Kait was halfway through unloading a case of beer when someone behind her started arguing.

“Don’t let the food touch. Use the compartments. They will flip the fuck out,” Diablo said.

“What’s the big deal?” a prospect say.

“Unless you served, you wouldn’t get it. But trust me.”

The First Baptist Church of Dryden lot was already full. Trucks parked crookedFolding tables were set up uneven across the gravel, trays of food coming out faster than they could keep up with.

A prospect pushed past her with a leaking bag of ice, water running down his arm. He didn’t slow down.

Nobody did.

Kriket was talking to a hangaround somewhere off to the side. Click and Cloud hovered near the coolers, shifting things around like it helped. Kode walking around with Dafne already with a drink in his hand.

Kolton stepped in beside her, already reaching for the next case.

“Your wound, babe. Let me grab that for you.”

“I got it,” Kait said, not looking up.

He let it go, stayed there anyway.

They both looked out toward the far end of the lot without saying anything for a second.

The kids’ table was set off to the side, a little uneven like everything else. Paper plates, juice boxes, a couple of the older ones trying to act like they weren’t watching the adults.

Kyle sat near the end, legs stretched out too far under the table, talking with his hands like he always did.

Kait’s eyes stayed on him a second longer than the rest.

“He’s getting so big,” she said.

Kolton followed her line of sight.

“He is,” he said, like it was obvious.

Then his arm came around her shoulders, easy, familiar.

“He’s always asking about you.”

Kait didn’t move.

Didn’t lean into it either.

Kolton’s thumb brushed back and forth against her shoulder without thinking about it.

“If you’re coming over. When we can go to the movies…”

She didn’t answer that.

A couple of the kids laughed at something down the table. Kyle leaned forward, elbows on the plastic, talking over someone else like he needed to be heard.

Kolton watched him for a second, then looked back at her.

“He likes having you around,” he said. “And you know how much I—”

He stepped in front of her, hand settling at her waist like he was entitled to.

Kait finally looked up at him.

“Kolt…”

Kolton held her there anyway, like he was entitled to.

“We gotta—”

Kait stepped back releasing herself gently.

Kolton only smirked and snuck a quick kiss.

“Come help me check the trays,” she said dragging him by the hand.

“Buster,” Click called out from near the coolers. “Hey—”

Buster didn’t look up right away. He was digging through a box, moving things around like he knew exactly what he was looking for.

“What.”

Click hesitated, glancing once at Cloud like he wasn’t sure how to ask without sounding stupid.

“You got any pointers or anything?” he said. “Like—starting out.”

Buster snorted under his breath and finally straightened up, red Solo cup in one hand.

“Yeah,” he said. “Don’t stand around asking stupid questions.”

Cloud laughed. Click didn’t.

Buster took a drink.

“No, for real. Watch and listen,” he added, nodding toward the lot. “You’ll figure out the rest. And don’t be an asshole.”

Click nodded, taking that in like it meant more than it did.

Buster grabbed a bottle off the table and twisted the cap loose with his teeth.

“That’s it?” Click asked.

Buster shrugged.

“That’s it.”