I couldn’t help myself. I suddenly burst out laughing. It wasn’t a polite chuckle or a suppressed giggle. It was a full-blown, gut-wrenching laugh that echoed in the room. My stomach ached, and I had to lean back in my chair to steady myself. The absurdity of it all hit me like a tidal wave, and I couldn’t contain it.
When I finally looked up, wiping tears from my eyes, I saw Tina Flager’s face. She was staring at me, astonished and horrified, her lips parted in disbelief. Her expression only made it harder to stop, but I managed to rein myself in.
“I’m sorry, Tina,” I said, holding up a hand as I struggled to catch my breath. “I’m sorry. That was either the biggest insult I’ve ever received in my life or the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. And instead of choosing the dark side, I decide
