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Lucy placed two waters on the table and looked at our solemn faces. “Are we having an emotional breakthrough before the buffet?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Good. Get it out now. Once the timer starts, I only stop for food-related emergencies. Ready for round two?”

The manager placed the giant digital timer right next to the massive platter.

Hudson looked across the table at me. “Strategy?”

“Protein first,” I said. “Limited rice. Avoid anything too saucy early.”

“Good.”

“I’ll take the crab rangoon and dumplings again,” I offered.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll start with the heavier proteins first. Get those out of the way.”

Lucy watched us. “You really did train.”

“We’ve been discussing this for thirty seconds,” I said.

“You both look alarmingly serious.”

Hudson picked up his fork. “We intend to win.”

The manager raised one hand, hovering over the start button on the timer. “Ready?”

I grabbed a crab rangoon, and Hudson pulled the rice bowl closer.

“Go.”

The timer started.

The initial stretch vanished quickly. Running had left me hungry enough that the food tasted incredible. My body welcomed the protein, salt, and carbohydrates without the heaviness I remembered from our previous challenge.

Hudson ate with terrifying focus.

I pointed my fork at him. “Slow down.”

“We have a time limit.”

“You’re going to make yourself sick.”

I watched him finish off a chicken skewer. “You’re showing off.”

“You’re behind.”

That ended the conversation. We put our heads down and worked through the platter.

I pulled four crab rangoon onto my side of the platter and started in on the first one.

Hudson glanced at my plate, then back at the dwindling pile in the center. “You’re tackling four of those right off the bat?”

“They take up space,” I said, pointing at them with my fork. “If we clear these out, the platter looks visually more manageable. It’s psychological warfare against the food.”

“They’re hollow corners of fried dough filled with cream cheese, Sloane. That’s pure liability.”

“They have protein,” I argued, chewing calmly before I swallowed. “Cream cheese counts.”