“You sound like you know the whole drill.” Lex gives Jude a flirty little wink. I’m impressed, and I can’t help wondering if he’s always that brave, or if the beer and the moonlight are making him bold.

“I actually did the intensive last summer,” Jude tells him. “But Willa picks someone from each group to come back the next year and help out. Manage rehearsals. Make van runs into town. That kind of thing.”

“Did you have fun?” I ask. “Last year.”

“Best four weeks of my whole damn life.” The way he says it, it’s clear he’s telling the truth. “And God, I learned so much. That’s why I jumped at the chance to come back as a program assistant.” Jude looks a little sad all of a sudden. “Man, this month will fly by. So make the most of it.” That grin is back. Friendly brown eyes. He pops the top off a beer he’s been holding, and I watch him slip the cap into his pocket like a quarter. “That’s just a little free advice from someone who’s been where you’re standing.”

“Noted,” Lex says, and I’m glad he doesn’t wink again. Because that would be overkill.

Viv the dark-haired beauty comes back to the fire. “Avril!” She grabs me by the arm. “Come swim with me!”

“Hey, hey!” Jude raises his bottle to greet her like an old friend. “Val, right? From the City of Angels.”

Shit. He’s right. It’s Val. Not Viv.

Valeria from Los Angeles. I remember that now.

And how the hell does Jude know everybody’s name? There are like two dozen of us, and he just met us all today.

Val tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Good memory,” she says, and I hope like hell I never called her Viv to her face. “Come on, Avril.” She’s tugging me toward the water. I turn back to Lex and Jude.

“You guys wanna swim?”

“Swim?” Jude laughs and shakes his head. “Oh, hell no.” He swallows a long swig of the beer he’s been holding.

“You scared?” Val teases.

“Me?” Jude lifts his chin and brushes those charcoal-colored curls back off his forehead. “Nah. But listen, California girl, these are not the warm waters of your misspent LA youth.” He shivers and jerks his head toward the waves. “The sound is cold. Especially at night.”

Val rolls her eyes. She’s staring at Lex now. He swallows the last of his beer and shrugs. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”

Val throws her head back and laughs, but Lex just stands there. Waiting.

“Oh,” she says. “You’re serious.” And she raises one eyebrow. “Who cares? No swimsuit? No problem.” She’s already stripping off her sweater.