August dropped the stump of his cigarette onto the patio and took a new one out of the package.

Serotina followed the path toward the stables and slowed her breath as she tried to compose herself. She checked the feed trough and noticed that Buddy was still not eating much. It had been a couple of weeks since she had noticed the lump near his mouth, which was still there. She began to brush out his coat and Buddy nickered quietly. She felt unsettled by August’s reaction, and hurt that he had dismissed her so brusquely. Suddenly, the music from the house stopped with a loud crashing noise, and moments later, a door slammed. She peered out the window to see August storm out of the house. He was heading down the path toward the stables, and she was about to go to him when she saw Micah chase after him. Sero drew back into the stable, where she could watch through the open window, out of view.

“August!” Micah shouted, catching up to August outside the stable. “Hold up, Auggie! C’mon, man. You can’t be mad at me.”

“I can’t?” August yelled. “I’m a fucking addict, Micah. You know that. You brought me here because it was a safe place. I’ve been clean over a year—”

“Dude, this isn’t coke or heroin we’re talking about—it’s weed.”

“Doesn’t matter, Micah. It’s still a drug!”

“We have liquor in the house, and that’s a drug. Did you have champagne tonight, August, or am I mistaken about that?”

“Fuck you, man!” August spat, pulling the box of cigarettes from his shirt pocket. “You’re a fucking hypocrite.”

“And nicotine? You think that’s not a drug? Don’t fool yourself. I’m not the hypocrite here.”

August pointed an unlit cigarette at Micah. “I see through you. She may not, but I see right fucking through you.”

Micah turned his head slightly and considered August. “Ah, so that’s what this is about?”

“You know damn well what it’s about.” August’s voice was tight and angry. He stood with his back to the stable, facing Micah.

“Listen, man,” Micah said. “We are all free to exercise our will, to be our own people. Zoe is free to make her own choices. The two of us go way back, man, before you were even here. There’s a deep connection between us. It’s undeniable.”

Sero sank down to her knees as she unfolded Micah’s words, the same ones he’d used to describe the two of them. A hot flush of shame rose to her face, and she dropped her head into her hands.

“I’m sorry you’re hurt,” Micah said, “but you know everyone here loves you. Zoe loves you. I love you.”

“Why her, Micah? You can have anyone. Why her? I just can’t—” His voice broke off and he began to sob. “I thought this was my home. I thought you were my friend, man.”

“We are all free, Auggie. All of us. You are too.”

“Yeah, well,” August said, his voice turning harsh again. “Then I’m getting the fuck out of here.” He spat the words in Micah’s direction. “And Zoe’s coming with me.”