“I like your house,” he said. “This place is, I don’t know, haunted house meets beach shack.”

Cole walked into the kitchen. He stopped inside the swinging door, looking at us. I couldn’t read his face. I didn’t know what he was thinking.

Tuck threw his arms up in the air. “There he is,” he said. He went for Cole’s hand and shook it so eagerly Cole seemed taken aback. “It is great to meet you.”

Lucas came into the kitchen, and we all stood there looking at each other. Lucas was in a panic of shyness; Cole was stiff and formal. Only Tuck seemed at ease, as if he were honestly enjoying himself.

“This is unexpected,” Cole said.

Tuck nodded in agreement. “I decided to come over on the spur of the moment.”

“The spur of the moment,” Cole repeated. I could see the little bone of his jaw, moving mechanically like a clock spring, tight and meticulous. I could see he was trying to smile and having a hard time. I felt scared for Tuck.

“So you’re our girl Lydia’s friend,” Cole said.

“That’s right.”

“Making a visit on the spur of the moment.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Now, how old are you exactly?” Cole asked him.

Tuck paused. Blinked. He seemed to consider Cole for a moment. “Twenty-one,” he said finally.

We heard a quick patter on the roof. Sudden rain drummed and flashed outside the kitchen windows. Cole looked like he wanted to hit Tuck or maybe devour him.

“Let’s go for a walk,” I said to Tuck. “Right now.”

“You do that,” Cole said. “Take a walk in the rain. Take a walk on the beach. The beach is glorious in a storm.”

“I know all about the beach,” Tuck said agreeably.

“Maybe you do,” Cole said. “Did you know how much Lydia loves a storm? Lydia loves the beach in a storm.”

“Stop saying that,” I told him.

We threw on yellow slickers and escaped into the night. I gulped cool air, realizing I’d been holding my breath in the kitchen. We stood at the end of the dock, looking out into the rain-pitted bay, our breath making strange little clouds around us.

“Pretty tense in there,” Tuck said.

“You have no idea.”