{Elira}
~**^**~
"And then," Nari continued dramatically, lifting her chin high, "she turned on her heel and cat-walked away like the hallway was her personal runway. I swear, if someone had thrown rose petals, she would have thought it was part of the script."
That did it. The entire table burst into laughter. Even Tamryn, who rarely cracked, covered her mouth with one hand as her shoulders shook.
I laughed so hard my fork slipped, and the bite of rice I had just taken went the wrong way. A sharp and sudden cough tore through me.
Immediately, Juniper grabbed the nearest bottle of water, twisting it open with practiced ease and pushing it into my hand. Tamryn's palm pressed lightly against my back, steadying me while Cambria leaned closer with quiet concern in her eyes.
I gulped the water, the cool liquid soothing the burn in my throat until the coughing eased. My eyes watered, but I managed a shaky laugh. "I'm fine," I whispered. "Thank you."
