Page 17 of Of Pucking Course

She lets out a sad chuckle as she places the papaya chunks on a plate. “No. Instead, we had an argument because I was irritated about the boots he gave me. It was a crappy birthday.”

My chest aches. I didn’t think it was possible to hate Jake even more than I already did.

“Have you eaten yet?” She holds up the plate of papaya.

I want to ask her what she wanted to do for her birthday, but clearly she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore since she changed the subject.

“I had a protein shake after practice and some egg bites from Starbucks. I’m good,” I say.

She tilts her head at me. “That’s not a proper meal.”

I laugh. “It’s what I’m used to eating after practice. Something quick with enough protein. Then an hour later, I eat a meal.”

She sets a stack of small plates on the counter. “Del is the same way. Always so protein-focused after practice. Well, I’m going to cook you a hearty meal then.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

She tilts her head at me and rests a hand on her hip. “I’m making you food. And you’re gonna eat it.”

I chuckle at how adorably determined she is. “Okay. Thank you.”

When we finish putting away all her kitchen stuff, she pulls a sauté pan from the counter.

“Stir fry with chicken okay?” she asks.

“That sounds great.”

She turns on the burner and grabs some veggies from the fridge.

“Can I do anything to help?” I ask.

She looks up at me. “Don’t you dare.”

I laugh and hold up my hand at her. “Alright, alright. Not too many chili peppers though, okay?”

She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Oh my god. I almost forgot what a lightweight you are when it comes to spice.”

“I can’t help it. I still have nightmares about the buffalo chicken dip your mom made on Christmas Eve years ago when I came over to have dinner at her house with you guys.”

Her head falls back as she laughs. “Sam! It was Frank’s Red Hot. That’s not even that spicy.”

“I had to drink three glasses of milk in a row just to get feeling back in my tongue.”

Dakota hunches over, she’s laughing so hard. “I forgot it was that many.” She stops chopping veggies to grab a paper towel and wipe her eyes. “You were so polite about it, too. Del and I could tell you hated it from just one bite. But when our mom asked how it tasted, you said it was delicious. And you had seconds.”

“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. She was so proud of that dip.”

“I remember how confused she looked when youdowned that second glass of milk, then asked for a third,” she says.

I chuckle. “I can’t believe she believed me when I said I had a dairy deficiency. I don’t even think that’s a real thing.”

Dakota holds onto the edge of the counter as she laughs even harder.

“I’m glad my spice intolerance gives you so much joy,” I tease.

When she finally stops laughing, she looks at me. Her face is red and her eyes are bright.

“I will add zero spice to this stir fry,” she says.

---