Rocky Raymond //Book Six// - COMPLETED

Chapter 24 - Love is a Battlefield

MacKenzie's POV

Barry and I walk over to the table for breakfast that Iris had been cooking. Normally when she cooks...it does not go well at all. But today, the food actually looks...edible

"Surprise, babe." Iris tells Barry

"Yeah, wow." Barry says, pulling out a chair for me and I sit and then he sits down. "This is not a banana." He says, looking at the pancakes in front of us

"I know Valentine's Day isn't for a couple of days, but I thought why not?" Iris says. "Let me surprise my hubby and my daughter before some crazy meta-of-the-week strikes." She says, pouring Barry some orange juice

"Here, wait, I got it." Barry says, gently taking the jug from her. "How's your arm?"

"Oh, um, I mean, it stings, but it's a bit better." Iris says

"Yeah?" Barry whispers before looking over at me. "How's your arm?" He asks

"Still in a cast." I tell him with a small laugh. He gives me a look. "It's fine. No pain." I tell him seriously

The microwave beeps. "That's your hot chocolate, Mack." Iris says, standing up from her seat. She looks at Barry. "You know, if you really want a banana, I could always go in the kitchen–"

"No, no." Barry tells her as she goes to walk to the kitchen. "No, I don't need a banana. This all looks awesome. I mean, the pancakes are really round." He says, staring at the food. "Excited to taste 'em with my mouth." He says, his voice wavering slightly. He shoots me a look, nodding down to my pancakes

"No way." I whisper to him. "I'm not going first."

"Where's the solidarity?" Barry asks in a whisper. "Besides, they actually look good."

"You know what else looks good?" I whisper to him as Iris makes her way over. "Food that's been poisoned."

"We're not in an action movie." Barry whispers to me

"Here you are, sweetie." Iris says, setting down the hot chocolate in front of me

"Thanks mom." I say, looking at the mug. Steam was coming off the top, it was too hot to drink from

"Did you try your pancakes?" Iris asks me to which Barry shoots me a smug look

"Not yet." I tell her. "I can't cut with my arm in a cast and all." I say

"Oh, I'll cut them for you." Iris tells me, sitting down next to me and pulling my plate over to her. She begins to cut my pancakes and looks over at Barry. "Go on, babe, try them." She says as she continues to cut my pancakes

I look at Barry who locks eyes with me. 'Good luck' I mouth to him

Barry takes a bite of his pancake, anticipating it to be bad. But then he turns his head and takes another bite. "Oh, my God." He says. "When did you learn to... I mean, these are really good."

"Thank you." Iris says and I turn my head as she places my plate back in front of me

Barry takes a sip of his orange juice. "Is this fresh-squeezed?" He asks

"Mm-hmm." Iris says. "Oh, um we may or may not now own a very expensive juicer."

"Mack, you gotta try them." Barry tells me, nodding to my pancakes

I grab my fork and grab a piece of pancake. I take a bite, fully expecting Barry to be tricking me. My gag reflex is awful and if I don't like food, I don't keep it in my mouth. But...the pancakes are delicious. "Oh, wow." I say, taking another bite. "Mom, these are delicious."