The Wedding Wager by Regina Duke

creeping up, I have to revert to salads and white fish.”
    Kevin made a bleak face. “That sounds terrible.”
    “Well, fortunately for both of us, I lost over ten pounds in the hospital. That’s why I’m enjoying my food so much. That and the realization that I came way too close to never tasting food again. I’m not sure why, but that thought just makes me hungry!”
    “Good.” Kevin uncovered the trays on the cart.
    Megan inhaled and let her eyes roll blissfully back in her head. “That is so wonderful! Oh, you ordered nachos! May I snag a chip?”
    “I’ll trade you a cheese laden chip for an onion ring.”
    “Deal.”
    “Eat your ice cream first,” said Kevin. “It’ll melt if you wait.”
    “Want some?”
    Kevin’s eyes lit up. “May I?
    “Grab a spoon.” Megan held hers upright. “Ready? Go!”
    They ate ice cream as fast as they could. When it was all gone, Kevin threw his head back and cried, “Brain freeze! Brain freeze!”
    Megan laughed. “Good! You won’t see me steal another nacho.”
    “Oh, no you don’t, you little thief.” He reached for her wrist and pulled her hand away from the plate.
    Megan used her free hand to swipe the nacho. “Amateur!” She turned her face away and stuffed the nacho in her mouth.
    “So, it’s like that, is it?” Kevin released her wrist and took a handful of onion rings. One by one, he dropped them into his mouth and munched. “Mmmm, so good.”
    “Oh, yeah? Want some more?” Megan picked up an onion ring and threw it at Kevin’s head. It bounced off his cheek. Megan broke into giggles.
    Kevin spread his hands and pinned her with a challenging stare. “You know what this means? Your onion ring made contact. The gloves are off, baby. Prepare to defend yourself!” He reached for a nacho and took aim.
    Megan looked horrified. “No! No! Not the cheese! These clothes are brand new!”
    Kevin stopped short of flinging the nacho. Instead, he popped it into his mouth and chewed.
    Megan grabbed a handful of onion rings and hurled them across the table. They caught Kevin in the chest.
    He roared like a playful lion and lunged for her.
    Megan squealed and ran for the hall at the back of the suite.
    Kevin caught her in the hallway and pinned her gently against the wall.
    “Oh, you think you’re so clever,” he said. “Well, let’s see how you like it.” He pulled an onion ring off his shirt front and taunted her with it, threatening to rub its greasy goodness all over her new outfit.
    “No, please,” giggled Megan, breathless. “Please don’t ruin this outfit! I haven’t had new clothes since my sophomore year in college!”
    Kevin relented, but only because they were gasping for air. He leaned one palm against the wall and swung the onion ring around his index finger.
    Megan squealed with laughter and batted his hand away.
    Then their eyes met, and at the same moment, they realized their faces were tantalizingly close.
    The laughter faded to smiles, and they stood chest to chest for several seconds, their gazes locked. Drawn together by personal gravity, they leaned toward each other.
    He’s going to kiss me , thought Megan.
    Jeffrey’s voice came at the worst possible moment.
    “Hey? Where are you guys?”
    Kevin pulled away as if Megan were molten lava.
    When he did, Megan drooped with disappointment, but she recovered in time to turn the movement into a dive under his arm.
    Jeffrey came around the corner. “Am I interrupting something?”
    “No, of course not,” said Kevin brusquely.
    “Don’t be silly,” added Megan.
    “We were just discussing—” Kevin searched for words.
    Megan took over. “My wardrobe. And luggage and packing.” She added under her breath, “Oh, my.”
    Kevin pointed a finger at her. “ Wizard of Oz! I love that movie.”
    “Me, too,” said Megan.
    Jeffrey gave them a crooked glance. “Everybody loves that movie.”
    Megan straightened her sleeveless blouse. “Well, I’d better start packing. I left