“I’ll narrow it down to three for you,” said Brian. “A Hugh Grant comedy, some horror flick that I think is about a bunch of ghosts who are pissed off at Lindsay Lohan, or George Clooney playing George Clooney.” He looked at Caddie with his eyebrows raised. “Well?”

“Gee, I don’t know,” Caddie said, folding her hands and looking serious. “That’s a tough one. I guess I’ll have to go with A. Hugh Grant.”

“Then Hugh Grant it is,” Brian said. “It starts in twenty minutes, so let’s go.”

They returned to his car and drove to the theater, walking in just in time for the previews. Brian followed Caddie to a seat in one of the rear rows, where they were far removed from the handful of other people in the sparsely filled room. When, halfway through the movie, Brian found Caddie’s hand and held it, she made no attempt to take it back.

Afterward, once more seated in Brian’s car, Caddie wondered if her night with him might end as her date with Nick had. Instead, Brian looked at the clock and said, “I’ve got to be at the aquarium by six. Do you mind if I take you home?”

“Sure,” said Caddie, not sure if she was disappointed or relieved that he hadn’t attempted to get her into bed.

Luckily, she remembered the name of the street her father lived on, although the exact number escaped her. It didn’t matter, as she would know it by sight, and Brian knew how to get there. He drove slowly, the windows down and the warm summer night all around them.

“I hope you had fun,” he said after they’d ridden in silence for a few minutes. “Because I did.”

Caddie, who had been looking out the window, turned to him. “I did,” she said. “Nothing says romance like squid burritos and a Hugh Grant movie.”

“True,” said Brian. “I don’t know what I can do to top that. Maybe we should just call it quits right now and save ourselves the disappointment.”

Caddie’s heart lurched as a sick feeling filled her stomach. Was he saying he didn’t want to see her again? He’d held her hand, but that was nothing. Guys did all kinds of things with girls they didn’t really like. Hell, she did things with guys she didn’t really like. Why should Brian be any different?

They reached Clipper Street. Seeing her father’s house, Caddie told Brian where to stop. She noticed that he left the engine running. “I guess I’ll see you,” she said, reaching for the door handle.

“Don’t I get a good-night kiss?” Brian asked, stopping her.

Caddie looked at him.

“Unless you don’t kiss on the first date,” said Brian, apparently sensing her hesitation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jerk.”