“Me too,” said Caddie, although fried fish made her think again, unappetizingly, of Rhodes and his pimples.

They ordered, and as they waited for their food, Hudson and her father began talking. Caddie listened, only half-interested, as they discussed Hudson’s upcoming first dives in the ocean.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been free to do it,” her father said. “But I promise, we’ll go tomorrow. The conditions should be perfect.”

“Your father is determined to see me drown,” Hudson said to Caddie.

She watched her father as he laughed. “You’re a natural,” he said, looking at Hudson and grinning. “You’re practically half otter.”

Something about the tone of his voice and the way he was looking at Hudson caught her attention. She’d never seen him like this before. He was happy, almost annoyingly so. It reminded her of something, but she couldn’t think what it was.

Then, as the waiter appeared and set their plates in front of them, it hit her. He’s flirting, she thought. And she knew what he reminded her of—herself. He was acting the way she did when she wanted to get a guy’s attention.

She sat, stunned, and watched the two of them. Her father was talking quickly, waving his hands and laughing. Hudson, too, was laughing. Caddie looked from one to the other. What was going on with them? She couldn’t imagine.

“How come you’re not eating?” her father asked.

“I need ketchup,” Caddie said quickly.

Hudson handed her the bottle, and she busied herself with pouring ketchup over her fries. She did the same with the malt vinegar, dousing her pieces of fish in it as she tried to regain her composure.

She ate slowly, only just picking at her plate. Oblivious, her father and Hudson talked animatedly. She didn’t even listen to the words; they weren’t important. It was everything else that captured her attention, the way they shared an enthusiasm for whatever it was they were going on about, the way they were focused on each other. The way they’re ignoring me, she thought, not without a little irritation.

Something was going on, and she wasn’t sure what it was. Were they really flirting? It was such a weird—such a disturbing—thought that she couldn’t imagine she was right. They’re just friends, she assured herself. She didn’t allow herself to consider anything beyond that.

“Caddie.”

“It’s great,” she said, thinking her father had spoken to her again. But when she looked up, it was Brian who was looking at her. He nodded a greeting at her father and Hudson. “Hey,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” Caddie asked him, sounding more accusatory than she wanted to.

“Same thing you are,” said Brian. “Getting lunch. Aren’t the fries killer?”