The moment Maddie bit into the sandwich, her eyes widened in shock as a fiery heat exploded in her mouth. She coughed violently, her eyes watering as she scrambled to spit the bite into the trash can. Grabbing a glass of water, she gulped it down, trying to douse the burning sensation.
Jane’s voice was soft, laced with feigned hurt. “Rico, is my cooking really that bad?” A single tear slid down her cheek, accentuating the tear mole beneath her right eye.
Rico frowned, glancing at his sandwich and taking a bite. It tasted perfectly normal. His brows furrowed as he turned to Maddie. “What’s your problem now? Are you just trying to make Jane feel bad?”
Maddie’s patience snapped. She slammed the sandwich onto the table and pulled apart the slices of bread. A smear of spicy mustard coated the inside, far more than anyone would ever use. She held it out toward Rico, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Here. Why don’t you try this version of her ‘cooking’?”
Rico froze, his eyes darting between Maddie and the sandwich. For a moment, doubt flickered in his expression, but Jane quickly stepped in.