He dropped the dandelion. It tickled the top of my foot when it landed.

In the instant before our lips touched, I worried that my mine would feel like tattered sandpaper. But then I didn’t care because his were warm and soft and reminding me of my favorite blanket at home, the pale pink fleece one. He smelled like boy deodorant, punch, and just . . . a really concentrated dose of Izzy. I loved the smell of him.

Our lips pressed together, he wound two fingers around two of mine, an awkward hand hold that was actually just right.

The kiss felt like an hourlong dream but was probably only seven seconds, max. We both pulled apart naturally at the same time, both smiling, me touching the fingers on my free hand to my lips and glancing down at the grass.

“I wish you weren’t leaving yet,” he said.

I shivered. “Me too,” I said automatically.

Part of me wanted to stay to be near Izzy and the others, and part of me felt the pull of home, even though it wouldn’t be the same when I got there.

Someone cleared their throat from the path. Izzy dropped my hand, probably thinking it was an adult. Instead, Jackie stood in her tight royal-blue dress with her hands crossed over her chest.

“They’re handing out awards,” she said flatly. “Karly made me come get you.”

She rolled her eyes and went back inside, her blond hair fanning out behind her.

“I wonder if she saw—”

“Who cares?” he asked.

“I don’t want her to feel bad,” I said.

“You’re a nicer person than she is, Tess,” Izzy said, taking my hand again and squeezing it. “I’m really glad you spent the summer here. I’m glad I got to hang out with you. I’m also really glad about . . . uh . . . what just happened.”

“Me too,” I said, feeling the warmth in my cheeks.

“Do you think you’ll come back next year?” he asked hopefully.

For kisses like yours, for sure.

“Yeah,” I said, an enormous smile on my face. “I think I will.”

Like we were in kindergarten, everyone got an award. Some were for specific art pieces, and some were more about our personalities or behaviors at camp. The adults had been drinking wine and beer all night, so they cheered for every award like us kids were graduating from high school or something. It was ridiculous, but fun, too.

Boy Sam got the award for Most Helpful, which I thought was fitting.

Girl Sam was Most Energetic.

Axl got Most Likely to Spill Something, and the entire room burst into laughter as Axl’s mom announced, “Oh yes, he is!” Karly also gave him a certificate for Best Collage.

Jackie got the award for Best Abstract Piece.

“It isn’t that great,” Frankie said too loudly, making me grateful for the noisy applause from tipsy adults.

“Be nice,” I said.