“I think that’s the st of it,” said Will.

  “That doesn’t mean we have to get up.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  They had watched rocket after rocket unch from the end of the pier, to explode in bursts of light and color, reflecting across the still Gulf. Far out over the water, nature had provided fireworks of its own, lightning pying against distant clouds. Fortunately, none of them and their attendant rain had found their way to nd. The crowds on the beach were now moving toward their cars or homes, some at a considerable distance. People would walk quite a way for the best seats in town.

  Kris was willing to sit here on the Summerlin’s grass, with Will’s arm around her. They had become serious, hadn’t they? But no sex. No fireworks! Not yet. It was going to happen before this summer was over, wasn’t it?

  She thought she was ready for it. Ready in every way. Of course, Kris’s mom had made sure she was on the pill quite some time ago. Her lips rose to Will’s, her hand slipped under his tee, to slide across his firm midsection. He was probably aroused but it was not the time nor pce for anything more than this.

  Not that she would mind his hands exploring a bit too. Yes, like that. “Mmmm.”

  Then, “Mackie’s taking you home, isn’t he?” she whispered. “We should probably find him before he finds us.”

  “Yeah.” Will breathed in and out, deeply. “Good idea. I think he and Jeff were watching over there.” He rose and gestured toward the dark southwest corner of the wn, made darker by the shadows of the tall hibiscus hedge between the Summerlins and their neighbors. They walked, hand in hand, not speaking.

  Ah, there they were—among the shadows, two more shadows. One shadow put its arm around the other, lips met. Kris and Will backed away quickly.

  “Do you think they—they knew we were there? That we saw them?” she whispered a few seconds ter. For some reason, she did not feel very shocked. More embarrassed, really.

  “Dunno.” Will sighed. “I kinda knew about Mack,” he admitted. “I mean, he never said anything and neither did I but—”

  Yeah, that ‘but.’ It found its way into so many uncomfortable conversations. “And you never, ever said anything to me, even when I dated him for months.”

  “That was up to him, wasn’t it? Besides, someone as sexy as you might have turned him straight. I could always hope.” A smile might have come and gone quickly; it was hard to tell in the dark. “I mean, he was dating you so I thought maybe he liked girls some.”

  “‘Some’ wasn’t enough, I guess. Hey, I’m not mad at you about it.” She wasn’t. Not at all. Mackie was—high school, and high school had ended. “And I’m certainly not mad at Mackie. Let him know that, will you?”

  “Sure. You might want to yourself.”

  Kris wasn’t quite that comfortable with all this. She and Mackie would probably never mention it. “I really, really want to let Jelly in on this and disillusion her about Jeff. But I guess I should do like you and keep my mouth shut.” That did not mean Ronnie and Joey weren’t going to hear about it.

  “She thinks he is cute, doesn’t she?”

  “I think she feels that way about men in general. And they do about her. You think she’s sexy, don’t you? C’mon, admit it. I won’t hit you. Probably not.”

  “You’re just as sexy as Angelica. Only in a smaller package.”

  “Well, that’s a pretty good answer. I’ll let you get by with it.”

  “It may be a little awkward riding home with them now,” said Will. “If they saw us, um, see them.”

  “I doubt they would say anything.”

  “Guess not. Is James gonna do any more burgers?”

  They were in the open, near the house now. The moon, a week from full, added its illumination to that of the lights on the porch. “Not much of anyone left,” she said. “But then not much of anyone came. An was right about everyone keeping it secret. Oh, there’s Grubby.” She waved toward him. He was sitting on one of the tables, in his usual white tee and shorts, talking to the guitarists. Their cases were all closed and fastened.

  His young follower had not come tonight. Maybe he wasn’t following Grubby anymore. A few others had drifted in and out. Whether anyone had actually invited them, she wasn’t sure. Kris looked around. Daryl and Sandy were gone. Somehow she doubted she would see the two in each other’s company again.

  Joey and Jam huddled by the grill. Coals still glowed in its recesses, casting their own dim orange-red light on the couple. She started in their direction; Will followed.

  “Will is hungry,” she announced. “Maybe I am too.”

  “And here I was just about to put all this away. I really brought out more than was needed.” James waved a hand toward the uncooked burgers and hot dogs. “The tomatoes are a bit limp now and An’s used up all the onions. He doesn’t eat meat but he has nothing against onion sandwiches.”

  “Poor Ronnie,” Joey added to this.

  “I’m going to throw everything that’s left on the grill,” James decided. “It’s safer, isn’t it? I mean to cook it thoroughly instead of putting the leftovers away raw.”

  “Kris could always take them home to her dog,” offered Joey.

  “That’s my mom’s dog and she would have fits if I fed her that sort of thing.”

  “Well then, An could. I’m sure the dogs in his house aren’t vegetarians.”

  “And neither are the cats nor the ferrets,” said An. He and Ronnie had ambled up. Both looked sleepy. Kris suspected she looked sleepy herself. “We’re going to go now. Thanks for having us, Jam.”

  “Thank Angelica too.” James looked around. “Where’d she go?”

  “Inside,” said Ronnie.

  “And, uh, Grubby went with her.” An looked as if he wasn’t sure he should have added that. There was a quick sidelong gnce at his companion but her expression didn’t change.

  “Knew I shouldn’t have let her have a key,” mumbled James. “Take care getting home.” He began ying burgers and dogs on the grill.

  A couple minutes ter, the AMC station wagon disappeared into the night. “Ronnie’s going to college in Gainesville, right?” asked James as he flipped burgers. Joey nodded so he went on. “And Kris in Miami and Joey in Fort Myers. You girls have your pns for fall all set and I’m still not sure what I’m going to do. How about you, Will? Decided to go with Stillman?”

  There was a definite pause before Will answered. “Between the draft and, well, money questions, I’m not sure where I’m heading. Have to decide soon.” That st sort of trailed off, almost as if he were saying it only to himself.

  “We should talk about this some day when we have more time. We could give each other bad advice. These are ready. Get buns if you want ’em. Ketchup and mustard over there, and mushy tomatoes.”

  Kris informed him, “Joey doesn’t like ketchup.”

  “At least you’ve learned something about me over the st twelve years. My mom and I put spaghetti sauce on our burgers. Mom puts it in meat loaf too. We like it better.”

  “I’ll have to suggest that to Sylvie, not that she would think of serving us meat loaf. Now who’s going to help finish off the leftover beer?”

  “Not me or Joey. We need to ride our bikes home.”

  “Oh, maybe just one,” said Joey.

  “Yeah, one would be okay. We can’t let it spoil!”

  “Hey, isn’t Macklin taking you home, Will?” asked James. “He didn’t leave already, did he?”

  “Nope. I suspect he and Jeff will remember me eventually.” Will took the proffered beer and chugged half of it down.

  “Yes. I suspect they will,” agreed James.