Chapter 24

He kicks my foot a bit harder, which makes me yelp and spit what’s left of my half-chewed pancake out onto the table between us, hitting a real coughing fit while slapping his hand in anger. He throws his napkin over it to conceal it from her.

“Oh, my God, Sophie, are you okay?” Natasha squawks as I start taking a choking fit on nothing but air. Arrick hits the absolute giggles and sits his arm on the table so he can cover his face and stifle the urge to laugh by rubbing his face with a flat palm. “I’ll get you a glass of water.” Natasha starts fumbling with the cupboards, clinking glasses, and I death glare him, blaming him for this.

“Serves you right,” he mumbles under his breath, lifting his brows and grinning at me. He looks over his shoulder to see she hasn’t heard and returns to downing his food like a starved dog. I wonder if he’s perfected the art of wolfing it down so he doesn’t taste it.

“Here, drink slowly. Do you need me to pat your back?” Natasha appea