I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I just laugh and go, “Ha ha, yeah. Probably.”

“I mean, you’ve got to be on the verge of a heart attack.”

“I’m fine,” I say, and extend one of the cups to Sean. “I got one for you too.”

Sean takes it hesitantly, but doesn’t move it to his lips.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “You don’t like coffee?”

Sean gives a small shake of his head and an apologetic smile. “I don’t like the way caffeine makes me feel all jittery and fidgety. Basically exactly how you’re acting now.” That apologetic grin turns playful. His bottom lip is full and pink, his upper lip a bright thin line that stands out against the dark stubble covering his face. “But it was sweet of you to think of me. I’m more of a tea guy. Decaffeinated. Even after staying up way too late watching YouTube.”

I snatch the coffee from him and take a gulp. “More for me, then.”

“Just pace yourself or you’re going to have a massive crash later,” he says. “Speaking of which, what are you going to do all day?”

“Get you back with Dominic, remember?” Has he not been listening or what?

“But, like, I have school. We can only do this at night, right? Besides, aren’t you supposed to be seeing the city, figuring out what makes LA so different from Indiana?”

“Sure, yeah. I’ll do that.”

“Maybe you could get a job or something to pass the time?”

“You mean so I can have permission to try to kiss random strangers on the beach like you?” I ask, mimicking Sean’s playful grin. “You must be pretty bad at it if you have to find a job that requires you to mash lips together.”

Sean’s cheeks blaze redder than any crab I’ve ever seen. Then his face falls and he chews his cheek. I bet he’s thinking about kissing people, kissing Dominic specifically, and wondering if he actually is bad at it.

Flick, I’m not helping him at all! I’m making things worse!

“Wait, that was a joke,” I clarify. “I bet you’re a great kisser.” I take a gulp of coffee to stop myself from talking, but when I realize what I just said, I choke on it. “Not that I’m”—cough—“ever thinking”—cough hack—“about what it’s like”—cough cough—“to kiss you.” I finally catch my breath. “I’m just saying I’m sure Dominic’s loved kissing you in the past, but you can keep your lips away from me, okay?” I set both cups of coffee on the ground. “No more of that. You’re right. It makes me way too jittery.”

That bark of a laugh escapes Sean. It makes me laugh too.

“Has anyone ever told you your laugh is contagious?”