"He's going to read the sponsor script," Ruby says.
Maggie's gaze goes dreamy. "With sincerity."
Darla smiles. "He's going to say 'What's up, y'all' and mean it."
I press my palm to my mouth, laughter leaking anyway.
Ruby adds pre-written "fan mail" to "Mr. James (Wise Man)" on the board.
"Kyle and Rider," Candace says.
"Kyle is too easy," Maggie says. "He'll help them."
Candace nods. "Traitor waiting to happen."
"So we recruit him." Ruby's eyes widen. "Clipboard. Headset. Lanyard. 'Prank War Compliance Officer.'"
Candace's mouth twitches. "He will take it seriously."
"He will die trying," Maggie says fondly.
Under RIDER, Ruby hesitates.
"What if we make Rider plan something?" Darla says. "Something ridiculous."
"A themed ride," Maggie says.
Ruby's face lights up. "We give him a binder. Tabs. Corporate energy."
"He's going to throw the binder at you," Candace says.
Ruby shrugs. "It's a weapon either way. Win-win."
She writes under RIDER: THEMED RIDE COORDINATOR—"SYNCHRONIZED RIDE ROUTE," color-coded stops, mandatory team-building icebreaker at first gas station.
Frankie laughs despite herself. "You're going to get us killed."
"We're going to humble them."
Candace's gaze travels the whiteboard. "Timing matters. Stagger them. Give them time to hope, and take it away."
Maggie nods. "Keep them disoriented so they can't prepare."
Ruby snaps the marker cap. "Now we assign roles."
The front door downstairs creaks. A soft thud follows, as though a hand landed on the banister. Frankie stills, bottle halfway to her mouth. Her gaze flicks to the hallway.
"Did you invite someone?" Maggie asks lightly, but her hand finds the coffee table edge.
Ruby's grin fades into alertness. Candace's eyes lock on the doorway.
"No," Frankie says. Another creak. Closer. Her phone buzzes. She glances down, expression tightening before she smooths it away. "Arden's stopping by."
Ruby's grin goes wicked. "To join the war?"
"To check on the stray," Frankie says flatly.
Darla pauses mid-bite. "A dog?"
