Chapter 2 (Steve's POV)

"Alrighty, that's one scoop of chocolate. A $1.25." I say, I hand the cone to a costumer. 

She hands me a 5 dollar bill.

"Purdue!" I say trying to make small talk while I get the girl's change. 

"Yep. I'm excited." The customer replies.  Purdue is a collage if you didn't catch on.

"Yeah, you know. I considered it. Purdue, but they I was like. You know what? I think I need some real-life experience, you know. Beforee I hit college, see what it feels like. See what is is like to.. I dont know. See what it's like to earn a working mans wage." 

"Yeah, totally." The girl says, licking her ice cream probably not believing anything I'm saying.

"Have a nice day." I say

The girl thanks me and giggle as she walk out of the shop.

I turned around to Robin, who was at the window. Tatum does begin her shift yet but she'll be at Scoops soon.

"Why do you never tell customers the truth about why you're actually working here?" Robin asks.

"Oh, you mean I couldn't get into Tech, and my douchbag dad is trying to teach me a lesson, I make 3 bucks an hour, and I have no future? That truth?" I say.

"Hey 10 o'clock!" Robin says, pointing at the entrance of the store.

I turned around, and Tatum was walking into the shop, waving at  us with a big smile.

"Ahoy!" I shout. 

Tatum laughs and walks behind the counter, giving me a kiss. 

"Don't worry, it's fading." Tatum says, pointing at my neck.

I fake laugh, "Yeah, fading my ass. Every single person I come across asks me how I got it, so thanks alot. You know I was thinking aboht giving you a mstching spot right here." I point at a spot on her neck and leave a small kiss right there. She smiles and places a hand on the front counter to hold herself up slightly.

"Ew. Can you guys like not? You already have like 6 kids." Robin says.

Tatum rolls her eyes as I pull her in closer to me by her waist.

"We don't have 6 kids." I say.

"Then who the hell are the kids that walk through the back door to go the movies?" 

Robin asks.

"Whatever. You're just annoyed you don't have a life." I say. I put my hands in the back pockets of Tatum's shorts and rest my head on hers

"Sure, annoyed.. Real mature Popeye." Robin calls.

"Ha. Popeye! That's kinda funny. Popeye!" Tatum shouts.

"See what you did, Robin?" I ask.

Robin just shrugs and Tatum smiles at me. Robin closes the window in disgust and continues to eat the small bowl of ice cream she had put together herself for her break.

I laugh and grab Tatum by the waist, "Baby stop!" I whisper smiling into a kiss.

"Popeye!" She whispers.

My hands remain in her back pockets as I push her against the front counter, my lips glued to her.

'DING' 'DING' the bell goes off and gets louder, I keep my lips attached to Tatum but my eyes wander over to the bell.

Robin was on her break, so she had no care in the world to let us know that the customer had been waiting there for probably awhile and they had to sit their watching us make-out.

I jump up, 

"I'm sorry. Uh. What can I get you?" I ask, my face turning red. 

There was a little girl and a little boy with their mom, and they looked stunned. 

"Shit, I can give you a discount.." I suggest with embarrassment.

The mom just stands there and stares,

"Uh. Can I help you?" I ask politely.

The mom finally nods and tells the kids to get the flavor they want. 

I give them the ice cream completely for free because I felt bad. They had literally just seen like a 5-minute make-out session, and although that's great for me, but was probably traumatic for those kids.

"Bye." I said as the small family walked away.

"Next time we will go the the ice cream parlor down town, ok?" The mom whispered to the kids. 

"Scaring away customers again? I see." Robin says smuggly. 

"No, the mom was just.. uh.. jealous.." Tatum says.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Jealous of what?" Robin says.

"This." Tatum pulled me back into a kiss to annoy Robin, and it seemed to be working.  Grabbing me by my shirt collar and my hands on the small of her back.

"Yeah, ok. You got me. Please stop." Robin says.

"Good going, guys. You are 0 for 6. Which means thats 6 people, just from this week." She holds up a familiar white board that belongs in the back but insists on keeping track of how many Costumers we 'scare' away. There was currently 5 lines but she just added a 6th.

"You know what.." Robin adds a 7th line.

"What is that for?" Tatum asks. 

Robin smiles and points towards the entrance of Scoops. Tatum and I turned to see another family with kids walk into the shop. I sigh as I hang my head low.

                                                                                           ●○●○●

The rest of the day was pretty slow, we didn't get a lot of people, which was kinda nice.

"It's 10. That's a wrap." Tatum says. 

"Finally!" Robin exclaims.

"Bye, guys! See you tomorrow!" Robin runs to the exit of the mall, dashing as one

"Great. She left us here to clean up." I say.

"It's ok." Tatum says.

I grab a rag off the counter and start to wipe off the tables and counters around the store. 

"I can stay over today." Tatum said.

I jumped with excitement, "Cool! 

I tried to keep my cool, but I was really excited, for once I didn't have the house alone. I hate being alone since my parents are always gone. It really sucks. 

After we finished cleaning up, we walked out to my car and drove over to my house.

"Home sweet home!" I shout. I set my keys on the counter and over to the living room.

I plop down on the couch, and Tatum lays on top of me. I wrap my arms around Tatum, her head resting on my chest. We lay there on the couch just soaking up each other's company.  This summer Tatum and I have surprisingly had a lot of alone time this summer, but that is mainly because Dustin is gone at science camp.

"What you wanna do baby?" Tatum asks me. 

"I wanna get out of this stupid uniform." I say.

"I think you look cute in it. My sailor man, my Popeye!"

I sit up  and face Tatum, "Ok, here we go again!" 

"Popeye.." She whispers. 

I try not to smile while I glare at her, but she smiles brightly. I finally exhale and smile, breaking the silence we both laugh at ourselves. 

I pick her up from the couch carrying her by the waist under my arm and run up the stairs.

"Steve! Steve Harrington! I am gonna hit my head! Put me down!" She screams.

I laugh as I ignore her and open my bedroom door throwing her on my bed. She stands up, steading herself on the squishy material of the mattress. 

I opened my arms and grabbed her again, her legs wrapping around my waist and arms around my neck I fell onto my bed. I smiled at placed a few lingering kisses on her face.

"I love you." 

"Sure.. and exactly how much?"

I chuckled at the on going reference between us. 

"To the moon and back, Tay."

A/n: hi! Tysm for 250+ reads! This chapter was 1291 words. Please comment because I would love to hear your feed back! I am hoping to finish book 2 before February 2024. 

Thanks so much<3