Caprice lined them up with Mandy behind the camera and Joelle distributing trays like she’d been born overseeing diplomatic food service.
“Small bites,” Mandy said. “No talking with your mouth full. No insulting anyone’s life choices unless you’ve swallowed first.”
Tyler took Flint’s bacon-wrapped dog first. His eyes widened before he’d even finished chewing.
“Oh, that’s good.”
Flint nodded once, like he’d expected no less.
Benny took a bite and made a happy sound. “It tastes like camping but with better bacon.”
“That may be the best review anyone’s ever gotten,” Ed muttered.
Genevieve held her hot dog with both hands. “The beans are smoky. I like the sweet part.”
Lily chewed carefully, head tilted. “The bacon texture is strong. The bean ratio helps because otherwise it could be too salty.”
Flint looked at her for a beat. “That’s fair.”
She nodded with grave approval. “I’m experienced.”
“With bacon?” Tyler asked.
“I’m experienced with being correct.”
I pressed my lips together.
Caprice pointed at me. “Don’t laugh. You’re next.”
Joelle handed out my bison dogs.
Tyler looked skeptical. “There’s salad on it.”
“It’s slaw,” I said.
“That’s salad in disguise.”
“It’s crunch with purpose.”
He studied me, then took a bite.
The clearing went quiet enough for me to hear the coals pop.
Tyler chewed.
His eyebrows went up.
“Oh,” he said.
I put a hand to my chest. “I heard that oh.”
He took another bite. “Okay, that works.”
Benny dove in with less suspicion. Mustard hit his cheek. “This is fancy, but not weird fancy.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“No, that’s good. Weird fancy is when grown-ups put flowers in soup.”
