hear it?

'No reason. I just want to. Are you going to do it or not?!

Her lips were puckered up into a pout.

Austyn decided to go for the lesser of two evils. 'Either I call you by one of those mushy names, or I buy you ice cream. Choose

Kira salivated at the thought of ice cream.

Her sweet tooth was calling out to her.

'You won't agree to option one anyway, right?

Austyn nodded.

So it wasn't really much of a choice.

'I choose option two.' Then she added, 'I want two cones!

'No.'

Kira stuck out her lower lip. 'Either I get two ice cream cones, or I get to hear you call me babe'

Austyn looked askance at her.

Two minutes later, the owner of the ice cream parlour waved goodbye to the young girl and the man who looked like her uncle but was actually her husband, at least he claimed to be 'Come again next time!!

Kira had one cone in each hand and a bright smile on her face. "Thank you for the free ice cream!!

The owner had given them a third cone for free.

It was currently held in Austyn's hand.

Kira licked the vanilla cone first, then the butterscotch, and felt the immensely satisfying sugar rush.

Her taste buds were pampered, and she was placated.

She eyed the green matcha in Austyn's hand.

He was holding the cone like a microphone.

"Why don't you give it a try?"

Austyn didn't have a sweet tooth and stayed away from ultra-processed foods, including ice cream.

'You don't like it?' Kira's eyes lit up. "Then you can give it to me. Hold it for me for a while. Let me finish these two first, then I'l-

Austyn didn't give her the chance.

He held up an ice cream cone and bit off a chunk.

His nose scrunched up at the syrupy taste.

The tip of his tongue was numb.

'I don't know why you like this stuff so much."

If you d

don't like it, then give it to me! K

Kira wanted to try the mocha flavour.

"Letting you have two is already too much. You're not getting the third."

Kira pulled a face at him.

Austyn took two more bites.

Kira shook her head as she watched him.

Didn't he know an ice cream cone was supposed to be licked, like a popsicle, not chewed, like a carrot?

He really took the fun out of it.

Austyn couldn't stomach any more of the sickly-sweet emulsion of water, ice, milk fat, and sugar.

He lossed the rest of it into a dustbin

"Aw, what

it a waste! You could have given it to me.' Kira watched the cone disappear into the open maw of the dustbin Austyn wiped his hands on a tissue.

He couldn't understand why Kira like it so much.

Kira sped up her licking fearful Austyn was poing to make her throw away her cones as well.

'Why don't you like ice cream? It's so yummy'

Austyn was the first person she knew who had such a strong dislike for the delightful dessert.

'Not everyone's addicted to junk food like you."

'Ice cream is not junk food! Kira protested. It was comfort food, and it was delicious!

Teach Me How To Go On Dates

'Finish it quickly," he said. "It's starting to melt."

Kira didn't need to be prompted

She savoured the crunchy water made of wheat and tapioca flour and smacked her lips.

Austyn grabbed her hand and wiped her sticky fingers with a tissue. 'Are you a three-year-old? You got ice cream everywhere."

Kira put out both hands and let him clean them. "There are two cones, and I only have one mouth."

He sighed and went on wiping her hands.

Kira was a little embarrassed to be treated like a child.

Austyn's face was downcast and looked serious, like he was engaged in some important task

Her fingertips, cold from the ice cream, were warmed up by his action.

So was her heart.

Austyn was being so nice to her, it made her feel guilty about the tantrum she threw earlier.

"Done."Austyn threw the tissue away.

He looked up and saw Kira's red face.

"What's wrong?

"What? Nothing. Nothing's wrong."

"Then why is your face so flushed?' Austyn touched her forehead. "Are you all, right?"

He shouldn't have given in and let her eat both cones

She must be getting a brain freeze.

Kira shook her head. "I'm fine, really. Let's go!'

If he moved any closer, he was going to hear her thumping heart.

Π

Austyn furrowed his brows

Why was she acting weird again?

She had been cheerful a minute ago

Now she looked like she couldn't wait to get away from him.

Did he do something to upset her?

Because he didn't call her 'babe' or those silly nicknames?

Austyn pursed his lips and walked alongside Kira.

She was fanning herself with her hands and pretending to be busy window shopping

She glanced left and right, up and down, anywhere but at him.

She wasn't talking and wasn't looking at him.

Wanston

Austyn halted.

"What are you doing? Kira felt his hand on her arm.

"I have something to tell you."

"Oh, okay."

He sounded serious

Austyn was a head and a half tall

taller than her.

They were standing so close, he had to lower his head to look her in the eye.

He said slowly, 'Sorry, I don't know what the protocol is on a proper date. I don't know what I'm supposed to do or say I don

know

anything wrong to upset you, you have to tell me, or 1

How I'm supposed to act. It's the first time I'm having a date at a mall. If I did a

wouldn't know."

Kira stared at him, eyes wide open.

She could see her reflection in his eyes.

"I don't know how to go on dates,' he said, his voice earnest. Can you teach me?!

His words were like Cupid's arrow.

They struck her right in her heart and made it melt.

The butterscotch ice cream was no longer the sweetest thing she'd experienced today.

Kira closed the distance between them with one stride and threw her arms around Austyn,

"Okay!"

She didn't know much about dating, either, but they could learn together.

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Austyn wanted to pull back.

He wasn't used to such public displays of affection.

The mall was filled with people.

Kira held onto him tighter and refused to let him back away.

Her words came out muffled. "This is lesson one in dating. You can't turn down a kiss!'

Austyn relented.

He returned the hug and let her kiss him.

Kira was panting when their lips parted.

She bit his chin lightly. "Liar."

"Him?"

'You said you don't know how to go on dates. Liar."

It was a lie she believed willingly.

Maybe because the truth would have been a hard pill to swallow.

Austyn pulled back to look her in the eye. "You don't believe me?' 'I don't.'

'Why?'

'Because it's impossible. You went out with Kayleigh and-"

'I told you before,' Austyn put both hands on her shoulders. 'And I'll tell you again. There's nothing between me and Kayleigh. I've never touched her, not once. I treat her as a younger sister, and that's all she is to me. Nothing more."

Kira stared at him for a few seconds.

Then she nodded.

'Okay, I'll buy that But what about Deborah? You were engaged to her. You two a her, right?

'If I say no, will you believe me?

No.

The idea sounded outlandish to her.

How could a couple not go on dates?

What did they do then?

Stay at home and stare at each other?

almost got married. You must have gone on dates with

Austy was about to say something when he suddenly looked up.