Page 87 of Stuck With You
“Swade doesn’t have broccoli.” He wiggles in his seat.
Sarah eyes my food and then me. I don’t care what she says or does. I am not eating it. It doesn’t matter how much I like this kid. He’s on his own.
“You don’t like broccoli?” Sarah asks quietly.
I shake my head.
“Have you had it roasted?”
I shake my head again, silently pleading the fifth.
Her head falls to the side. “You should try it. You might like it.”
I take another bite of noodles and chicken and try not to make a noise as it melts in my mouth. It’s so freaking good. This woman may make cookies that look like boobs, but she can cook.
I glance up, and she’s staring at me, waiting for an answer. “No.”
She smiles. “Just. . .no. That’s not very brave or adventurous.”
I’m not into adventure. I like well-known outcomes. Although messing with her sly, calm challenge seems like a gamble I’d be willing to take.
Tomorrow, everything needs to go back to normal.
“No. I’m with Ollie. It’s the worst vegetable. Right up there with eggplant and turnips.” I take another bite of noodles and chicken to keep from gagging just thinking about it.
“Seriously, not even a little bite.”
My fork stabs my plate. “No. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me try it.”
Ollie snorts, slurping a noodle between his lips.
Sarah’s eyes narrow, telling me she doubts that to be true.
I hold completely still, waiting for her to dare me. Those lips move to the side in deep contemplation.
I want her to try me. But then again, there might be a few things—
Fuck. Whatis happening?
Her gaze drops from mine, and I might be mistaken, but are her cheeks just a little flushed?
I shove another bite into my mouth, needing the distraction.
“Well, sorry, Ollie, you have to eat it. It’s good for your muscles.”
“Swade has huuuggee muscles,” he expands his hands, “and he d-doesn’t eat it. It’s gross.”
This kid should be the lawyer.
Sarah’s eyes trace over me, stopping at my biceps. I think about flexing to help Ollie, but I refrain.
Her eyes jump to mine, and I let one side of my mouth curl up.
She rolls her eyes and tosses a balled-up paper towel at me. “Careful, don’t eat too fast. You might choke.” She grins. “If you have dinner at my house, the rules are you have to eat your vegetables.”
I’m tempted to ask her what other rules she has, but I shove a forkful into my mouth instead.
Ollie groans. “C-can we just stay here?”
