The pool was dark, but the smell of chlorine was so familiar that my body relaxed another degree. I wished I had brought my suit.

“I don’t believe you stole a key. I never would’ve suspected that of you. You’re so . . .”

“So what?”

“Nothing.”

“Finish your thought. I deserve whatever adjective was coming next after all the things I’ve called you.”

“It’s not a bad thing. It’s just you’re so good . . . perfect.”

“Hey, I just stole a truck.”

He laughed. “I know! You even excel in the fear-facing department.”

“I needed a mask to face my fears. I’m obviously not perfect.”

“The only reason you need the mask is because you’re afraid of not being perfect.”

“Not true.” I said it but only halfheartedly. That was mostly right. “But either way, I’m not.”

“You’re Moore.”

I rolled up my jeans and sat on the edge of the pool. “What does that mean?”

“Amelia was wrong about why I call you Moore. If I tell you why I really call you that, you promise not to hate me?”

“I promise. Unless it’s really bad. Then I’ll hate you.”

He pulled up his sweats and sat down next to me. “Okay, it started off as a joke.”

“Not surprising.” It used to sound mocking every time he’d said it.

“Because your last name fit your personality so well. You always have to do more and be better at everything than everyone else.”

I gasped. “Rude.”

“Motivation isn’t a bad thing. I think I was jealous of it. Then I got to know you, and realized you are more. So it fit.”

I kicked my foot and splashed him with water. He held up his hands to block the spray. Then he jumped up to a squat, wrapped his arm around my waist, and dragged me back so I couldn’t do it again. In the process, he lost his footing and stumbled back, me falling against him so we were both sitting again, me now nestled between his knees. I struggled to get free, but he held me tight from behind. He rested his chin on my shoulder. “No more water, fish.”

I relaxed, letting him hold me, my back running the length of his chest. He felt solid and soft at the same time. “How did you know that driving the truck would be the hardest thing for me to do?”

A light cut through the black of the pool. “Who’s out there?” a deep voice called out past the fence.

I laughed and Jackson stood, pulling me up with him.

“It’s just Marvin,” I said. “The janitor. He likes me.”

“Does everyone like you?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

“I don’t know that it would have the same answer.”