What Happens on the Cruise

65. Fishin' in the Dark

"Hi, honey!"

"Ericha!" Adam turned and sprang from his seat to kiss his wife. "I didn't expect you till later."

"I got away earlier than I expected." She stepped back and looked him up and down. "Ooo, those are some sexy pants! How'd you get them on?"

"Chris helped get them laced up."

"Hm. I think Austin needs to pick out your outfits more often," she purred as she ran a finger down the laces.

"They're, ah, a little tricky to get into and out of, so..."

"I know, I know. After the concert." She gave him a long, slow kiss, then wiped the lipstick smudge off his lip. "Probably need to go see Olena to retouch your makeup. I'll see you after the show."

"See you," he said, then looked down at the problem that had developed in the front of his pants during the kiss. He closed his eyes. "Think cold. Naked snow angels... That time Matt stuffed snow down your pants right before the school bell rang..."

"Hey, man, are..." Rob's voice interrupted then died. Adam looked up to see Rob had poked his head into his dressing room. "Were you... meditating or something?"

"Something," Adam answered. "What did you need?"

"Just checking whether you were planning to go out for food afterward."

"I'll have to ask Ericha."

"Oh, cool, she made it. Okay, I'll tell Heather you're a maybe plus one."

***

"You're quiet," Tim commented as the conversation ebbed and flowed around them at the restaurant.

"Hm?" Austin hummed, leaning against him. "Working on some song lyrics in my head."

"Did you want to leave? I could get some to-go boxes."

"That's okay. I'm enjoying the company even if I'm not engaging."

"Fair enough." Tim glanced around the restaurant, then dropped a quick kiss on Austin's temple.

Austin sighed happily.

"What?"

"I like being engaged to you."

"You're feeling sappy."

"Yup. There are times I wonder if this is what love feels like for everyone or if it's different because we have to fight for it."

"Hm." Tim contemplated a moment as he took a swallow from his beer. "It's definitely scarier when everything is so uncertain in the society around you."

"Yeah." They sat in companionable silence enjoying their food and the physical closeness, listening to the others' conversations.

"It's just weird is all I'm saying." Rob waved his fork around. "I mean, if she'd grown up in that society, maybe, but..."

"How is it any weirder than sexy catgirls or actual sex robots?" Adam responded.

"Do you know what they're talking about?" Austin whispered.

"No, and I'm afraid to ask."

Ericha looked over at the two of them and shook her head.

Nate leaned forward. "So, Adam, do you think you'd be attracted to a human-dog hybrid?"

"Sure," Adam answered, "if our personalities clicked."

"But you've got a larger, um, range of sexual attractions than most people," Rob pointed out.