“I wouldn’t—I don’t,” Darlene said, huffing more, and looking a little sullen. “Even if I would, we’re going to be linked up and my spinning around could distract him. One thousand.”

“Whatever,” Tattletale said. “Seven hundred, but that includes a thirty percent discount because we’ll take a route to stop and get Roadkill.”

“Yes!” Chicken Little exclaimed.

“What’s roadkill?” Darlene and Kenzie asked, almost simultaneous.

“Roadkill BBQ, it’s a restaurant. It’s so good, I’ve been wanting to bring some to you guys. It’s so worth the discount we’d be giving,” Chicken Little said. “I’ve asked Tattletale and Imp once a day for weeks because I loved it and I want you guys to try it too.”

“That’s sweet,” Kenzie said. There was no smile on her face, as she laid across the top of the desk, hands folded across her stomach, her head turning now and then to look at whoever was speaking, eyes large. At the same time, though, her legs kicked more than they had been, heels banging slightly against the heavy wood of the desk. She looked up at Darlene. “Thinking about us. What a good guy.”

“It’s really good,” Chicken Little said. “One of my favorite meals I’ve ever had and my favorite since after Gold Morning.”

“It’s manipulative of Tattletale, trying to get us to lose out on three hundred dollars,” Darlene was a little quieter, like her resistance was crumbling. “Just to get some dinner?”

“Say yes. Please.” Chicken Little said. “Roadkill is worth three hundred dollars.”

“For three hundred dollars we could pay someone to go pick some up and bring it here,” Darlene said. “And still have some left over.”

“Hey,” I said. “Kudos, Dar. Good thinking.”

Darlene smiled.

Tattletale gave me another eye roll.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me. We want to train them to negotiate well. It’s part of guiding them.”

Darlene added, more for Chicken Little and Kenzie’s benefit than mine, “I grew up with more brothers and sisters than I could really keep track of and we had to negotiate and fight over everything. Sometimes with powered older siblings or with our moms, too.”

“It’s good. Thinking outside of the box instead of getting zoomed-in on the back-and-forth,” I said.

She smiled more. Kenzie reached up and over her own head to give Darlene a pat on the back.

Tattletale looked a little exasperated, her expression and tone like she was considering me one of the children to be managed instead of a partner in this. “If you want me to pay a thousand—”

“Us to pay a thousand,” I said. Partners.

“Obviously,” Tattletale said. “We’re going to want to get our money’s worth. But if you want to relax a little, then you can have a dinner date—”

Darlene’s eyes narrowed, the others seemed unfazed.