After drinking half her beer, Milly excuses herself. She arrives late to Ambrosia.
🎵 “Don’t Turn it Off (feat. Qzen)” – 40 Thieves 🎵
Her other friends are already higher than a kite. Milly heads to the patio instead.
“Hey Mil.” Kevala pushes the fingertips of each hand together. “Been busy?”
Milly playfully purses her lips. “How’s it going?”
Kevala smiles. “I’m good.”
They stare at choppy cirrus clouds and the hovering Moon — in silence — for a long while.
During high school, Milly returned to that nearby ice cream shop at closing time. The counter boy locked the door behind her. As usual, she pulled him into the back room, but that time was special.
“I want to, but …” he mumbled into her lips.
“But you leave soon. I got my shot.”
“How’d you get”—he whispered—“contraception?”
“I’m emancipated, remember?”
He pulled his hands away from her.
“Why won’t you touch me that way?” Milly’s eyebrows crept upward. “Because I’m not in the Church?”
“Because I am in the Church. Because of my mission. I’m sorry.”
“Just words. I want more.”
“Will you wait for me?”
Stroking his cheek, she said, “I don’t see why I would do that.”
His face sank in pain.
Milly left, unlocking the door for herself.
Kevala grins. “I saw you with the DJ, Mil. He’s deluxe.”
“Yeah, he is pretty cool.” Milly smiles, then pushes the fingertips of each hand together. “And hot.”
Zipping her fingers across her lips, Kevala turns the imaginary lock and tosses the invisible key.
They laugh.
Ethan finishes his DJ set.