Sweets for a Sweet Tooth

“Sushi,” I said.

“Gummy bears,” he said.

“Steak kebobs.”

“Reese’s Pieces.”

“Chicken tacos.”

“Hot Tamales.”

So went my first date with Don, as I sometimes like to call him. I’d say a meal. He’d name the best candy to go with it. We’d both laugh, and then start over. Each time, Don threw out a brand name, I paused. This guy knew his flavors. He understood that sushi needed a dessert that was light and sweet. That rich chocolate usually follows steak. That tacos called for something spicy.

What Don didn’t know at the time is that I have an incurable sweet tooth, and with each candy he named, my heart rate jumped as if it had received a hit of insulin. What I didn’t know at the time was that Don was a candy connoisseur.  As a kid, he and his older brother ran a fictitious confections shop, and as an adult, Don can breakdown the qualities of sugary gummy bears—sticky, fruity, sweet—as well as any food critic.

That first date was more than four months ago—and it turns out that Don and I share a lot more than a love of candy. There’s tennis, camping, the New York Times, and surprises. Both Don and I like to give little gifts.

The other day, for example, we dropped into seats at the Denver Film Festival. I’d rushed from work. Don had coordinated the tickets and picked me up from the bus stop. We were both a bit breathless. Just as I wondered if we’d be able to enjoy the movie, Don slid a crunchy, chocolate-y Kit Kat onto my lap. With that, I turned and kissed him on the tender spot near the temple. So sweet.

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