Page 56 of The Gaybor War

But it's the hat that nearly takes me out. A flaming pepper decorates the front above the words: HOT STUFF

His chili sits in a shiny red crockpot labeled BENJI’S FIVE-ALARM BAD DECISIONS.

I stare at it, trying to determine whether he actually made the chili or if he wandered into a restaurant kitchen, flirted with a chef, and left with a recipe and three new admirers.

He catches me looking.

“Problem?” he asks pleasantly.

“What store did you buy that from?”

“You mean the ingredients?”

"No, I mean the chili cooked entirely by some restaurant."

Benji presses a hand to his chest. "Wow. That's a serious accusation."

"You know what you did."

"Oh, sweetheart." He shakes his head. "You should be more confident in your own chili. This insecurity is heartbreaking to watch."

"I'm not insecure."

His smirk is spicier than his shirt. "Sure. Run along back to your table. You’re blocking my line."

"What line?"

"The one where people come tell me how handsome I am."

"That line doesn't exist."

He glances past me. "Oh, look. First customer."

I turn to see an elderly woman walking toward us.

Benji beams. "The people have spoken."

The urge to knock his crockpot off the table is strong, but I suppress it and return to my station.

The girls hover immediately. Kiki claps her hands like she's watching a prize fight. Shania is already collecting cash from people. Malia is filming something that will absolutely end up in the group chat.

"Ohhh," Kiki sings. "Chili rivalry. I love this season."

"There is no rivalry," I say with all the neutrality I can muster.

Benji smiles at her. "There absolutely is."

I ladle my chili into sample cups with controlled precision. He does it with flair. We don’t look at each other, but we are aggressively aware of each other.

Someone tastes mine and nods approvingly. Benji arches a perfectly plucked eyebrow. Someone tastes his and groans dramatically. I refuse to react.

"This one has depth," Candace says, sampling mine.

"Mine has drama," Benji counters without missing a beat.

"I don't trust chili described as dramatic."

"You eat unseasoned chicken."