“Wasabi doesn’t scare me, I’m half Japanese!” Caleb grinned.
Rosie pitied Nadia as she covered her face with her hands. “That’s not how thatworks, Caleb.” Her chestnut-haired friend shook her head. “You can’t eat that.”
Caleb got a mischievous gleam in his eye. “Bet me. If I eat it, you’ll …” Then he leaned over and whispered in her ear. Nadia’s eyes widened, and her cheeks might have turned dark, but it was hard to tell in the dim bar lights.
“Alright.Ifyou eat the whole thingwithoutbeing a baby about it, we’ll do that.”
“Dude, you’re going to be lucky if you canbreatheafter this, don’t even think about anything fun tonight.” Jake shook his head.
They all tried, but Caleb would not be deterred. In the end, he ordered his burger, and Nadia begged the server to bring a pitcher of water when the food got there.
Matt leaned over to Rosie. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
She giggled. “You and me both, Luke.”
“You might be doing CPR tonight,” he whispered.
“God, I hope not,” she answered. “I haven’t done actual CPR on an adult. Just babies.”
What little color he had drained from Matt’s face. “I won’t ask.”
She reached over under the table to lace her fingers through his, and he squeezed her hand. Squeezing back to reassure him, she said, “They all made it.” He flashed her a small, grateful smile.
When the food came, everyone groaned. Jake insisted on taking a picture. “This my last chance for a decent photo of you before Nadia kills you for eating that.” Caleb hammed it up, then took a big bite as everyone held their breath.
He chewed and swallowed and took another bite. “Guys, this is great! There’s nothing to worry — oh God.” Caleb breathed through his mouth and took a drink of his water. “This is fine. It’s fine, guys. Eat up, already.”
Rosie turned to her salmon salad, pouring the balsamic vinaigrette over the top as she shook her head. Matt cut into his chicken but was keeping an eye on Caleb.
As she savored the perfectly grilled fish and arugula, Caleb’s shout made her look up. Sweat poured down his red face as he grabbed the pitcher of water and started to chug. Jake snapped another picture and laughed.
“It’s hot, it’s so hot. Why don’t I have to sign a waiver for this?”
“That’s our Necromancer burger," their server grinned. "'So much spice, it kills you twice'! It’slotshotter than the Dragon burger,” he unhelpfully added. He chuckled at Caleb’s pain. “I can get you a different entree?”
“No, no, no.” Caleb side-eyed his girlfriend. “We have a deal. Right, babe?”
“You’re being a baby, so no. The deal is off.”
“Got any ice cream? Milkshakes?”
“Coming right up. You sure you don’t want a different entree?”
“Nope, I lost my appetite.”
“What flavor of milkshake?” The server scribbled on a notepad.
“Just vanilla.” Caleb had gotten halfway through his burger and left his fries untouched.
“Amateur,” Jade said as she blew on a spoonful of her Cajun gumbo.
“We are tipping that waiter so hard,” Mia said to Jade. “Are you going to eat those, Caleb?” she asked.
“Nope, my stomach’s sick. Take them.”
“Thanks!” Mia dumped half of his fries onto her steak salad.
“Fries on a salad, Mia?” Rosie was dumbfounded.
