Page 36 of The Suitcase Swap

Ohgod.

It was practically volcanic, the sensitive area lighting up like one of those pinball machines from the 70s.

He started coughing into his napkin.

‘Oh dear,’ Sophie said. ‘I shouldn’t have said that. I wasn’t thinking. Are you okay?’

Mike shook his head, still coughing.

‘You’re turning a very concerning red.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Are you choking?’

He shook his head furiously. He kept coughing, which only lodged the pepper deeper. He was going to die, right here in front of a bunch of strangers, face down in a bowl of dumplings. While Mike was certain there were worse ways to die, he was pretty sure there were alsobetterways. Ways that weren’t so mind-numbingly stupid.

He wasn’t entirely sure the situation could get worse. His vision was going black around the edges.

‘Should I call someone?’ Sophie asked, her eyes even wider now. ‘Get you water?’

He gagged.

Ohno.Turns out it could get worse.

Mike lurched from his seat, bolting for the toilets.

‘I can never go back there.’ Mike was stretched out on the grass in Prospect Park, his arm over his eyes. The trees above covered them in dappled shade, so it was less about blocking out the sun and more about avoiding his self-reproach. ‘I have disgraced my family.’

Sophie sat next to him, her face turned up to the leaves. ‘This is a beautiful park. Also, you’re being ridiculous.’

‘It’s designed by the same people who mapped out Central Park in Manhattan. And of course I am, I’m always ridiculous, it’s just this time I’m also being honest – I’ve brought them shame.’ He dropped his arm. Errant slivers of light danced along her skin as the slight breeze moved the leaves above. Mike took a moment to admire the effect specifically, and her in general.

‘You have not,’ she said, sounding exasperated. ‘Sit up and try your shake. It will make you feel better.’

Mike levered himself up before digging out his phone. He tapped in the code to unlock his screen and handed it to her. ‘See for yourself.’

Sophie set down her milkshake and took his phone to read through the text chain, her free hand pressing against her lips to stop her growing smile. It didn’t work and she spluttered a laugh. ‘I stand corrected. Who’s Noah?’

‘My son Rahul’s husband. Noah’s usually the nice one. Amaya’s the more ruthless of the three, normally.’ He eyed the shake she’d offered him, which was resting on the grass. ‘Is that the small?’

‘They only had one size.’

‘Sometimes I think Americans eat like they don’t want to live,’ Mike said, taking a tentative sip. ‘What flavour is this?’

‘Strawberry donut. It’s a special. If you don’t like it, we can swap. I got salted caramel.’ She sipped her shake. ‘Maybe it’s more that they eat like they want to enjoy life?’

‘Why not both?’ Mike sipped at the shake, which was delicious and soothed his ravaged throat. ‘That does feel better, thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Mike blew out a breath. ‘I cannot believe I threw up.’

‘You got a pepper stuck in your sinuses,’ Sophie pointed out. ‘I didn’t even know you coulddothat.’ His phonepinged and she read it, then laughed. ‘Amaya says she wants the video. She also says you have to go back. It’s a moral imperative, and you made Barney cry.’ She glanced at him. ‘Who’s Barney?’

‘The plant she got me for my sad flat.’ He took another long sip of his milkshake. ‘You might as well send her the video – that way, my humiliation will be complete.’

Sophie juggled both their phones, dropping the video into the chat. ‘If you do decide to go back, I’ll go with you. I’m going to be dreaming of those noodles and I might marry those dumplings.’

‘They were really good,’ Mike admitted. ‘Before I puked them all up.’

‘Where should we go next?’ She started pulling up local attractions on her phone, flipping through different websites. ‘We could rent pedalos.’

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