“Besides, you know I love that face you make when your surprise turns to anger,” he said. “That little crease between your brows lets me know I’ve done my job well.”
Lila shrugged his hand from her shoulder and walked away, refusing to indulge him any longer.
“You’re welcome!” he hollered after her.
She stuck her tongue out at him over her shoulder but continued walking. Her mom called her name in warning, and Lila gave her an innocent smile. Fine, maybe they were misbehaved children around one another.
“I’m going to kill him.” Lila flopped down on the swing bench beside her best friend.
Beth Ann draped an arm around her. “Oh, come on. Fireworks are awesome. Everyone loves them and seems to be having a good time. Just pretend it was all part of the plan. Take his credit.”
Lila snorted. “Yeah, right. Who would believe that?”
A loud boom echoed around them, and she watched as the sky glowed bright green and blue. Living outside of town, the Westons had a large backyard. With the Millers living next door, the two families shared the land, making the joined area even more spacious.
Lila’s dad and Mrs. Miller grew up together—best friends their entire lives. When he went off to college, they grew apart. For years, they only saw each other during holidays and summer breaks. When he moved back to Summersville with Lila’s mom, the three became near inseparable.
It was a story Lila knew well. Her father told it to her over and over as he explained the importance of friendship, trying to smooth things over between Lila and Gavin. She was sure Gavin had heard it just as much. They eventually stopped telling the story. She felt as if they’d given up just as much as Gavin. It had been a couple years since she last heard it.
A group of Gavin’s cousins laughed and ran by. Lila reached out and snatched up Emily before she could get away. The little girl squealed as Lila pulled her into her lap. “What are you doing, little monster?”
“Yi-ya, put me down!” Emily giggled.
The four year old’s mispronunciation of her name made Lila forget all her anger. She gave Emily a kiss on the cheek, squeezing her to her chest, then let go. The little girl skipped away, yelling to one of her older brothers. He stopped and squatted down so she could climb on his back. With her arms around his neck, he lifted her and ran after the others.
Lila couldn’t help but smile. Despite her strong dislike of Gavin, she loved his family. The Millers’ relatives visited often, and there were a lot of them. Lila’s father had one sister who lived on the other side of the country, whom they only saw a few times over the years. Her mom didn’t have any siblings, neither did Lila, so she always enjoyed having the extended-Millers around.
Apart from their families, a few of their parents’ friends and a couple of teenagers who worked at the Millers’ ice cream shop with Lila mingled around the party. Her coworkers had said hello and congratulated her before forming their own little circle, not interacting with anyone. No one else from their high school showed up, even though Lila had sent out invitations months in advance.
A momentary twinge of regret struck as she looked around, wishing she had done things a little different—that she was more involved in school while she had a chance. It would have been nice if at least a few people came.
The kids continued to laugh and play in the dim light of the tiki torches placed throughout the yards. Lila sighed as she watched fourteen-year-old Matthew spin Emily around on his back. “How is it they can be so fun and caring when Gavin is the worst?”
As if on cue, Gavin and Dylan strolled over to the swing.
“Ladies.” Dylan sat on Beth Ann’s other side, putting an arm around her. She laughed and playfully shoved him over.
Gavin lowered to the ground across from them, leaning back on his hands. “See, wasn’t that fun? You should’ve let me plan your party.”
“I’m actually surprised you two are having separate parties,” Dylan said.
With their birthdays only three days apart, they had shared a party every year until they turned eleven. After that disaster of a party, Lila started making up excuses about being too old and wanting to do something else. Even so, their families held all of their other holiday parties together.
“That was all her doing.” Gavin lightly kicked Lila’s swinging leg.
She rolled her eyes and looked to Dylan. “Having my own party was my graduation gift.”
“If we’d had a party together,” Gavin started, “at least people would have shown up.”
“Gavin!” Beth Ann hissed
Lila shrugged, trying to show his words didn’t hurt, then pulled her feet up beneath her to turn more toward Beth Ann. “Are you excited about New York?”
She knew the answer, it was all they’d talked about lately, but she wanted to change the subject. Beth Ann nodded, understanding. “Yes! I’m so anxious though.”
“I still can’t believe you’re going to Harleson.” Dylan stuck out his lip in an exaggerated pout.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave so early,” Lila said.
With an acceptance into an early summer program, it was Beth Ann’s last weekend home. She hooked an arm through Lila’s and pulled her close. “As soon as I’m all settled, you have to come visit.”
“New York would be a blast!” Dylan said. Gavin agreed and leaned up to bump his fist.
“Oh, no. I wasn’t inviting you two,” she clarified.
“Come on, Bethy,” Dylan pleaded as he pulled her away from Lila. He sat her on his lap and kissed her cheek. “You know you have to invite me.”
She gave in and smiled but didn’t respond. Instead, she stood, pointing toward the table on the back deck and mumbling about getting food. Dylan followed as he always did.
Lila wrapped her arms around herself, watching her friend
