diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0c0c5bc..753f43f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ This is the site for [Aces](https://aces.hackclub.com), a 48 hour hackathon run
 
 If you're here to contribute to the Gallery, hold on tight!
 
-
+ 
 
 ## Development - Getting Started
 
diff --git a/src/components/Button.tsx b/src/components/Button.tsx
index 205b6bc..799d200 100644
--- a/src/components/Button.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Button.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import clsx from "clsx";
+import { ReactNode } from "react";
 
 interface ButtonProps extends React.ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> {
   color: "rose" | "red" | "white";
   invert?: boolean;
   href?: string;
   disable?: boolean;
-  children: React.ReactNode;
+  children: ReactNode;
 }
 
 const baseClasses =
diff --git a/src/pages/api/rsvp.ts b/src/pages/api/rsvp.ts
index ee5ab2e..b23b07d 100644
--- a/src/pages/api/rsvp.ts
+++ b/src/pages/api/rsvp.ts
@@ -1,48 +1,38 @@
+// src/pages/api/rsvp.ts
 import { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from "next";
 
-async function getCount() {
-  let offset;
+// Rewritten to ensure a single background updater reloads the cached count every 30s.
+
+async function getCount(): Promise<number> {
+  let offset: string | undefined;
   let count = 0;
 
   do {
     const url = new URL(`https://api.airtable.com/v0/${process.env.RSVP_AIRTABLE_BASE_ID}/RSVPs`);
     if (offset) url.searchParams.set("offset", offset);
 
-    const res = await fetch(url, {
+    const res = await fetch(url.toString(), {
       headers: {
         Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.RSVP_AIRTABLE_API_KEY}`,
       },
     });
+
     if (!res.ok) {
-      console.error(res.statusText);
-      throw new Error(res.statusText);
+      const text = await res.text().catch(() => res.statusText);
+      console.error("Airtable request failed:", res.status, text);
+      throw new Error(text || "Airtable request failed");
     }
+
     const data = await res.json();
-    count += data.records?.length ?? 0;
+    count += (data.records?.length ?? 0);
     offset = data.offset;
 
-    if (offset) await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+    if (offset) await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 200));
   } while (offset);
 
   return count;
 }
 
-let cached = { value: -1, updated: 0 };
-
-// Cache duration in milliseconds
-const CACHE_DURATION = 30000;
-
-export default async function handler(_req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
-  const now = Date.now();
-  if (now - cached.updated > CACHE_DURATION) {
-    try {
-      const count = await getCount();
-      cached = { value: count, updated: now };
-      console.log("cached value", cached.value, "updatedAt", new Date(cached.updated).toISOString());
-    } catch (err: unknown) {
-      console.error("getCount failed:", err);
-      res.status(500).json({ error: "couldnt get count" });
-    }
-  }
-  res.status(200).json({ count: cached.value });
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+export default function handler(_req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
+  getCount().then(count => res.status(200).json({ count }));
+}