“We’re quite the misfit pair, you and me,” I say. “You, the former pastor’s kid who knew too much, and me, the youth group girl who knew nothing at all.”

“Your mom really said you’d be sullied for a two-piece?”

“Yup.”

“Is that why you bought one the first day I met you?”

“Yup,” I repeat with a wry smile.

“You rebel.”

“That’s just the beginning. I’ve recently started drinking caffeine.”

“Careful,” he warns. “It’s a slippery slope to cocaine from there.”

“I’m sorry about your dad,” I say. “Not about the jail part. Sounds like he deserved that. But about the part where you had to grow up so quickly.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry about your mom. For what it’s worth, you look fantastic in your two-piece.”

“Really?”

“Definitely.” His grin is secret. “You should probably wear it every day. Just to prove her wrong.”

“I will if you will, water polo player?”

“Nope.”

“Tight end?”

“Never.”

“Heavy hitter, then.”

“Maybe once, but not anymore. Keep trying.”

I grab his hand in a fit of courage and smile into the inky darkness.

“I’m getting closer. I can feel it.”

“Me, too,” he says softly, squeezing my fingers once and leading us down the sidewalk.

10

Micah

“You know how I did that canoe tour for you yesterday? With Emily?” Duke asks me a few days later.

I swallow a bite of sub sandwich and frown. “Yeah, I remember.”

“Smart move. Emily came across some photos of you on the internet.”

I groan. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, but, like, and I don’t know if this is a good thing, but she’s apparently super turned on by it.”

“Gross.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know that was a real thing outside daytime television, but she’s all about your possible record.”

“I don’t have a record!” I shout, exasperated, causing some people at the patio table next to ours to stare.

“I know that, dipshit,” Duke says, hushing me. “Everyone knows that. I’m just telling you because if she was on the prowl before, she’s super on the prowl now.”

“That doesn’t even make sense. My dad was a disgusting human being.”

“The ladies love a bad boy.”

“He was a predator and stole people’s money!” Heads are turning again, and Duke raises a brow.

“And I told you, I know. I’m not the one sweating your rep.” He takes a long drink from his Fanta and grimaces. “I forgot. There was more. She also might be sweating you because she fully believes you’re seeing Meg.”

I blink. “What?”

“Well, you did ask Meg out in front of Em, and you went cliff jumping with her and visit her at work and—”

I shake my head. “No. I get why she’d think that. I don’t understand why that would increase her interest.”

“You’re unavailable.”

“Unofficially, but still.”