“No. I just saw her and that guy who ate your cookies head to her houseboat with some other people a while ago. She saw us, but she didn’t come over. Or wave. She just … kept going.” He shrugged. “Thought it was worth asking about.”

Penny was with Vince. No wonder Chad was worried she was moving on with other people. “It’s not about you,” I said. “I don’t think it’s really about me or Penny, either.” I tried to hold the question back, but not hard enough. “So … what do you talk about?”

It was weird not talking to Penny. Not knowing the ins and outs of her day, the things that made her smile and the things that made her mad. Despite the fact that I’d dropped by her houseboat a couple of times hoping for reconciliation, she’d turned from fire to ice. I knew she was inside, I’d seen her, but she refused to open the door. Even though I pounded against the door, even if I begged. She wasn’t ready to thaw yet. Our Cold War wasn’t over.

He shrugged. “Anything, really. Art, movies, cat videos.” He paused. “She’s invited me down to her houseboat a couple of times to hang out. I kind of thought you would be there.”

It sounded like they were friends. A little curl of jealousy tugged at me, but I didn’t know whether it was toward Levi or Penny.

“Maybe I’ll see you there another time,” I said lightly. He didn’t have to know I wasn’t welcome there anymore.

“I can let you know if I’m going,” said Levi. “That way we can meet up.”

The back of my neck burned. I couldn’t even imagine the humiliation of showing up with him and being turned away. Or worse, if she made a scene in front of Levi and the whole awful story came tumbling out into the open.

“Mmm.” I made a vague sound of agreement, hoping he wouldn’t push further.

He didn’t.

I wanted to ask him if he’d seen Elodie at the center, but I couldn’t. I may not have wanted to think about the future, but I definitely wanted to keep my past and present as separate as possible. And if tonight had told me anything, it was that, summer boy or not, I definitely wanted Levi in my present.

“I don’t want this night to end,” I said.

“I don’t, either.” Levi smiled as he wiped the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad you said yes to going out with me. Eating out is always more fun with a friend.” He glanced back in the direction of Lorcan’s crab shack, where business was finally winding down. “Do you and your mom still come here a lot?”