We stop at the end of a dock to watch the sun set over Lake Washington. Red, blue, pink, and orange swirl in the sky and reflect off the choppy lake surface. This has been another perfect night. There’s a chill in the air, but thanks to MJ’s essence, I don’t have goose bumps on my skin. I’m so comfortable. I feel as if it’s the end of August, even though Halloween and my seventeenth birthday are nine days away. Hannah’s skipping rocks by the boat landing with a friend who’s here with her family as well. My parents are on the patio behind MJ and me, trying to hide the fact that they’re watching us. Not that it matters. They’re just another set of eyes watching and waiting for something to happen. At least the intention behind their spying is honorable—they’re doing it because they love me. I’m still glad for this moment. Even with my family nearby, this moment feels like a date. “You’re incredible, MJ,” I say as the last speck of sunlight disappears and dusk settles over the water.
