She shot him an unamused look, but secretly she was very amused. This past week during their not-dates, she’d purposed to wear him down, to make him like her again. His whole mood seemed different today, so maybe it was working.

She tugged the life vest over her head as they made their way out of the marina and into open water.

“I was thinking we should go talk to that Ted guy.” He kept his eyes straight ahead, shaded only by the bill of his ball cap.

She was thankful he didn’t look at her. She much preferred to study him without his knowledge. She leaned back, resting against the side of the boat, letting him do all the work because he was far better at it than she was. And she was far better at admiring his biceps. If they had any hope of not embarrassing themselves at the regatta, it was only because of Cody.

“What do you think?” He glanced at her.

“We can do that if you want.” She didn’t tell him the downside of that was Ted could possibly tell her father they’d paid him a visit, and she really didn’t want him knowing about any of this.

“You could invite him to the regatta. He’s probably got money to donate.”

In the distance, she could see Brant Point lighthouse, and the memory of simpler times drifted through her mind. “Sure.”

“You think it’s a bad idea?”

“No, I think it’s fine,” she said.

She could feel him looking at her. “What is it then?”

“Do you remember all those birthday wishes we made?” She found his eyes, held them for as long as he would allow. “I kept yours in a jar and stashed them in my hope chest.”

His jaw twitched.

“I think my funniest one was ‘I want to raise chickens.’” Should she tell him how it broke her heart to think of the years they’d lost being angry with each other or that she couldn’t help but wonder if his being here now was a chance to make things right?

“This is our big year,” she said as if he didn’t know. “Thirty on the thirtieth.”

More jaw twitching.

“Do you ever think about it?”

He drew in a tight breath. “Not really.”

Her heart dropped. “Yeah, me neither. I think I only remembered because of the wishes. And the contract I made you sign.”

“You kept that, too?” He looked at her now with kindness, not disdain, making her feel a tiny bit less like jumping ship.

“I kept everything,” she said. “I’m not as bad as Maggie, but . . .” Her voice trailed off under the weight of his gaze. “Maybe it was stupid. I mean, who makes a pact like that? Obviously I was worried you’d go off and do something amazing and forget all about me.”

His forehead crinkled. “The pact wasn’t your idea.”