“Just because you spat at my offer of free tickets doesn’t mean everyone hates an open bar, light refreshments and rubbing shoulders,” Sophie said, guiding them through the room to one of the other arches leading to a far emptier hall that seemed to contain dinosaur bones, of all things.

The music and crowd sounds were muted here, and Cooper could see his dad and Dean standing in a small group of guests listening intently to a woman in a black zoo polo holding a very large snake. There were another three zoo personnel standing around as well, on hand to help and limiting the number of people who could walk up to the snake at once. Among them, Cooper recognized Ryan, who waved cheerfully, causing a number of the guests to look as well, including Dean and finally Ed, whose expression became almost comically surprised.

Dean walked over, Ed shuffling after him after a moment’s pause. “Damn! Looking snazzy, you two!” Dean said, snapping his fingers.

“Coop,” Ed said. “You look...so...” He just sort of trailed off blinking, bewildered. Then looked at Park. “Oliver.” He held out his hand as if to shake, then his arms went up for a hug, then dropped and fiddled indecisively with the lapel of his old suit jacket—the same one he’d worn for Dean and Sophie’s wedding and, very possibly, Cooper’s high school graduation.

Park smiled as if he and he alone hadn’t noticed the awkwardness. “It’s good to see you all again.”

“Are you here working? Is this the third leg of the quest?” Dean asked, then lowered his voice. “No one’s dead, are they?”

“We’re just here to support a good cause,” Park said mildly, Cooper being too busy gearing up for the biggest eye roll of his life to respond himself.

“Might as well get your money’s worth then,” Sophie said, gesturing as some of the guests left to return to the main room. “Come meet the python. She’s very mellow. Are you comfortable with snakes, Oliver?”

They all started to walk over to replace the guests who’d left, but Ed held Cooper back. “Just a minute, I’d like to talk to you.”

“Dad, now’s not a good time—”

“It’ll just take a sec. Gosh, Coop, I—” Ed stopped, clearly catching sight of the hand brace. He grabbed Cooper’s forearm and held it up so he could cup the hand between them. “What happened? What is this?”

“It’s nothing. A little sprain. I’m fine.”

Ed opened his mouth, closed it, nodded. “Of course you’re fine. You always are.”