“They get matching rings,” Mikey said. “That’s the shit, right? And secret knocks. Camaraderie. Lifelong allegiance.”
“You can have my lifelong allegiance, Mikey,” Shiloh said. It felt easy enough to say.
“What about Cary?” Mikey asked her. “Can you alleege with him? It’s gotta be all for one and one for all.”
She laughed. “Cary already has my lifelong allegiance.”
“Fuck you guys,” Mikey said. “I knew you’d left me out. Did you cut open your palms with a pocketknife?”
“No,” Cary said.
“Did you clasp hands over a hobo fire?”
“What’s a hobo fire?” Shiloh asked.
“He’s making it up,” Cary said.
Mikey pointed at Cary over Shiloh’s lap. “It’s a fire that hobos make in a trash can to stay warm! I didn’t make it up. It’s inFahrenheit 451.”
“I think he’s trying to distract you, Mikey,” Shiloh said, poking Cary’s thigh. “Cary doesn’t want to be our blood brother.”
“Oh my god,” Mikey said, dismayed. “You’re right. What’s up, Cary? What’s holding you back? You love this knights-of-the-round shit.”
“He’s willing to pledge his life to thiscountry,” Shiloh said. “But not to you.”
“It’s getting worse and worse,” Mikey said.
Shiloh tugged at a loop on Cary’s Army surplus pants.
“What do you want from me?” Cary asked.
“Secret society,” Mikey answered. “Right here, right now. Sacred bonds. Possibly blood.”
“No blood.”
“Mikey wants you to be hisbest friend forever,” Shiloh said.
“You too, Shy.” Mikey elbowed her again. “We’re getting robes—”
“No robes,” Cary said.
“A secret knock, though, right? And a word that we say to each other when we need loyalty without question.”
“It’s not enough that I drive you people everywhere?”
“No!” Mikey slammed his hand on the dashboard.
Shiloh bit her bottom lip and giggled.
“All right, fine,” Cary said. “Whatever.”
“Clearly not ‘whatever,’” she said. “You’ve already nixed blood and robes.”
“You’re welcome for that.”
Mikey held his right hand in the air, like he was being sworn in. “Loyalty! Your sword in battle! Your shoulder in despair!”
“That’s nice,” Shiloh said. “I like that.”
