Page 115 of Lucky In Love

“Would you like to know the game, ma’am? The power won’t be on for another hour or so, and we’re locked in until then, what’s it going to be?”

“Fine, what’s the game?”

“Never have I ever.” His smile half smile does that thing to me, again, and I can’t stand it.

“I’ll go first.” Julian says still smirking.

“No wait, what will we do if we, “ever”. I use air quotes. “We don’t have alcohol. So what’s the purpose?” I shrug. Julian pulls his man bag from the chair, revealing a bottle of bourbon.

“I was going to open it this weekend for a special occasion that I have planned but,” he pauses as he stares at the bottle. There’s something there, not sadness but not far from it.

“You okay Furey?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m good.”

“You still want to go first?”

“Uh yeah, I have to make this a good one.”

“Wow, straight to the point?”

“Yes ma’am,” he says with a fake smile. I know it’s cap, because whatever significance that bottle of bourbon has it’s affected Julian, so much so, there are beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“What’s it going to be Furey?” I edge him on.

“Never have I ever,” he pauses and opens the bourbon bottle and hands it to me. I scoff.

“Been sexually attracted to a colleague.”

I slowly take the bottle and take a drink from it. The hot liquid fills my chest and awakens my libido. I shouldn’t play this game with Julian, but what do I have to lose? Julian takes the bottle and takes a drink from it. Our eyes connect, both not looking away.

“Your turn,” Julian prompts me to ask a question. I’m having second thoughts about this now that I’ve been put on the spot. “I don’t think this is how it’s played,” his voice is thick and convicting. We haven’t broken eye contact yet.

“Never have I ever,”

“Make it good McCabe, Julian interrupts.

I don’t want to get drunk off of bourbon, so he’s right I have to make it good.

“Never have I ever dated on the job.” Julian takes a drink from the bottle and passes it to me. I push it back towards him as I shake my head.

“Wow, really you’ve never dated anyone you worked with?”

“No, and I don’t plan on it,” that statement earned another swig from Julian. “It’s messy and complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” he at me as if he’s searching for something in my eyes. Lightning flashes through the windows, and soon after thunder breaks our silence.

“Have you checked your phone for service?”

“No, I figured just to wait the storm out. Either the police will let us out or the staff will in the morning.”

“I have no desire to sleep here tonight.”

“What are your desires?”

“Julian, I’m not playing this game with you.”

“I’m making conversation, Enya.”

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