"You swallowed?"
"Yeah, I did." I replied.
"And then what?" Mark could not hide his curiosity.
"I..." I blushed scarlet. "I threw up."
Mark's smile melted in disappointment. "You..."
"All over myself. Yes." I finished.
"Um well... that'll do it. That'll kill the mood in a heartbeat." Mark sighed.
"Ya think?"
"Don't snap at me." Mark chited. "I'm not the one who ruined my lady's mood by vomiting. How'd she take it."
"Yeah... I don't know. She didn't really say anything." I said awkwardly.
"She didn't?"
"Nope. She turned beet red, and rushed out. I think she is too embarrassed or horrified or something to talk about it. We barely talk."
Mark added, "She seemed her usual perky self to me."
"Well yeah, here she is. She's just as helpful and nice as usual here. It's when we leave she's... I don't know... too disgusted to look at me."
Mark templed his fingers and sighed wisely, "Can you blame her? I'm disgusted by you now."
"Hey!" I exclaimed.
"Hey yourself. Do you know how much a man would pay to have a woman do that to him? To give him a golden shower? Or receive one?" Mark asked.
"Why do I feel like you actually know how much someone charges?"
Mark didn't respond but leaned back smugly.
"Moving past whatever that face is," I pressed on, "she actually had already offered before that to receive one from me."
"And you didn't take her up on it!" Mark gave me a look that one would give a pitcher if they walked nine players in a row. "You aren't into that?"
"Ew. No! Well... idk. I liked it but also I don't. Like... it was hot. I did have that urge to drink it but... I just couldn't turn off the part of my body that knew it was urine. And so I just... yeah."
"Well, Jimmie. You're hopeless."
"Why am I even talking to you about this? When had anyone ever come to you for advice with a woman?"
"Hey now!" Mark interjected. "I get around."
"Your secretary doesn't count. Outside of work. When was the last time you saw a woman?" I ask.
"I see them all the time. I go down to that one club, by the KFC."
"On Seventh?" I ask horrified.
"Yeah! You been there?" Mark asked, a little hope in me restored.
"No!" I object. "I'd rather not catch a venereal disease."
"Hey! I take offense to that. The women there..."
"I'm not talking about the woman. Have you seen the outside of that place? You wouldn't be able to get in without stepping on a used needle. That KFC is the same way."
Mark looked like he was searching for a retort. When none came, he changed topics. "So, you said you two had tried something new before you flubbed the golden shower. What was that?"
"Uh, no." It was my turn to look at him disappointed. "That is private. I love her and I'm not sharing that kind of info. And you know what? I regret even asking for your help. I should get advice elsewhere." I stand up. "Where's those papers I needed you to sign in the first place? I nearly forgot that's the whole reason I came here in the first place."
"Oh yeah. Here," Mark said, reaching into his desk drawer. He withdrew a manila folder and threw it to me. "Go. I don't know why I waste my wisdom on the young and foolish anyway."
I leave Mark's office, eyes rolling. But as I shuffled to my office, folder in hand, the answer hit me. I need to talk to Sarah. I really do love her. We can't continue on in our awkward silence. The last few days had been torture. With my heart somewhere around my navel, I open the door and entered my cramped office.
There she was. Sarah sat in her chair, going over old records, looking for inconsistencies. At the sound of the door, she glanced up. At my sight, she flashed red and looked back down.
*Cough* She didn't look up. *Cough*Cough*. She still looked down. Alright, it was not going to be that easy.
I summoned my courage. "Hey, Sarah. We need to talk."