Outside, she showed her viewers the burlesque troupe’s snake. The snake costume engineer talked about using recycled plastic to make the snake’s frame, and he invited Sullivan and her camera into the head of the snake. Holding the snake’s head and live streaming at the same time was not easy, and eventually Kia popped into the tiny space in the snake’s papier-mâché head andtook over filming.
Sullivan felt good when she finally turned off the live stream and pocketed her phone. There’d be trolls, and there’d be haters, but everyone who liked her live stream was one tiny bit closer to understanding one tiny, precious part of the natural world. And they got to see diverse communities coming together for a common cause and, yes, to drink beer and watch burlesque performers in a giant snake costume… but in the world with all its strife and divisions, that was a win too.
The party was still going on when Kia and Sullivan snuck out of the bar.
Back at the house, Kia and Sullivan mounted the stairs without discussion. Once in Sullivan’s bedroom, Sullivan kissed Kia tenderly, running her fingers through Kia’s hair for the first time. Georgie had felt off-limits. The way Kia sighed and leaned into her touch said Georgie wasn’t anymore.
“I can’t believe it worked out,” Sullivan said, unbuttoning the top button of Kia’s shirt.
“We always win,” Kia said.
She fumbled with the button on Sullivan’s pants until Sullivan had to help her.
“I’m still worried that I’m not good at this,” Kia said, toying with the waistband of Sullivan’s pants. “You said you’ve done everything twice. What if I’m boring?”
“You could never be boring.” Sullivan tipped Kia’s chin up and cupped her face. “And yeah, I’ve tried a lot of things twice. Like raw abalone. It’s okay but twice is enough.”
Kia laughed. Sullivan kissed her forehead.
“What I want is to be with you. I want to do all the fun things way more than twice. I want to learn what you like and what welike as a couple. I don’t need or want anything more than that.”
“So you’re not going to lick abalone off me?”
“If you want me to lick abalone off you, I will lick abalone all up and down your beautiful body.”
“You could just kiss me instead.” Kia beamed.
Soon they were naked, their movements both urgent and tender as they burned off the adrenaline of the day and found a place to put all their joy.
Sullivan was just waking up when Kia brought coffee and scones to bed, strutting in naked with two mugs in one hand and a plate in the other. A marshmallow floated on top of both cups.
“I won’t even complain about this high-fructose pillow floating on my coffee, Jackson.”
“You better not. You know it’s good.” Kia set her mug on the bedside table, handed Sullivan the plate, and snuggled back under the covers.
“Are the scones the best you’ve ever had?” Kia asked, nudging Sullivan’s bare calf with her own.
“They’re the best. I admit it. And you are the best wife.”
“I thought I was kind of a wrecking ball,” Kia said, her eyebrows furrowing ruefully.
“I think life is a wrecking ball sometimes. I want to be with someone who’s by my side throughout it and someone who tries to make things better when, maybe, they had something to do with the wrecking ball.”
“Are you saying you like me?” Kia nudged Sullivan’s foot with hers. “After everything.”
“Of course I like you, Jackson. I’ve always liked you.”
“Not enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“Enough to throw yourself at my feet and say,Kia, I want you more than anyone else in the world.”
She was so cute, and Sullivan did want her more than she’d ever wanted anyone, more than she could imagine ever wanting someone else.
“Do I have to get out of bed to throw myself at your feet, or can I just do it here sitting up?”
“Where is the romance, Chef?” Kia said with mock indignation and behind that a brittleness that said she was afraid this conversation wasn’t going to go the way she obviously wanted it to.
