It smells like summer, like the Fourth of July. Fireflies flicker among the trees, and those electric bug zappers crackle. Smoke and humidity swim in the air. Everything feels right. I don’t know what I was expecting the holiday on a reservation to be like, but normal was not an option. Terrence nudges me in the arm as we follow Micah to Pax’s house. “So, everything cool?” Terrence asks, keeping his voice low. I nod. Concern is visible in his eyes, but I can’t go into the zombie kiss out here in front of Micah’s family, with Micah in earshot. “You were right,” I say. “I was better off staying here because there’s no way in hell my mom would’ve broken out the grill.” Terrence laughs, and nothing more is said. I’ll tell him about the kiss and all the other million things running through my head later – if I can find my courage to actually talk about it with someone other than Micah.
