For the first time ever, I was kind of, sort of, maybe starting to feel like I was a part of this town. More relaxed than stressed as I sat here among so many people I’d grown up with. None of them seemed to be judging me. Magnolia was present, but even if she came over and shot a barb my way, I felt like I could handle it. I knew the people I was sitting with wouldn’t jump on her wagon, and I didn’t really think anyone here would.

Over the course of a few hours, it only got better, more comfortable. We eventually abandoned our chairs to circulate, as Anna called it. I was introduced and reintroduced to so many people I’d never remember them all. Holden and I got lots of laughs when we described our heart-infested honeymoon love den. Rusty Anchor Brewing was a hot topic for Holden and Kemp, as the hotel was for me. Quincy Yates, who’d apparently just broken up with her longtime boyfriend, over-served herself, threw up in the trees near the road, and had to be helped home.

As a group, we went through multiple bags of jumbo marshmallows, roasting them over the fire. Some of the guys brought hot dogs and buns as well but forgot all the condiments. They devoured them anyway. Dakota Dawson showed up after her shift at Henry’s with a carryout container of Cash’s mac and cheese for herself and had to fight beggars off.

People had come and gone all night, and even Hayden and Zane had driven in from the city. Apparently Zane’s mom, Faye, and Mr. Henry were having Harrison over for his very first sleep-over. After a romantic dinner out, Hayden had insisted on introducing her husband to bonfires Dragonfly style.

It was a little after midnight when the crowd started to thin out a little. When Holden asked if I was holding up okay, I was stunned to discover that I was having a legitimately good time and wasn’t ready to go home yet. I’d had a second hard seltzer, but it had been over the course of hours, so I couldn’t even blame the alcohol for my enjoyment.

I was alone in the ladies’ room, a small building with only two stalls but running water, washing my hands when I heard an alarming sound that seemed to come from outside. Sort of… a sick animal noise, maybe? I shut the water off and listened. Sure enough, it came again, but I could swear a human was making it.