Chris shifted from that easy concern that Krem found awfully charming into the more paternalistic edge like when he'd found Krem out swimming and couldn't even look below his collarbone. Krem was tempted to ignore the question entirely, because it was a stupid one. Even if he had known, he still would have done the competition. At least half the food around here was drugged in some way or another, and if he was that picky about it, he was never going to eat anything.

"Are you going to ask me that every time I try to make a pass at you? Or just after I've eaten something?"

He stepped ahead a little, turning so that he could face Chris and walk backwards, still heading toward the shade they'd started out toward. "Because I've been trying to figure out how to let you know I'm interested since you started tossing me around that day on the beach."