Chapter 99

Hadn’t been a big weight. Just…there. And fading. In sunshine, with a friendly shoulder-punch, with a beer someone put into his hand.

He’d hung out at this house before, with this group. He fit in here. Muscles and memories and friends who knew about training days and choreography and harnesses and the kind of pride that came with a long day’s work, full of physical exertion, and the knowledge that maybe nobody’d see their faces on camera but the movie couldn’t happen without them.

He wandered back Colby’s direction, balancing drinks and two cookies. He’d limit himself as far as the beer; he had to get them home, and also he was keeping an eye on Colby’s comfort level. Seemed fine so far, but still.

A hand appeared out of thin air and made a stretch for one cookie. Jason’s reflexes kicked in.