"How about that motorcycle? Don't tell me you own a vehicle fleet on the rez."
"No. I borrow that bike from my cousin every now and then."
"You have a license for the bike, too?"
Josh shrugged. "No one has ever pulled me over," he replied placidly. "Don't tell on me." He gave her a conspiratorial smile, and her heart skipped a beat. Why did he have the power to do this to her?
"Are you planning on passing the test at some point, though?" she quickly went on.
"Yeah, when I turn eighteen and get some extra money." Josh leaned into her. "It's my birthday soon, so maybe that will ease your mind."
"That's right!" Ben exclaimed. "At the beginning of August, right? Are you going to have a party?"
"Of course he will," Hannah said. "He's going to be a real man!" Hopefully, Josh hadn't seen her scoot away when he was leaning into her like that. She thought he was man enough now to make her heartbeat go through the roof when he came so close.
Josh laughed. "Actually, I already am. In our tribe, the initiation ritual where a boy turns into a man takes place on the boy's fourteenth birthday. We all take a vision quest."
Ben whistled. "Wow, you grew up early."
"You're right." Josh grew silent, staring into the distance. He suddenly seemed lost in thought.
Hannah observed Ben in surprise. How strange that Josh had been through such an important ritual without telling Ben about it. Judging from the confused look in Ben's eyes, this was the first time he heard about Josh's vision quest.
"Well, I still think you should throw a party," she said, breaking the uneasy silence.
Josh blinked and nodded slowly, coming back to reality. "Yeah, I will. Consider yourselves invited."
The waitress showed up to clear the table and put down three dessert menus. Ben quickly picked out what he wanted, and took Hannah by the hand when the band started playing 'I 've Got You Under My Skin'.
"Come on, let's dance," he suggested, pulling her from her seat. He knew this was one of her favorite songs. Hannah followed her brother to the edge of the deck, where they stepped onto the sand. They started to dance an improvised quick-step. People turned their heads to look at them, and within minutes, more dancing couples had joined them on the beach.