So, if you’re going to commit to hating them, we might be okay.”Īaron wiped pretend sweat away from his forehead and laughed.

“The Voldemort of the vegetable drawer?” Aaron interrupted. “Well, if you’re willing to train yourself away from the vegetable that shall not be named-”

Feigned earnestness, though, because he really didn’t like bell peppers. “What if I love puppies, but also like bell peppers? Does that make me a no? I could learn to hate bell peppers for you.” Aaron opened his eyes with what he hoped was earnestness. Hate puppies and like bell peppers? Like, if I hate both, or like both, I’m okay?” People who hate puppies and like bell peppers are also on the no list.” I mean, no one ever has a good lair it’s always an evil one. “Any kind of lair is probably questionable. “It takes more than a dirty mind to scare me off someone I like.” “With you, I find myself wanting to say different things, in the hopes I won’t scare you off.” ” He trailed off again, taking a deep breath and committing to what his mind was trying to get his mouth to admit. “I hope you’re not afraid to use it,” Simon countered, making it clear that the idea of Aaron’s dirty mind was not a problem in the slightest. Sex stories.” He tapped the front of his forehead. “Sex-adjacent?” Simon tilted his head with the question, clearly trying to figure out what he was talking about. “You might have noticed that, ahh, I have a tendency to, umm, you know, sort of, redirect conversations.” “Yeah, that’s probably something you should know about me,” Aaron admitted, grimacing a little. “What, like the Joker?” Aaron asked, thinking of the gruesome, stretched smile of Batman’s foe. “In a good way, right? Not in a creepy way?” Simon asked with mock fear on his face, and joined Aaron when he began laughing. Which was surprising, considering that he was usually all about the overshare. “I was thinking about your smile,” he offered his date, wanting to give the man the truth but maybe not the whole truth. No problem.” He shrugged, feeling like his arms were no longer under his control.

“Was it because I said I was glad you were nervous? I only said that because I am too, and didn’t want to be all nervy alone.” The contact was literally electric, a shock jolting the visual clear, and Aaron nodded fervently. “Are you okay?” Simon asked, reaching over the table and resting a hand on Aaron’s.

For Today by B. Cranford