Chapter 9

Sorry, Amelia.

"I had no clue you were bringing Professor Hastings lunch, too.

"He's already digging into what I made..."

Debra blocked my path, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"He's my husband," I said with a smirk, watching her hand ball into fists inside her sleeves.

*****

"Felix."

I planted myself in front of him as he wolfed down his meal.

When he ignored me, I snatched the fork from his hand and swapped out his lunch box for mine.

He stared at the food for a beat and then at me.

"Check it out."

I shoved my bandage-wrapped hand in his face.

"Three cuts, all for you.

"I spent a long time preparing the meal. At least give it a try?"

I met Felix's calm gaze.

But he seemed heartbroken.

He sighed, "Amelia, this looks exactly like the stuff from Culinary Delights. Did you copy their recipes?"

I played dumb, shooting back, "Felix, just tell me if you're gonna eat it or not!"

I was so used to him caving whenever I got mad.

But I'd forgotten that we weren't the same people as before.

Still, he bent his head and started spooning up the clam chowder, gobbling it down like he used to do whatever I asked.

After finishing the meal, he watched me as I bent down to tidy up the lunch box for the first time.

"Amelia," he said, his voice as cold as ice water.

"I'm allergic to seafood.

"Two lifetimes, and you still can't remember that."

I froze and glanced up at Felix in shock.

He held out his wrist, where the blue veins stood out sharply, already covered in angry red rashes. "Will you be happy only when you've tortured me to death?"

Felix had a life-threatening seafood allergy.

Within minutes of his wrist first flushing red, coughing fits wracked him, quickly escalating to labored, gasping breaths.