Bob made a noise. “That’s a dumb thing to say.” He corrected himself. “Sorry, I didn’t mean exactly dumb, but everyone is special.”

Laura laughed. “If everyone is special, then no one is special, right?” This was literally something her mother said all the time, and Laura could hardly believe it had come out of her mouth.

Bob shook his head gently. “No, everyone is special, there’s not a limited amount of special to go around. Everyone has something about them that’s unique.” He looked at her, his eyes very dark in the reflected streetlights. “Maybe it’s hard to see it for yourself.”

“Maybe,” said Laura. “Polly has incredible style and charm, Nina’s a whiz at trivia . . . I’m a regular woman who likes sports and dogs and human anatomy.” And is too scared to drive and panics when she hears a loud noise and may have to give up on her dreams and slink home to her parents . . .

Bob reached over and prodded her gently. “You’re a mean poker player. You swim very fast. You’re extremely encouraging.” He kept his eyes on the road. “I think you’re special.” And beautiful, and kind, and incredibly sexy . . .

She looked at him and smiled. “I think you’re special, too.”

They pulled up in front of Maggie’s house, and Bob cut the engine and turned to Laura. “Honestly, Laura, there’s a lot about you that’s unique. You made me feel like going to grad school, for example.”

Laura grinned. “See? So special you can’t wait to leave town.”

“Actually,” Bob replied, “you being in the house makes it harder to leave.”

Laura felt herself blushing. “Because you like having someone to shoot hoops with?”

Bob colored, too, and nodded. “And talk to, and watch games with, and sit next to in silence . . .”

Laura took a deep breath. “And hide from embarrassing arguments with, and fix trellises with . . .”

“Yes,” said Bob, moving closer, “all that important stuff . . .”

They stared at each other, and then, at the exact same moment, both leaned forward to kiss. It wasn’t even a conscious thought, it was simply what was happening. Not a huge kiss, not an intense, swooning kiss, but a promising one. A kiss that said there was potential for an endless supply of those kisses, should an endless supply be called for. As they pulled apart, both knew something had happened that was going to make a difference, they just weren’t sure what difference it was going to make.

Bob opened his mouth to speak, when he noticed someone standing on the stoop of Maggie’s house.