"How can you be in chocolate paradise and not taste anything?"
"One of the perks of not being a big chocolate fan," he smirks. I shrug and eat the tiny piece of heaven myself. I make a grab for a third waffle but James says, "I'd suggest you don't empty the cherry supply. You've got plenty of others to taste."
"Thanks for saving me from myself," I joke while proceeding to the next dispenser.
Fifteen mini waffles later, and strawberry, raspberry, banana, pineapple, currant, caramel, cinnamon, mocchacino, cappuccino, chili, and so many kinds of pepper chocolate I keep mixing up their names, there's not one type of chocolate in the room I haven't tasted.
I take a deep breath and make a mental note to only use half a waffle for each container as we step into the next room. It's twice as long as the one we left behind. There are no waffles next to the dispensers. The dispensers aren't like the other ones either. Through the glass tops I can clearly
see that the chocolate inside each is solid. I press the lever under the dispenser and a long slim piece of chocolate falls in the tray next to it.
By the time we reach the last room, which is part of the museum-to-be, I can hardly breathe. We've been in one room where chocolates were arranged according to how much milk they have inside, one according to how many different flavors there are, and one where I got to mix my own personal chocolate drink.
"I am officially stoned on chocolate," I say, as James opens the door. My jaw drops. I step inside, glancing incredulously to my left and then to my right. A melted chocolate river flows on each side. Of course they kept what is best for last. There is a basket full of regular-sized waffles on the table between the two rivulets.
"Are you saying what I'm thinking?" James asks.
"Depends what you're thinking."
"That you can't eat anymore."
“That’s really the only thing you are thinking about?” I ask playfully.
“That and everything else I still have planned for tonight.” He bites his lip.
“Tell me.”
“I’ll do something better. I’ll show you if you’re done here.”
"You think I'd leave this place without tasting the chocolate rivers?" I ask with fake horror. I grab a waffle and a paper plate then dip half in one river, and the other half in the second one, resulting in my fingers getting as dirty as a three-year-old’s when left alone with a chocolate cake.
"I just don't think I'll be able to eat more than a waffle." I do my best to eat up all the chocolate on my fingers.
He laughs softly, wrapping his arms around me from behind and placing small, delicious kisses on the side of my neck.
"James," I murmur, as soft bites replace the kisses, and delicious tingles take over my entire body. I put down the plate and turn around and kiss him.
Or attempt to, because this thing we are doing doesn't really do justice to the concept of kissing. It's clumsy and weird and I have the strange feeling he's trying to hold back.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing."
"The first kiss I had in sixth grade was less awkward than this, and there was a lot of teeth clashing involved. Tell me what's wrong."
"I'll bring this up another time, eat your waffle."
"James," I press.
He takes a deep breath. "I've been meaning to ask you this but we always end up talking about me… never about you."
"What about me?" I ask, confused.
"You came out of a long-term relationship not long ago."
"Almost five weeks," I say proudly. "According to Jess, that's one week more than a girl needs to completely get over a breakup."
"And you agree with her?" He frowns.