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She heard a gasp. “You did, didn’t you?” And then, “That’s right.You know all the town gossip. You just refuse to share the good stuff.”

Since the cat was already out of the bag, she gave in. “Yes, I didknow, but I think Jill likes it better that I pretend not to. I think she wouldrather the whole world did that. If it helps, I did let the sheriff’s departmentknow when she went missing. You know, just in case.”

“Well, I appreciate that part.”

“It’s actually why I was there when you arrived, apart fromcoordinating with the police on the volunteer efforts.” She sampled the icecream because one had to. “They’re kinda cute about it, though. One hundredpercent obvious when they’re in the same room, passing each other adorableglances, like little smolders, and then looking away quickly.”

Devyn stood in the doorway and shook her head at Elizabeth. “Whowould have thought Jill capable of clandestine smoldering? Certainly not me.”

Elizabeth waited until the blender finished before answering.“That’s the thing,” she said, as she poured the milkshakes into separateglasses and carried them outside with Devyn on her heels. “I’m not sure yougive Jill enough credit. She’s quite the firecracker. Did you know she starteda petition to get a more diverse selection of films at the movie theater? Shespecifically argued for LGBT representation, which makes more sense now that Iknow you’re gay.” She handed Devyn her milkshake.

“Or maybe she did that for you, her good friend.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Or for both of us.”

“To Jill, then.” They touched glasses in shared appreciation.

Devyn took a sip of the milkshake and paused. “I don’t normallyjust hand out compliments, but this milkshake is above average. You know whatyou’re doing.”

“Why not?” Elizabeth asked, not understanding the statement. Devynlooked at her, seemingly confused by the question, so she probed further. “WhatI mean is whydon’tyou just hand out compliments? It’s a nice thing to do. At least, I’ve alwaysthought so.”

Devyn looked pensive, considering the question. “Well, when youput it like that, I suppose I should. Where I live and in my line of work? It’sall about playing the game, staying ahead. Being nice for the sake of it canget you left behind, unless it’s a schmooze, and then it’s just all fake.”

Elizabeth sipped her shake. “That sounds awful. Making someonefeel good about themselves has never in turn made me feel like a weaker personor that I was less successful than the next guy.”

Devyn exhaled slowly, maybe mulling over Elizabeth’s words ormaybe thinking they were naïve and trite. “You’re too much. You know that?Where exactly did you come from?”

“Your freshman year algebra class, for one. Not that you evernoticed.”

They stared at each other, the air around them electric, theirmovements still.

“Big mistake.”

“Ah, flirting again.”

“I’m not flirting either. I’m just watching lightning bugs in afriend’s backyard with a milkshake.” A pause. “Did you know you were gay inhigh school?”

She could see the flecks of green within the hazel of Devyn’seyes, but just barely. “Nope,” Elizabeth said, leaning into the shiver. “Thatawareness hit in college, making the rest of my life suddenly make sense.”

“I knew.” Well, that was news.

“You did?”

Devyn nodded. “Freaked me the hell out. I felt like I had thisgiant secret and that my friends would hate me once they found out. Everyparty, every social gathering, every football game was excruciating, knowingeverything I said and did was false. It’s why I ran screaming from this place.”This was interesting new information. Elizabeth leaned forward, eager to hearmore.

“Here you were, for all intents and purposes the most popular girlin our graduating class, and you were worried about being accepted?”

“Ironic, right?” Devyn shrugged. “Worst time of my life.”

“I think they would have understood. At least, I’d like to hopeso.”

“Things were different back then. My friends? I don’t know howthey would have taken it, and I was terrified as each day went by that theywould see it written all over my face.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine. It’s unfortunate thatthose judgmental girls were your measuring stick.”

“I think so, too. Now. But that took time to see.”

A pause. Crickets chirped quietly, and the warm night air caressedElizabeth’s skin. She watched Devyn get up and wander to the edge of the porch,looking out at the beauty in front of them. “You’re nothing like them, youknow,” Elizabeth said.