Page 55 of Beautifully Complicated

“Really?” I wrinkle my nose. “I figured you’d say something Irish like stew.”

“Stew was a staple. Hamburgers were for special occasions,” he rationalizes.

“Makes sense.”

“What about you? What’s your favorite?”

He passes the bottle back to me and I take a sip. “Steak.”

“Oh, you’re the expensive date guy?” He smiles coyly.

“I’d never turn down a good burger, but like you said, you like the things that were for special occasions. For us that was steak. Next question. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?”

“Vanilla.”

“Same.” I use the word we’ve barely spoken since that first night, which does not go unnoticed if the flare of heat in Kier’s eyes is any indication. “Favorite place you’ve traveled?”

“Switzerland.”

I wrinkle my nose again. “The guy who doesn’t love the mountains went to the Alps?”

“Not the Alps. CERN. I saw the Hadron Collider.”

“Okay, favorite non-work-related travel.” I pass him the bottle.

“Same answer. And I never said I don’t like the mountains; I don’t like the cold. Mountains are incredible. What about you?” Kier takes another sip of whiskey.

“Belize. But only the jungle part. They have these ancient caves that words just can’t describe.”

“Belize?” Kier’s head tilts to the side. “I’ve never heard of anyone going to Belize before.”

“It’s a Denver thing, I think, since it's a direct four-hour flight to the second largest reef in the world.”

“Huh,” Kier marvels. “Where’s someplace you’d like to go?”

“Japan.”

“Really? How come?”

“They’re doing some really interesting things with robotics. They have great snowboarding. There’s almost zero crime, midday naps are encouraged, you can get square watermelons, and they have a penis festival.”

Kier coughs up the whiskey he’d been trying to swallow. “A what?”

“It’s technically a celebration of fertility, but it’s all about the penis. There are penis hats, penis shaped candy, people literally worship the penis.”

“Do they… Let them out?” Kier almost whispers that last part.

“I don’t think so, but I wouldn’t object to a little eye candy. Would you?”

“I’m good with just yours.” He sputters and turns tomato red as soon as he realizes what he said, nervously glancing my way.

“You haven’t seen it in months.” I shift to relieve the sudden and intense pressure behind my zipper, the idea of showing one another the desire we feel after such prolonged distance all-consuming.

“Leanbh,” he groans. “Move on to another topic.”

“I like this one.” I stand my ground, knowing it’s ill-advised but feeling too touch-starved and horny to care. Besides, campus is empty, the building is deserted…why shouldn’t we allow ourselves this one moment of happiness during what’s supposed to be the happiest time of year?

“You’re playing a dangerous game here,” Kier warns.

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