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Show 56 It's summer, and though it's too hot to move outside in the day, it's warm all night, so we've been fighting later and later. By 11 PM, Pleasant Grove is almost as quiet as the desert. The occasional streetlights spread over every few blocks seem to glimmer more slowly than usual, as if they're bored. In between the streetlights, I can see dark blue slash across darker sky, can see the stars as I walk to Anderson. The temperature is too cool-to remember how brutal it will feel twelve hours later when the sun comes up swinging, and keeps swinging all day long. Though I shudder a little bit to catch myself thinking this way, tonight the city is sparkling, all the way from the stars to the grates in the gutters. I decide it is the night I will suggest we try some kickboxing. A little cheap I guess since it's new to everyone else, but I don't care. When I get there, I ask Lane right away if he wants to throw in a little kicking action. He cocks his head to the side as though considering all arguments and says, Sure, why not? We put on the gloves and face each other: I make a promise to myself that if I lose to him now, I am walking in front of traffic on the way home, then remember that the only traffic I saw walking up here was two girls on a scooter, but still, just don't fucking lose. We start out slow. He is smiling like usual, throwing a few play jabs my way. I wait. Then he does a little bit of a kick with his right leg, as if testing the water. He nods as though satisfied. I move a little closer, act like I am going to |