She wore white pants that flared out slightly at her ankles. Up top she wore a sky-blue blouse with the top button left undone. “Hi there, I’m Zoe. You tagged me online to say that I’d won the prize from the business card draw.”

  “See!” Taylor said, elbowing Chaos in the ribs. “I told you she would come. Hi!” She greeted the brunette with a grin. “Could I see some ID to verify it’s you?”

  “I remember her—”

  “I remember him—”

  Ever and Zoe had said in unison; Taylor’s eyes lit up wickedly.

  “Here,” Zoe said, rummaging around in her handbag, “this would have been the card I dropped off on the day.” She pulled out a matching business card that showed her name and phone number.

  “Perfect,” Taylor said, nodding. “Ever, why don’t you go ahead and give Zoe her prize?” She took a step back, pressing her hands into the wall behind her.

  “Yes, of course. Hi Zoe,” he greeted. He tried to smile, but it felt like the early days of when he first appeared on earth. Why wasn’t his mouth cooperating? “What can I get for you?”

  “Hmm, so many flavors, so little time. I get two, don’t I?”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Yes.”

  “What do you recommend?”

  “Do you have any allergies?”

  There was a flash of something that scampered around Zoe’s feet. Ever peered over the ice cream display - nothing was there.

  “Sorry…” Ever gave his head a slight shake. “Anything you can’t eat?”

  “Mm-mm,” she replied, shaking her head. “I tried the chocolate at the Mid-Summer Nights. That was a bit sweet. So maybe something less sweet but still creamy?”

  “OK, how about pistachio? Complex and a touch of sweetness.”

  Death abruptly entered his mind. Say, ‘just like you’.

  “Just like you. Oh wait…” his cheeks started burning. What in the Underworld was Death thinking giving him that instruction?

  Zoe raised an eyebrow as Taylor for the second time in the morning exploded in a fit of giggles. Death guffawed in Ever’s mind, slapping his hand so hard on his knee he thought he heard some finger bones fall to the floor.

  “...Thanks I guess, I’ll take that in a cup please,” Zoe said, then floating to the fruit flavors, “and how about the strawberry sorbet? That little old lady seemed to like it.”

  Ever had forgotten about Gaia. Had it already been a week since he’d met the primordial spirit of nature?

  “Yes, perfect.” He recomposed himself, added a scoop of the strawberry to the cup and handed it over to her. “Enjoy!” He smiled again, this time more successfully. “Sorry.”

  She smiled back at Ever. “Don’t be.” She left, the door dinging after her.

  “Ever… What. The. Hell!” She exclaimed, punctuating each word by slapping his arm with both hands.

  “Sorry,” he said again. “That was inappropriate.”

  “It sure was inappropriate—inappropriately amazing!”

  “I - what?”

  “Who are you and what have you done with Ever? The Ever I know doesn’t crack jokes and he definitely doesn’t flirt.”

  Even Chaos was nodding appreciatively behind Taylor, appreciating the moment.

  He watched Zoe cross the road and disappear out of sight. “I guess I’m learning a few new things.”