A sound like fireworks, like celebration, like joy itself exploding into being. Confetti erupted from everywhere from the trees, from the sky, from beneath the ground showers of gold and silver and soft pink raining down on us in a glittering storm.

Malcolm spun, pulling me behind him instinctively, his body coiling for a fight—

"SURPRISE!"

The clearing erupted with voices. Dozens of them. Familiar ones.

The workers. The crew. Everyone emerging from behind trees, from underneath camouflage nets I hadn't noticed, from hiding spots they'd clearly prepared for hours. Jennifer was there, laughing so hard she could barely stand.

Allison, covered in even more confetti than us, grinning like...