Page 71 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

It’s not a small chuckle or a nervous giggle. No, it’s full-on, belly-deep laughter that erupts from her like she’s just heard the funniest joke of her life.

“Oh my God,” she gasps between laughs, clutching her stomach as her whole body shakes with it. “I kneed you...right in the nuts!”

I’m still on the floor, clutching myself, the pain not as sharp but still throbbing, a dull reminder of the catastrophe that just occurred. I glance up, seeing all of them–the three people who mean the most to me in the world–laughing their asses off at my expense.

Grace can’t stop. She’s laughing so hard now that she’s doubled over, tears streaming down her face, her hand slapping her knee. “I didn’t mean to!” She manages to gasp out between laughs.

I groan, rolling onto my side as I try to get some semblance of breath back into my lungs. “Yeah, well,” I mutter, my voice strained with both pain and humiliation. “Glad I could entertain you.”

She gasps, trying to get a grip on herself, but every time she looks at me, curled up on the floor, it just sets her off again. “It’s just…the way you dropped– It was just– Oh my God-”

Key slams his hand on the counter, practically crying with laughter now. “Teddy, man, I’ve never seen anything like it. You went down like a tree. Timber!”

Atlas finally gives me a sympathetic look, removing his mask as he extends a hand to pull me up. “Come on, man,” he says, his voice deep and rumbling. “You’ll live.”

I take his hand, grimacing as I try to get to my feet before removing my own balaclava and tossing it on the floor. The pain is still there, but more manageable. I sigh, shaking my head as I look at her, my hands hovering protectively over my groin. “You owe me for this one, Little One.”

She grins up at me, her eyes shining with mirth. “I know. And I’ll make it up to you.”

Key, who’s finally started to calm down, wipes his eyes and looks between us, shaking his head in disbelief. “Teddy, man, you gotta admit–that was a hell of a good shot.”

Atlas chuckles, clapping me on the back. “I’ve seen you take hits that would knock most men flat, but I guess Grace here found your one weak spot.”

“Literally,” I mutter, wincing as I shift my weight, trying to shake off the lingering agony.

I think she broke my dick.

“I’m really sorry,” she says, though there’s still a playful glint in her eye. “But you should’ve warned me! You can’t just barge in here like that and expect me not to defend myself.”

“We were supposed to be surprising you,” I say, the words coming out almost petulantly. I’ve definitely been knocked down a peg.

“Well, you succeeded!” She shoots back, laughing again. “Just...maybe not in the way you planned.”

Key snickers, pulling off his balaclava and ruffling his hair. “I don’t know, Teddy. I think this was better than any plan we had.”

I groan again, but this time it’s more out of resignation than pain. “Of course you do.”

Grace steps closer, reaching out to rest a hand on my arm, her expression softening slightly. “Hey,” she says, her voice quieter now, though I can still hear the laughter bubbling beneath the surface. “I really am sorry.”

I meet her gaze, and despite everything–the pain, the humiliation–I can’t stay mad at her. Not when she’s looking at me like that, her eyes full of warmth, of love, of that mischievous spark that’s always glowing in her.

“I know,” I sigh, giving her a small, begrudging smile. “I swear to God, this better not become a thing.”

Before any of us can get another word out, there’s a loud creak from the doorway behind us.

The laughter in the room dies down instantly.

We all turn to see Jason standing there, frozen mid-step. He’s half-dressed, his shirt untucked, eyes wide, one hand limply gripping a giant candy-cane as if he’s not sure what he’s walked into, but he came armed.

For a second, none of us move.

He just stands there, staring at us, his mouth slightly open as he takes in the scene: me, still wincing in pain; Grace, flushed and still recovering from her fit of laughter; Key and Atlas both clearly enjoying the aftermath of the chaos.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Jason finally sputters, his voice a mix of confusion and...is that concern?

I blink, genuinely surprised. I’d almost forgotten he was even here. We’d left him to stew in his own mess while we lived our lives. But here he is–looking like he was about to storm in and defend Grace.

“Well,” Key starts, grinning like a maniac. “Looks like someone decided to play hero.”

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