“So what happened with Jeremy?” Kayla asks, her tone tilting up in that irritating way, like she’s patting my head.

Ezra’s smile wobbles. I squeeze his fingers until he looks at me. I roll my eyes and smile, waiting for a real grin to come back to his face.

“Did you do it like I told you?” Kayla asks.

“I didn’t kiss Jeremy.” I stretch my eyes at her in the mirror. “Just drop it, Zee.”

“All right,” she says, carefully maneuvering her pride and joy into our driveway. “You’re starting high school in a few months. What are you waiting for?”

The perfect moment. The perfect person. That’s what I had tonight.

“Hmmm.” Kayla frowns at the garage door lifting to reveal my parents’ Mercedes. “Mama and Daddy are already home.”

The steel and chrome gleams in the overhead light of the garage. Kayla turns, propping one arm on the passenger seat and splitting a look between Ezra and me. “Out. The both of you. Tell them I’ll be home by midnight.”

“Where you going?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest and settling back like I’m not leaving until she talks.

“Nunya,” she says, a wicked grin spreading her lips.

“Tommy.” Exasperation makes me suck my teeth. “I thought you were done with him. You guys break up once a week.”

“I decide when I’m done,” she says. “Now get outta my ride.”

Ezra climbs out immediately. I open my door and get out, but lean into the open window of the passenger side. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“I’m not going to a convent, so I’m sure there will be plenty of things you wouldn’t do.”

“Whatever, Zee.” I tap the roof of the car and watch her taillights when she pulls out and drives off.

Ezra stands in my driveway. He glances up the street and huffs a breath. Mrs. Washington stands on her porch watering the row of plants marching down her steps. Really? At this time of night? She uses those plants as an excuse to get the 411 when something’s going down in the neighborhood.

Ezra takes my hand and leads me into the garage. He doesn’t lower the door and doesn’t let my hand go.

“Tonight…was…” He shakes his head and frowns.

Frowns? I thought it was perfect. I want to kiss him again right now. Did he not feel the same?

“Did I…did I do something wrong?” I ask. “Was it—”

“No.” Ezra links our fingers and holds my gaze. “The opposite. It was exactly right. The best first kiss ever.”

Relieved breath whooshes from my chest, and our smiles meet in the middle, between us.

“I was just thinking,” he says. “You’re my best friend.” He looks up expectantly, leaving me space to respond.

“Yeah. Same. You’re mine, too. My best friend, I mean. You know that.”