“A dragon,” Kia said, skipping ahead to avoid a letter board advertising caramel corn.
“And why?”
Kia spread her arms, walking backward so Sullivan could take her in.
“Because obviously.”
She waited for Sullivan to tell herbecause obviouslywasn’t an answer, but Sullivan just smiled and said, “Fair enough.”
“And you?” Kia asked.
“A frog,” Sullivan said without hesitation.
“Baby, you’re so much sexier than a frog! But truth—” A memory Kia had totally forgotten popped back into her mind. “When I was a kid, I read that frog prince story, and I thought I’d rather have the frog than a boyfriend.”
“Look at you all outdoorsy, kissing frogs.”
“I wouldn’t actually kiss them! That’s how you ended up with a prince you didn’t want.”
“Did you always know you were lesbian?”
“Pretty much. When did you know you were bisexual… or pan?”
“Probably pan, but I grew up with the wordbi, so that always felt comfortable. And I guess I always knew, although there’ve been times, like in school, when I was more interested in men. Other times, women.”
“And right now?”
The crowd pushed Sullivan and Kia together. Sullivan took Kia’s hand.
“Are you fishing for a compliment, Jackson?”
“What compliment am I fishing for?”
“That there’s no way I could be married to you and notice anyone else.”
Had she been fishing for that sentiment? It would hurt if Sullivan was surreptitiously checking out the people they passed. Kiadidn’t say anything.
“Because it’s true.” Sullivan squeezed her hand. “I’m not looking at anyone else.”
All the lights at the fair brightened, as if someone had turned on an extra generator.
“Well, I’ve been desperately in love with you since I was twenty, which totally ruined my dating life, by the way!” Kia spoke the words with maximum drama so Sullivan would think she was kidding.
“Right,” Sullivan drawled.
Kia had better cover up the truth with a quip.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Chef,” Kia added. “My dating life isn’t hard to ruin.”
They walked on, commenting on the merchandise for sale and the families enjoying the fair. Kia wished she didn’t have to stop them every few minutes to take pictures, but the more she took now, the less she had to subject Sullivan to her influencer lifestyle later on.
“So you hire local cooks?” Sullivan asked as they stopped to photograph themselves in front of a donkey in a stall decorated with prize ribbons.
“It’s great publicity for them,” Kia said. “I highlight their restaurants, and I pay them, of course. If there’s a culinary arts student dreaming of having their own food truck, it’s a line for their résumé. Cooking with the amazing Kia Gourmazing.”
“You help people,” Sullivan said.
“You expected me to be a ruthless capitalist?”
