Love can make you do crazy things. Including ignoring the results of numerous scientific studies from reputable sources.

Sylvester rocked back and forth on his feet next to the microwave oven, watching the numbers change on the timer. "47 and a half seconds is optimal."

Megan watched him from her seat as she tore open the bag of marshmallows. She craned her neck slightly to the side to read the writing on the upside down packet. "It says one minute. Sit down."

He held one finger up in the air- "Almost…now." Beep- pressed the stop button, and opened the door. Two ceramic mugs of steaming instant cocoa sat side by side. Sylvester gripped the handles and pulled the cups out, bumping the door closed with his elbow. He gingerly carried the cups over to the table and set them down, nudging hers closer to her end of the small round table.

With a wide smile, Megan grabbed a teaspoon from a basket of various mismatched kitchen utensils and dipped it into her cup, stirring. She brought her face close to the surface of the hot liquid. "Mmm…heavenly."

Sylvester stared at her, mesmerized by her obvious pleasure and the way she gracefully pinched two large marshmallows from the bag and plopped them into her cup. At times, it was so easy to forget that she was incapable of leaping from her chair.

She lifted her pretty eyes to his, and he remembered his own cup. Grabbing it from the table, he leaned over and took a quick sip. Without stirring. Which was a big mistake.

"Ow!" Droplets of cocoa sprayed everywhere as he leapt out of his chair. Sylvester sucked in a cooling breath of air, released the mug and fanned his burnt lips, tongue hanging limply out of his mouth. "Man, that's hot!"

A tinkling sound, like tiny wind chimes, caught his ear. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he looked in her direction. Megan held her hand over her mouth, eyes closed, trying to keep from laughing any more than she had. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah…what? Did I do something funny? Say something?" He was completely baffled. Easing into the chair, he placed his hands flat on the table. "Seriously, what?"

"It wasn't something you said; it was what I was expecting you to say."

His brows scrunched in confusion. "What were you expecting, then?"

She gave him a slow, easy smile. "'Suffering succotash' ,that's what."

It dawned on him. "Oh, right…I may have heard that one before." Sylvester reached for a marshmallow, popping it in his mouth. "Yours should be okay by now."

Raising the mug to her lips, she took a delicate sip. "Mmm…it's a little different. Did you use 2% milk this time?" Megan licked her upper lip, frowning. "No, that's not it. There's something…spicy about it this time…"

"I added a little nutmeg." The moment the words left his mouth, his eyes widened. "Yikes." He covered his face with both hands, blushing. "I can't believe I said that."

Megan touched his arm and he uncovered one eye. "It's okay." She grinned and squeezed his arm lightly. "I guess that makes us even, then."