Page 35 of The Law of Attraction
“I’m pretty sure the name is supposed to be funny.”
He glanced over at her and raised a mocking eyebrow. “Is it funny, or is it just gross?”
“Why can’t it be both?” she asked, popping another nugget in her mouth.
“It’s a food named after toilet humor.”
“It could also be referring to the beaver’s testicles,” she pointed out. “You know, his nuggets.”
Adam shook his head, but he looked more amused than disgusted. “Yes, I get it. But is that better?”
“I guess it depends if you think a genitals joke is better than a poop joke.”
“Either way, it seems inappropriate to associate it with food sold at what is otherwise a family-friendly shopping experience.”
“The inappropriateness is what makes it funny.”
“Does it though?” he asked, cutting a wry look her way.
“They’re delicious, so I don’t really care what they’re named. Plus, it’s fun to say Beaver Nuggets. Try it.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Come on.”
“Why would I do that?” He was trying not to smile, which just made her press him more.
“Because it’s fun. Say it.”
He pressed his lips together and shook his head again, like he couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Olivia couldn’t believe it either.
And then he just went and said it: “Beaver Nuggets.”
She burst out laughing, and the sound of it filled up the car, drowning out the radio and making the night seem a little less dark outside.
Adam looked over at her, grinning, and stuck out his hand. “Give me some more of those.”
“Told you they were addictive.” As she poured some out into his palm, she felt a little giddy, like her head was a helium balloon. She didn’t know if it was the sugar, the long day, or something else altogether.
“They’re okay,” he said as he shoved a handful into his mouth. He looked a little giddy himself.
“You love them.” She said it with a playful lilt, the way a little kid would tease someone about a crush just before singing about them sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
But even spoken in a childish tone, the word love felt too large for the confined space they were sharing. It expanded as soon as it hit the air, like a popcorn maker gone out of control, filling up the tiny car and making it feel even smaller.
When Adam looked at her again, the smile on his face seemed to catch, suspended for a moment in time. Their eyes met, and something in them set Olivia’s stomach spinning.
She turned to stare out the passenger side window even though it was too dark to see much of anything beyond the glass. Swallowing, she pressed a hand to her cheek. Her skin radiated heat like a sunburn, even though the air conditioner vent was blowing right on her.
She was enjoying this too much. Enjoying Adam too much. Everything felt different between them, and the sea change had happened so fast she didn’t know how to deal with it.
It had begun to rain a little, and the drops pattered a soft rhythm on the roof of the car. Adam flicked on the wipers, and they made a groaning sound as they scraped over the dusty windshield.
His hand bumped against Olivia’s leg. “More nuggets, please.”
She dug into the bag and passed him another handful. An old Wham song was playing on the radio, and he tapped his thumb on the steering wheel in time with the beat as he chewed.
“Adam?”
