“Favorite food?”
“Pizza.” She points a finger at me. “You knew that already, too.”
“There’s too much pressure doing a lightning round,” I say at the same time she sputters, “Favorite sexual position?” She pulls a whoops face as she slaps her hand across her mouth.
“The Standing Wheelbarrow,” I answer with a grin. “I can’t believe you asked that question. You have such a dirty mind.”
“That was an accidental question,” she protests, lowering her hand to her lap. “And I’ve never heard of the position. I think you’re making it up. ”
“It’s not made up. And I’ll prove it to you one day.” I smirk when she fakes a scowl. “What’s your favorite position?”
She fidgets with a hem of her shorts. “I don’t know… um, doggie style.”
“Have you ever even done that position before?” I ask with an impish grin.
She shoves my shoulder, causing a slight swerve of the steering wheel. “Oh, shut up. You know I’m limited on my knowledge, but that doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.”
“Hey, easy, you’re going to make me crash.” I steady the wheel as I laugh. “So, have you?”
“It’s not your turn to ask a question,” she says, grinning. “Favorite car?”
“A 1969 GTO Judge,” I answer easily. “Now, have you ever done doggie style before?”
She huffs an irritated breath. “You’re relentless.”
“Yeah, so. Answer the question.”
She shakes her head. “No, I haven’t, okay.”
“Don’t worry, we can try that position one day, too.” I wink at her, trying to lighten the mood.
She rolls her eyes, but I notice she squeezes her legs together like she’s totally getting turned on. “Favorite dessert?”
“You covered in chocolate.”
She massages her temples with her fingers. “This game is already getting out of hand.”
“You’re the one who suggested doing a lightning round. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to and saying the first thing that pops into my head. I can’t help it if all of my thoughts are dirty.” I pause, giving her a chance to say something. When she doesn’t, I continue with my next question. “Favorite song?”
She props her feet up on the dash. “That question has, like, a hundred answers.”
I drum my fingers on top of the wheel to the beat of the song flowing from the radio. “Okay, favorite instrument, then?”
“Um, I don’t know. I can’t play anything but I really like the sound of the violin.” She briefly considers her next question. “Why do you always wear that ring?”
“That’s a pretty random question.”
“I’m just wondering why you wear it a lot. It looks kind of… feminine.” She bites her lip, looking guilty. “Sorry, that probably sounded rude.”
“No, it’s fine.” I graze my thumbnail across a diamond on the band. “It’s the only present my mother’s ever given me. She said it was my grandfather’s who I’ve never met, but I’m not quite sure how true that story is. If it is his, though, then he had pretty girly taste.” I can tell she feels sorry for me. Not wanting a pity party, I ask my next question. “Favorite eye color?”
“That’s really your next question?”
“It’s a very important question.”
“Okay, green.” She rolls her tongue in her mouth to keep from laughing.
“Ouch, that one hurt.” I mock being offended.
“All right, I was lying. It’s actually hazel.”
“Go figure. My eyes are hazel.”
“ Really ?” Her jaw falls open, and she pretends to be shocked. “I’ve never noticed.”
“Ouch again.” I press my hand to my chest, pretending to be deeply wounded.
She laughs, throwing her head back, and it’s one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
“Favorite trip?” she asks after her laughter silences.
“This one.”
“This can’t be your—”
I
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Martin A. Lee, Bruce Shlain