Page 73 of Tactically Acquired

“Of course I have.”

“Then what the hell do you call that?” he asked, pointing to the cutting board.

I looked down at my uneven pieces and shrugged. “Sorry, is this not good enough for you?”

“It’s…”

“Like they all need to be the same size or something?”

He picked up one piece and held it in front of my face. It was a rather large piece. “This is three times the size of the others. Not even a grown man could shove this in his mouth.”

“So, you cut it when you eat it.”

“But that’s what you’re doing right now,” he stressed. “Cutting. Do you see the knife in your hand? That’s the whole purpose of this exercise. You cut so others don’t have to. It’s part of the whole cooking process.”

I rolled my eyes. He was being just a tad ridiculous about the whole thing. “You’re really making too big of a deal about this.”

“Am I? Really?”

“It’s just a potato.”

“It’s a potato that’s the size of my foot!”

“Now, that’s just ridiculous. Have you seen the size of your foot?”

I was laughing, but he was getting more frustrated by the minute. I found it rather enjoyable, and for the first time in a long time, I realized that this was the first morning in over six months that I sat down and had nowhere I had to rush off to.

“What are you doing?” Spencer snapped from the doorway. His eyes were glued to the knife in my hand and the anger on his face had the smile dropping from my face immediately. Even Baldy was questioning the fury in his voice.

“I’m chopping vegetables.”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Spencer said, storming over to me, snatching the knife out of my hand. “I bet you haven’t had your smoothie yet this morning either.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was going to make me drink one whether or not I wanted to. It was his ritual that he made me partake in every morning. “Those are disgusting.”

“They’re healthy.”

“What kind of smoothies are we talking about?” Baldy asked, taking over the chopping for me as I sat down at the other side of the counter.

“Disgusting, no fun smoothies.”

Spencer started pulling things out of the fridge and loading them up on the counter, invading Baldy’s space. “Everything loaded with the important nutrients to keep you fit and healthy. Kale, spinach, collard greens…though it looks like you’re seriously lacking,” he said as he searched the fridge.

“Sorry, we didn’t go shopping for disgusting smoothies,” Baldy grinned, winking at me.

I smiled gratefully. I hated those things.

“I can’t function without my morning smoothie, and it’s important she has one as well.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want one. Maybe she wants a banana smoothie.”

“A—” Spencer’s jaw dropped at the suggestion before he turned to me with a shocked expression. “Is that what you really want?” he asked, hurt shining through in his voice.

“I—”

“I could make you a fruit smoothie if you really want,” he said defeatedly. “Citruses. There would have to be certain limitations. We’re not doing all that sugary crap. Then again, I’ll have to check and see what we can get from the store,” he muttered.

“Spencer, I think I can go one morning without a smoothie.”

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