My fingers gripped the cashier’s check in my coat pocket so hard the paper crinkled under my nails.

“Thirty-two,” Vance said, his tone sharpening.

“Thirty-three,” Nate said.

“Thirty-five,” Vance barked, getting up off his metal stool.

“Thirty-six,” Nate said without taking a breath.

“Thirty-eight,” Vance said, staring straight at Nate now.

“Thirty-nine,” Nate said.

“Forty thousand,” Vance snapped, folding his arms across his quilted vest.