“It’s Brussels sprouts. I think the fuck not.”
“Oh, come on. You’ll love it. I swear. I hated the little bastards too, until this panini. It’s power to convert Brussels sprout haters everywhere is downright diabolical.”
“This is my punishment for tonight, isn’t it?”
“If that’s how you want to look at it, fine. Just try it, would you?” she said with her hand out, half of the sandwich clutched between her fingertips.
“Fine.” I grabbed her hand, brought it to my mouth, and took a good-sized bite. Because if I didn’t, she’d make me take another.
I waited for the bitterness to explode in my mouth, preparing to choke it down with a smile on my face, but to my surprise, I detected none, only a mild sweetness complimented with the rich smoked meat and the kick of pepper jack. “Well damn, give me half,” I said, snagging the piece from her fingers before heading for the stairs.
“Hey!”
“What?”
“I thought you didn’t like Brussels sprouts?” she said with the same mocking tone she’d hammered me with when we were kids.
“What can I say, you converted me.”
“Thief,” she called out right before I reached the stairs.
“Nag.”
“I love you, butthead.”
I leaned over the bannister and winked. “Love you too, squirt.”