“Did anyone see Maven?” He asked his buddies. Everyone fell silent. “I take that as a no.”

Arnold Jones—Jake’s long-time friend—elbowed him. “Drink, loosen up and forget about girls for one night.” He handed over a small flask of liquor. They were all wasted as it was, but whatever it took to get Jake back in the moment and away from whining about Maven Wilder all night.

They all had heard the story of Maven too many times to count. How she all but made him a fool the day she refused to take him back. And how he suddenly realized after running around with Tatiana that Maven was the girl he wanted. Everyone knew Jake only wanted what he couldn’t have. Girls were a game to him. And he was the type of guy who thought they all should worship the ground he walked on.

***

Flynn wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Tori pulled him from the dance floor. They found the punchbowl. But as Tori filled two solo cups with punch, she noticed Flynn watching a group of boys across the way.

“Who are they?” She kissed his cheek offering him the drink. “And why are you staring at them like that?”

Flynn took a sip of the watered down punch, his eyes not leaving Jake Summit and his buddies. “I just don’t like that kid.”

“Who cares about some teenagers with James Dean hair? What’s it to you?” Tori asked, growing annoyed with Flynn’s interest in the young guy and his friends. She was beginning to think her trip was a waste of time.

“It’s nothing. You want to dance?” He forced a smile, sitting his drink on the table. But Tori crossed her arms in her usual sulk.

“I just want to go back to the house.” She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to tell her no.

Flynn ran a hand down the back of his neck. He winced at the idea of saying no to her. “I kind of told Henri we would stick around.” He hoped she would have a heart for once.

“Henri is a big boy. Besides he’s probably off doing things that don’t involve his cousin sticking around for. When he is ready to come home he will.” She yanked him by the collar through the crowd.

***

Maven exhaled, staring at Henri. The radio playing softly in the background, the candles had gone out and now the only light remaining was the moonlight right above them.

Henri smoothed her messy hair. “You have bed head. Or is it more blanket head?”

Maven laughed. “So do you.” She touched his hair, running her fingertips through it. Henri watched her focus on his hair, a smile hanging around after the moment they had together.

He didn’t want to move. Or think about anything else but her. He wanted to stay under the stars and the willow, to listen to the water and the music and Maven’s voice forever. That was how amazing he felt. It had been years since he was close enough to anyone to want to sleep with them. The idea of sex just slipped his mind. It wasn’t important. Nothing was important anymore. But then came Maven, and with her she brought hope back into his life. He had something to look forward to. Someone to laugh with, someone who made his days seem meaningful, he wasn’t moving through life trying to survive until the next any longer.

“All because of you.” It took Henri a moment to realize he had said that last part out loud.

“What do you mean?” Maven asked.

“Ever since I met you I feel real again. I don’t feel like I am living in some nightmare. You brought me back to reality.”

Maven smiled. “I’m glad.”

They kissed.

“And now that we are clothed and looking halfway decent I have to break some more news to you,” Henri said, fidgeting with his bowtie. “I snuck out tonight so I could tell you the news and take you to the Hop. Nobody but Flynn knows that I’m gone.”

Maven gasped. “Henri!”

“I know, but it was worth it. Morning is still hours away.” He wrapped an arm around her. “But I’d much rather sleep under the stars with you.”

Maven sat up. “You have to be admitted tomorrow. What if you weren’t supposed to be doing any of this?”

“I wasn’t, but I did it for you.”

Maven dropped her gaze. “And it was sweet, but a little foolish. You need to go home and get rest. We have all the time in the world for more nights like this.”

Henri shook his head, but his eyes said something totally different. “I’m glad I met you.”

Maven touched Henri’s arm. “Me too.” She was alarmed.

“So, I will walk you home and then go home and get some sleep,” Henri said, they packed up the candles throwing them in the picnic basket. Henri folded the blanket and grabbed the radio.

“I am a big girl. I can walk myself home for one night. Just get home so I can stop worrying about you.” Henri pulled her close, his fingers gripping her waist as they kissed in the moonlight.

“Will you visit me?”

“Of course, as soon as I am able.” She crossed her heart, promising there was no place she would rather be. “Now go on, Henri. I’ll text you when I am home.”

Maven watched Henri reluctantly leave her by their willow. As soon as he disappeared over the hill she collected her shoes, walking barefoot, her shoes dangling from her hand as she headed back to her house.

She could still smell Henri. Still feel his lips against hers. The way he made her feel, it was all precisely how she imagined it being.

And as soon as she was home she would tell him just that before she slipped off to sleep.

 

TACTICS

A FLUTTER OF LEAVES raced across the ground. The wind howled in Henri’s ears. He swore he could hear the relentless hooting of an owl overhead every step he took to get home. The buzz of a motorbike swished past him, followed by another and another. Things were out of sorts tonight, making him jumpy.

Henri moved closer to the closed shops on the sidewalk. Besides the passing motorbikes the night was still—a little too still.

He concentrated on his footsteps, trying to keep his thoughts on that instead of the creepiness all around. He was exhausted and ready for a couple hours of sleep before the hospital in the morning.

He stopped walking, setting the picnic basket and radio at the door of the old second hand store. He removed the items inside of the picnic basket and tossed them in the garbage. He didn’t have the energy to lug it the rest of the way home.

***

Jake crunched the beer can in his grip and then sent it airborne toward the dumpster next to the yogurt hut. “Hand one over, come on.” He ordered his buddy. It was safe to say he was wasted. It was safe to say they all were wasted.

Jake leaned back against the picnic table, smiling at the stars. He spilled half the beer on his red shirt as he tried to take another drink. “Did you see that kid’s bowtie?”

Arnold tipped his head back, downing his beer. He shot Jason—Jake’s other friend since grade school—a look. “Can’t say that I did, Jake.”

Jake scoffed, ignoring the fact that his friends never wanted to entertain his rants about Maven and her new boyfriend. He sat up. “I can’t believe she would rather hang out with that guy instead of me.”

Jason scratched his head. He didn’t understand the fixation with one girl when there were so many willing to give Jake a chance. “I hear he’s a nice guy.”

Arnold jumped, dodging the half full beer that flew past his head and into the side of Jason’s. Jason shook his arms that were now soaked with beer and stared down at his shoes. “What the hell, Summit!”

“You were asking for it. Don’t hang out with us and talk about how nice her new boyfriend is. I don’t want to hear it.” Jake snapped. He jumped from the picnic table. Jason and Arnold watched him wrench another beer from the cooler and pitch it at the window of the yogurt hut. Glass shattered instantaneously, spilling onto the concrete.