Chapter 1: The Cereal Bowl Standoff
In the heart of a multiverse where the extraordinary was ordinary, Reynaldo Oné Pagán-Rivera stood in his kitchen, a smile tugging at the corners of his expressive mouth. The scene before him was a symphony of chaos, a testament to the three loves of his life, each unique and wonderful in their own way.
Samantha "Sam" Sparks, her teal eyes sparkling with mischief, sat at the counter, a mountain of cereal and milk before her. She shoveled another spoonful into her mouth, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk's, and opened wide, displaying the mushy, milky mess within.
"Rey, you gotta taste this," she said, her voice thick with cereal. "It's like eating a cloud of happiness."
Reynaldo leaned over the counter, his dark curls brushing against her blonde bangs. "I don’t think I can handle your version of happiness right now, Sam," he teased, but his eyes sparkled with affection. "You’re going to choke."
Sam laughed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, leaving a faint smear of pink lip gloss. "You’re just jealous because you don’t have the stomach for it.
Besides, you’re the one who always says life’s too short to eat boring things." Sam grinned, her plump lips glistening with the remnants of her breakfast. "You should try my special blend—it’s got a little bit of everything. Like a rainbow in your mouth."
Reynaldo chuckled, shaking his head as he reached for his own bowl of cereal. "Your special blend is just a science experiment with a side of chaos." He took a bite, then paused, eyes widening. "Okay, fine. It’s *good*." He swallowed, then added, "But only because I love you."
Sam’s cheeks flushed pink, her freckles standing out against her skin.
"See? You *do* love it." She reached for another spoonful, her large hands moving with practiced ease. "You know, you’re the only person who can make me feel like my cereal obsession isn’t weird."
Reynaldo leaned against the counter, his dark curls framing his face as he watched her. "It’s not weird, Sam. It’s *you*." He reached out, tucking a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "And I love every weird thing about you."
Just then, a loud *pop* echoed through the kitchen, followed by a high-pitched giggle.
Poppy Prescott, her petite frame barely visible behind a bubble the size of her head, danced into the room. The bubble popped, splattering hot pink gum across her braces and cheeks. She grinned, her sky-blue eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Morning, lovebirds!" she chirped, wiping the gum off her face with the back of her hand. "I've been practicing my bubble-blowing technique. Rey, you should see the size of the one I did yesterday. It was *huge*."
Reynaldo laughed, shaking his head. "I'm sure it was, Poppy. But please, no more bubble-blowing in the kitchen.
We don't want a repeat of the Great Gum Incident of last week." Reynaldo winked at Poppy, who stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Fine, fine," she said, her voice laced with mock disappointment. "But only if you promise to come watch me at the studio later. I've got a new routine I want you to see."
Reynaldo's heart swelled with affection. Poppy's passion for dance was infectious, and he loved seeing her light up when she talked about it. "You know I wouldn't miss it for the world, Poppy."
“And Sam, I just love the way you eat.” Reynaldo added, his voice warm and soft as he watched her shovel another spoonful of cereal into her mouth, her lips smeared with pink lip gloss. “It’s like watching a tiny, adorable tornado of joy.”
Sam grinned, her freckles dancing across her cheeks as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’re just saying that because you love me.” She leaned forward, her large hands resting on the counter, her teal eyes sparkling with mischief. “But seriously, Rey, I can’t believe you’re okay with this. Three girlfriends. Three *completely* different girlfriends.”
Reynaldo chuckled, shaking his head.
“Three girlfriends, three *completely* different girlfriends,” he repeated, his voice warm with affection. “But you know what? It’s not just about the differences—it’s about how perfectly you all fit together. Like a trio of musical notes, each one essential to the harmony.”
Sam’s grin widened, her plump lips parting as she took another bite of cereal. “You’re just saying that because you’re a romantic.” She leaned back, her large hands brushing against his arm. “And Sam, I’ve been checking the food weather forecast for you. Every time, you would stand outside with your mouth open wide and you would let food pour into your mouth, like a human rain gauge. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.” Reynaldo said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Sam laughed, her freckled cheeks flushing pink. “You’re ridiculous, Rey. But I love it.” She took another bite of her cereal, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You know, Sam, you also have a show on *Travel Channel* called *Girl VS Food with Samantha "Sam" Sparks* where you go on a mouthwatering journey to find America’s greatest pig-out spots and to take on the country’s most legendary eating challenges. All of your eating shots are filmed in an extreme macro close-up on your lips that entirely fill the screen. When your lips fill the screen, the framing isolates your mouth so tightly that your nose and chin are cut out of the shot. You chew with your mouth open for me in a continuous shot and open your mouth wide to show me all the mushed up food inside your mouth before you swallow.” Reynaldo said, his voice filled with playful teasing as he watched Sam’s mouth open wide, the remnants of her cereal glistening on her plump lips.
Sam giggled, her freckles dancing as she playfully swiped at him. “Oh, you’re such a pervert, Reynaldo Pagán-Rivera. But fine, I’ll do it for you.” She leaned forward, her large hands gripping the edge of the counter as she opened her mouth wide, her tongue darting out to catch the last bits of cereal. The camera would have loved this shot—her lips slightly parted, her teeth glistening with milk, her freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks. “Sam, come to think of it, do we have time to watch some episodes before school? I thought we could start with the one where you were in Amarillo, Texas to take on a 72-pound steak challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch. In order to win, you had to eat a 72-pound steak, 144 shrimp cocktails, 216 dinner salads, 288 baked potatoes, and 360 dinner rolls in under an hour. I really want to see all those eating shots.” Reynaldo said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I mean, it’s not every day you get to see your girlfriend take on a challenge like that. And I know how much you love a good challenge, Sam.”
Sam grinned, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “You know me too well, Rey. Alright, let’s do it. But only if you promise to make me some of your famous pancakes afterwards. You know, for energy.”
Reynaldo laughed, “Deal. But only if you promise to tell me all about your adventures in Amarillo. I want to hear every detail.”
Sam nodded, her blonde bangs bouncing as she turned to grab her laptop from the counter.
Reynaldo watched her, his heart swelling with affection. She was a force of nature, his Sam—passionate, curious, and utterly herself. He couldn't help but feel lucky to be a part of her world.
As Sam pulled up the episode, Sam told Reynaldo all about it. “Reynaldo, Amarillo, Texas is known for its beef, so first, I went to the one place locals say has the best burger in town - The Coyote Bluff Cafe. And it’s known for one burger in particular - The Burger From Hell. It’s an 8-pound patty of lean ground beef covered in grilled jalapeños, homemade habanero sauce, and cayenne pepper sauce, smothered in 16 pounds of cheese. Wanna see my eating shots?” Sam asked, her fingers flying over the laptop trackpad as she scrolled through the episode. The screen flickered to life, revealing a grainy but exhilarating close-up of her own face—her lips slightly parted, her tongue peeking out between plump, glossy pink lips. The camera zoomed in, isolating her mouth so completely that her nose and chin were cut away, leaving only the raw, unfiltered spectacle of her chewing.
Reynaldo leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “You look *insanely* hot when you’re eating.”
Sam’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her freckles standing out like tiny constellations against her skin. “Thanks! Now, I was also eating another one of Coyote Bluff’s signature dishes - their totally decadent and delicious chili cheese fries. 2 tons of fries, 1 ton of cheese, and fresh green chilies on there. Wanna see my eating shots?” Sam asked, her fingers flying over the laptop trackpad as she scrolled through the episode.
Reynaldo leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “You look *insanely* hot when you’re eating.”
Sam’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her freckles standing out like tiny constellations against her skin.
She turned to face Reynaldo, her large hands resting on his arms. “You know, Rey, you’re the only person who can make me feel like my love for food isn’t just weird, but... beautiful.” Her voice was soft, her teal eyes searching his.
Reynaldo’s heart swelled, and he reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “It *is* beautiful, Sam. It’s a part of what makes you *you*. And I love every part of you.” He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up before Poppy and Velvet get here.
We don’t want them to see you like this,” Reynaldo said, chuckling as he grabbed a nearby towel and gently wiped the cereal milk from Sam’s face. She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, her heart fluttering at the softness of his hands.
“You know, Rey,” Sam said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I never thought I’d find someone who could love all the parts of me. The weird, the messy, the... me.”
Reynaldo paused, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Sam, I love every part of you. The weird, the messy, the brilliant, the kind, the passionate... all of it.
And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Sam's eyes fluttered open, a soft smile playing on her lips. "You always know just what to say, Rey." She reached up, her large hand cupping his cheek. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm glad I did it."
Reynaldo leaned into her touch, his heart swelling with affection. "You deserve all the love in the world, Sam. And I'm just lucky enough to be the one giving it to you."
Just then, the front door burst open, and Poppy Prescott danced into the room, her ginger-red hair bouncing around her shoulders.
She wore her signature pink vest, blue athletic shorts, and tall white socks, her sky-blue eyes sparkling with energy. “Morning, Poppy. Come join us. Sam’s showing me episodes of her show, *Girl VS Food with Samantha Sparks*, and she’s showing me her eating shots. All of her eating shots are filmed in an extreme macro close-up on her lips that entirely fill the screen. When her lips fill the screen, the framing isolates her mouth so tightly that her nose and chin are cut out of the shot. She chews with her mouth open for me in a continuous shot and opens her mouth wide to show me all the mushed up food inside her mouth before she swallows. Wanna see?” Reynaldo asked, turning the laptop towards Poppy. She leaned in, her eyes widening as she took in the close-up of Sam's mouth, her lips glistening with cheese and chili grease.
"Oh, wow," Poppy breathed, her eyes flicking up to meet Sam's. "That's... that's *intense*, Sam. I had no idea you were such a... *mouth* person."
Sam laughed, her cheeks flushing pink. "Well, Poppy, when you're a competitive eater, you learn to appreciate the... *mouth* side of things."
Poppy giggled, her braces glinting in the sunlight streaming through the window.
"I mean, it's like watching a *food porn* movie, but in real life! And with *actual* food. Rey, you have to tell me everything about this show. Like, how do they even get permission to film her like that? I mean, it's not like she's eating *normal* portions."
Reynaldo chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled up the episode's behind-the-scenes footage. "Sam, you know how they do it. They use macro lenses and close-up shots to really capture the *essence* of the experience. It’s all about the *journey*, Poppy.
The taste, the texture, the *experience*." Reynaldo's voice was warm and soft, his eyes never leaving Sam's face. "And Sam, she's the one taking us on that journey. She's the one *living* it."
Poppy nodded, her eyes wide with fascination. "Wow, Rey. That's... that's really beautiful. I never thought about food that way."
Sam reached out, squeezing Reynaldo's hand. "That's because you have Rey. He sees the beauty in everything, even the messiest, most chaotic parts of life."
Reynaldo smiled, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. "And that's why I love you both.
You make me see the world in new ways, appreciate the beauty in the chaos," Reynaldo said, his voice soft and warm. He turned to Poppy, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Poppy, I know you've got your dance practice later, but would you like to join us for breakfast first? I'm making pancakes for Sam, and I've got enough batter for everyone. Plus, Sam’s gonna give me same *food porn* she gives me on *Girl VS Food with Samantha Sparks*, like she gives me every time she’s hungry.” Reynaldo said,
his voice filled with playful teasing as he watched Sam’s mouth open wide, her tongue darting out to catch the last bits of cereal. And I know how much you love a good challenge, Sam.”
Sam giggled, her freckles dancing as she playfully swiped at him.
Reynaldo’s eyes widened as he watched her, his heart pounding in his chest. There was something incredibly intimate about watching her like this, something that made him feel closer to her than ever before.
“That’s... that’s really hot, Sam,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Sam’s cheeks flushed pink, her teal eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Oh, you’re *such* a pervert, Reynaldo Pagán-Rivera,” she teased, swiping at his arm playfully before leaning back in her chair. “But fine, you win. I’ll let you watch.” She turned the laptop back toward him, her fingers lingering on the screen as if savoring the memory of her own performance. “And Sam, you know I always check the food weather forecast so that you can give me more of your *food porn* during the walk to school. My app says the conditions right now are hot and the five-day outlook is calling for a 90% chance of Mexican with an 85% chance of Spanish.” Reynaldo said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched Sam’s face light up with excitement. “And there’s a 70% chance of English, a 60% chance of Northern Irish, and a 50% chance of Scottish, Welsh, Brazilian, Indian, American, Italian, Japanese, German, Chinese, South Korean, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Nigerian, and French. It’s going to be a *global* food storm, Sam. You’re going to love it.” Reynaldo said, his voice filled with excitement as he watched Sam’s face light up with excitement.
Sam’s eyes widened, her plump lips parting in a soft gasp. “Rey, that’s...
that’s *perfect*.” She turned to Reynaldo, her teal eyes sparkling with mischief. “You know, Rey, sometimes I think you’re the only person who can make me feel like my love for food isn’t just an obsession, but a *passion*—something beautiful and wild and *alive*.”
Reynaldo leaned in, his dark curls brushing against her bangs as he whispered, “It *is* beautiful, Sam. It’s how you move through the world—like a storm, but with a smile.” He reached out, tucking a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
“And Sam, we have a date after school at that all-you-can-eat buffet we *love*. Are you gonna give me all of that *food porn*, like you do on *Girl VS Food with Samantha Sparks*?” Reynaldo asked, his voice low and teasing as he watched Sam’s lips part, her tongue darting out to catch the last bit of syrup from her pancake. His fingers traced the curve of her jaw, his thumb brushing against her plump lower lip, making her shiver.
Sam’s breath hitched, her teal eyes fluttering shut for a moment before she caught herself, laughing softly. “Oh, you’re *such* a flirt, Rey. But fine—you win.” She turned the laptop screen toward him again, her fingers hovering over the trackpad. “But only if you’re able to keep your eyes on my mouth.” Sam said, her voice playful and teasing, her fingers dancing over the laptop touchpad as she pulled up a clip from their buffet date last month. The screen filled with a close-up of her lips, glistening with syrup and chocolate sauce, her tongue darting out to catch the last bit of a chocolate-covered strawberry. “I know you love watching me eat, Rey,” she murmured, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Reynaldo leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “I don’t just love watching you eat, Sam. I love *you*—all of it.
The way your lips part when you’re mid-chew, the way your freckles bloom like constellations when you’re flushed, the way your whole face lights up when you talk about food like it’s the most sacred thing in the world." Reynaldo’s voice was a warm caress, his thumb still tracing the soft curve of her jaw. Sam’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the laptop’s edge.
"Rey," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the kitchen. "You’re *dangerous* when you talk like that."
He grinned, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I can't help it, Sam. You bring out the poet in me." He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her temple. "Now, let's get you cleaned up before Poppy and Velvet get here. We don't want them to see you like this."
Sam laughed, her freckles dancing as she playfully swiped at him. "Oh, you're such a romantic, Rey. But fine, let's get me presentable." She stood, her large hands smoothing down the front of her mint-green blazer. "And Rey, I want you to know that I love you for seeing me like this—messy, hungry, *real*. Not just the polished version of me that everyone else sees on TV, but the high school girl that still loves to stuff her face with pancakes and watch cartoons on a Saturday morning." Sam's voice was soft, her teal eyes searching his.
Reynaldo's heart swelled, and he reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Sam, I love *all* of you. The girl on TV, the competitive eater, the food lover, the scientist, the reporter... every single part of you. And I'm so grateful that you let me see all these sides of you."
Sam's eyes fluttered shut for a moment, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Rey, you're the only one who makes me feel like I can be all of these things at once—without feeling like I have to choose."
Reynaldo nodded, his dark eyes reflecting her words. "And I love that about you. You don’t have to choose, Sam. You can be everything at once—because you’re *you*." His voice was gentle, filled with sincerity.
Just then, a sharp knock echoed from the front door, followed by Poppy’s unmistakable, high-pitched giggle. "Rey! I’m here! And guess what? I brought *something* for you!" Her voice carried through the apartment, bouncing off the kitchen walls.
Reynaldo turned to see Poppy standing in the doorway, her pink vest flapping open as she bounced on her toes, her sky-blue eyes alight with excitement. You’re not gonna believe what I brought!" She held up a small, clear plastic bag, which she shook slightly, causing the contents to clink together.
"Poppy, what is it?" Reynaldo asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Something *special*," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I made it myself. It's a special bubble gum blend—extra chewy, extra big-bubble potential. I thought you might want to watch me blow some big bubblegum bubbles before school.” Poppy said,
her eyes sparkling with mischief as she held up the bag of bubble gum. “I mean, you always say you love watching Sam eat, so I thought you might enjoy watching me blow some giant bubbles too.” Poppy said, her voice filled with playful teasing as she watched Reynaldo's eyes widen in surprise.
Reynaldo chuckled, shaking his head as he reached out to take the bag from Poppy. "Well, Poppy, you know I can't resist a good challenge. And I do love watching you blow those bubbles. It's like watching a master at work." He opened the bag, pulling out a single piece of gum and unwrapping it with a practiced ease.
The scent of cherry and vanilla filled the air, sweet and intoxicating. "Poppy, this is *perfect*," Reynaldo said, his voice warm and appreciative. "I love how you put so much thought into things like this."
Poppy beamed, her freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks. "You know me, Rey. I like to make sure everything is *extra* special for you." She bounced on her toes, her bright pink sneakers barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. "So, Sam, you wanna watch me blow some bubbles before we head out? I’m make sure they’re *extra* big today.” Poppy said, her voice bubbling with excitement as she pulled a second piece of gum from the bag, her braces glinting in the morning light. She popped it into her mouth, locking eyes with Reynaldo as she began to chew.
Her cheeks hollowed, her tongue darting out to catch a stray piece of gum that had stuck to her lip. Reynaldo watched, entranced, as she worked the gum around her mouth, her eyes never leaving his.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice muffled by the gum.
Reynaldo nodded, his eyes wide with anticipation. "Ready."
Poppy took a deep breath, her cheeks puffing out as she began to blow. The gum stretched and expanded, growing larger and larger until it was the size of a small balloon. Reynaldo watched in awe, his heart pounding in his chest as Poppy's bubble grew bigger and bigger, threatening to pop at any moment.
Sam leaned in, her eyes wide with fascination, her large hands resting on the countertop as she watched the spectacle unfold.
"Poppy, that's... that's *insane*," Sam breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never seen anything like it."
Poppy grinned, her eyes sparkling with pride as she continued to blow, her cheeks flushed with exertion. "Thanks, Sam. I've been practicing. I want to make sure I can blow the biggest bubbles for Rey."
Reynaldo's heart swelled at her words, and he reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Poppy, you're incredible.
I can't believe you can blow bubbles like that," Reynaldo said, his voice filled with admiration. He turned to Sam, "Sam, you should see this. Poppy's bubble is bigger than my head."
Sam leaned forward, her teal eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Oh my god, Poppy, that's amazing! How do you do it?"
Poppy giggled, her braces catching the light. "I just practice a lot. And I use this special gum that's extra chewy." She took a deep breath, blowing harder, and the bubble stretched even more, its translucent pink surface shimmering under the kitchen lights.
Reynaldo and Sam watched in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief. The bubble was now the size of a small beach ball, threatening to pop at any moment.
"Poppy, that's... that's *huge*," Sam breathed, her voice filled with admiration.
Poppy grinned, her cheeks flushed with exertion. "Poppy, you're incredible.
She took a deep breath, blowing harder, and the bubble stretched even more, its translucent pink surface shimmering under the kitchen lights.
Reynaldo and Sam watched in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The bubble hovered, shimmering like a giant soap bubble in the air, its translucent pink surface catching the morning light. Poppy’s cheeks were flushed, her breath coming in short, excited bursts as she held it there, defying gravity.
“Poppy, you’re *amazing*,” Reynaldo whispered, his voice thick with admiration. He reached out, gently pressing a kiss to her temple, his fingers lingering on the softness of her ginger waves. “I don’t know how you do it.”
Poppy let out a breathy laugh, her bubble finally popping with a soft *plink* against the ceiling. The sound was almost musical, like a tiny, pink bell ringing in the kitchen.
Poppy's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Reynaldo, her cheeks flushed from the effort. "Thanks, Rey. I'm glad you liked it." She leaned in, pressing a soft, quick kiss to his cheek before Reynaldo made further conversation with her. "You know, Poppy, in an episode of *Girl VS Food with Samantha Sparks*, Sam was in Amarillo, Texas to take on a 72-pound steak challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch. In order to win, you had to eat a 72-pound steak, 144 shrimp cocktails, 216 dinner salads, 288 baked potatoes, and 360 dinner rolls in under an hour. But her first stop was the one place locals say has the best burger in town - The Coyote Bluff Cafe. And it’s known for one burger in particular - The Burger From Hell. It’s an 8-pound patty of lean ground beef covered in grilled jalapeños, homemade habanero sauce, and cayenne pepper sauce, smothered in 16 pounds of cheese. Wanna see her eating shots?" Reynaldo asked, turning the laptop towards Poppy.
He hit play on a clip from the show, and the screen filled with a close-up of Sam’s mouth, her lips stretched wide as she took a massive bite of the Burger From Hell. The cheese glistened under the studio lights, and Sam’s tongue darted out, catching a stray drip of habanero sauce.
Poppy’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock. “Oh my god, Sam. That’s… that’s *insane*.”
Sam laughed, her freckles dancing as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, well, I’ve been training for this since I was a kid. Growing up in Canada, you learn to handle the cold, but you also learn to handle the *heat*,” Sam said, her voice warm and teasing as she reached for another fry from the basket. “And Rey, you know I don’t back down from a challenge.”
Reynaldo grinned, his dark eyes sparkling as he leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “I know, I know. You’re a force of nature, Sam Sparks. But you know what? I think I’m starting to like watching you eat more than I like eating myself.”
Sam laughed, her plump lips parting as she bit into another fry, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Rey, you're *such* a pervert. But fine, I'll let you watch. And I assure you, it's very pretty." She turned the laptop screen toward him again, pulling up a clip from her most recent challenge: the "Burger From Hell" at The Coyote Bluff Café. The screen filled with a close-up of her mouth, her lips stretched wide as she took a massive bite. The cheese dripped, the habanero sauce glistened, and Sam’s tongue darted out to catch a stray drip.
Reynaldo watched, mesmerized, his fingers tracing the curve of her jaw.
The camera angle was so intimate, so *raw*—Sam’s lips stretched wide, her teeth glinting with the remnants of the burger, her tongue darting out to catch the last bit of cayenne sauce. It was like watching a masterpiece unfold, something both beautiful and brutal.
Poppy leaned in beside him, her ginger waves brushing against Reynaldo’s arm. “Rey, that’s *so* hot,” she whispered, her voice breathy with excitement. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like watching a *food performance*.”
Reynaldo turned to her, his dark eyes twinkling. “And she was also eating another one of Coyote Bluff‘s signature dishes: their totally decadent and delicious chili cheese fries. 20 pounds of fries, 10 pounds of cheese, and fresh green chilies on there. Wanna see her eating shots?" Reynaldo asked, turning the laptop towards Poppy.
Poppy’s eyes lit up like a neon sign in a candy store. "Oh my god, *yes*." She leaned in, her pink vest brushing against Reynaldo’s arm as she watched the screen. Sam’s face was flushed, her freckles standing out like tiny constellations against her rosy cheeks. She was mid-bite, her lips stretched wide, the cheese melting in slow motion, the habanero sauce glistening like liquid gold.
"Rey, this is *art*," Poppy breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
She leaned closer, her sharp ginger eyebrows knitting together in fascination. "I mean, I’ve seen you eat—you’re *good*—but Sam? She’s a whole *spectacle*."
Reynaldo chuckled, his fingers still tracing the soft curve of Sam’s jaw. "I know. She’s a natural performer." He turned the laptop back toward Sam, who was now wiping her mouth with a napkin, her plump lips glistening with cheese and sauce. "And she’s *mine*."
Sam’s teal eyes flickered up at him, her freckles dancing as she smirked. "Oh, so now you’re claiming me, huh?