The Takeout by Tracy Badua

Author:Tracy Badua
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

13

THE SUN HAS JUST SET OVER THE EDGE OF the parking lot. My belly threatens to burst and my hair smells like barbecue. Grandma, Dad, Mr. Ram, and Avery mill around the front doors of Prime BBBQ. The eating-contest distraction ended in a draw. Avery inhaled the most plates, but Mr. Ram gobbled up the spiciest kimchi. They awarded Dad the consolation prize of best grillmaster, which he accepted gladly. Annie packed up a complimentary slice of chocolate birthday cake to go for me, because none of us had room for another bite.

Catalina, Ajay, and I stand by Avery’s car. Catalina digs for mints in her purse, and Ajay snaps a few artsy photos of the Prime BBBQ storefront. I clutch my takeout cake and the box with the VexHex.

“Thanks for the potion. I hope it does the trick,” I say to Catalina.

“You need to have faith,” she says, popping a mint. She offers me one. “This magic is in your blood too, you know.”

I shake my head. She wasn’t there for my failed Brightening Brew in Grandma’s kitchen or the times I’ve attempted, and failed, to make more MettleMix. Of course I have faith: Why else would I continue to even try? It all proves that my magic skills aren’t enough, that I’m not enough. But I don’t want to ruin this otherwise successful birthday dinner by debating it.

Instead, I change the subject. “Thank Avery for me. We couldn’t have snuck away for as long as we did without their competitive eating skills.”

Catalina slings an arm around my shoulders. Even though we sat right next to each other at dinner, she somehow smells like her almond-scented body lotion, while I reek of chicken. “So what’d you two find out?”

Ajay pockets his phone. “Before they were famous, the Darlingtons ripped off this place’s menu for their own restaurant. Like they’re doing with the Banana Leaf. And they’ve apparently got a squad of threatening goons cleaning up after them and keeping everyone quiet too.”

Catalina shakes her head. “Do you think you should maybe cool it, then? It’s one thing to expose frauds. It’s another to expose frauds who have a lot of money and power. I live two hours away, not even counting traffic. I can’t swing in to save you.”

The way she puts it gives me pause. Dad and Mr. Ram are having a hard enough time scrounging up money for new truck tires—how could they possibly pay for legal bills to fight the Darlingtons?

My grip around Catalina’s gift box tightens. With this potion, we may be able to get more of the answers we need. But will it be enough?

“We have to keep going,” I say shakily. “We can’t let them ruin anyone else’s dreams. We’ll find a way to blow this up so that there’s no way they can touch us.” I haven’t figured out just how yet, but maybe I’ll think better when I’m not stuffed to the brim with banchan.

“I have some ideas on spreading the word,” Ajay says.

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