“Getting closer every minute, then.” I close my eyes as the hot chocolate coats my tongue.

“Only to you, I swear, and even then, I’m convinced you only like me for my muscles.”

I swallow another sip before passing it back. “And your hot chocolate, of course.”

A ghost of a smile catches in the moonlight, and I bump him with my shoulder. “I’m not interested in perfect, Micah. I can’t possibly keep up with perfect.”

“You’re scarily close, Meg.”

I laugh. “Only to you.” I throw his words back at him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I sink into him. It occurs to me that at this minute, I’m completely alone with him. I don’t mean physically. That, too, I suppose. But more mentally. Or emotionally. It’s only us up here. No parents, no friends, no church. Just Micah and Meg, and I really, really like it. This feels comfortable and easy. The urge to “leave room for the Holy Spirit” is there, still, deep, deep down, but I ignore it. Because putting space between me and this boy feels wrong.

“My dad’s parole hearing is coming up.”

I sit up straighter to look at him. “Are you going?”

He shakes his head but says, “I don’t know. My mom is going, and Brian asked me to go with her. James says I shouldn’t have to, though.”

“If you go, do you have to speak on his behalf?”

“No. I don’t have to speak at all. But me being there … seemingly in support of him, after all this time, would say more than words to the press and the families involved.”

“Then don’t go. You don’t owe him that.”

He looks at me, his eyes stark. When he speaks, his voice is low. “But what about my mom? Do I leave her to face him alone?”

I exhale. “Dang. But…”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I guess I just don’t understand why it has to be your job to hold the adults together? Your mom isn’t alone, Micah. She’s got Brian. And Dani, and friends, and a new church from what I saw on Sunday.”

“Yeah?”

“But also…”

“Also?”

I consider my words carefully. “But also, maybe you want to face him? Maybe you have things you need to say to him, and this is your chance.”

“Like forgive him?”

“Not necessarily. I mean, sure, if that’s what you need to do. But more like confronting him about how he hurt you and your family with his choices.”

He releases a long breath, his head falling back to stare at the sky.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not sure any good could come of me being honest after all this time.”