“I’m Hazel. Nice to meet you, Owen.” She’s all smiles and long, lingering looks. So, I guess Owen is the one she likes. I should be relieved, but I’m not sure how I feel about Caleb at the moment. I don’t know where he’s taking us, and he’s not exactly forthcoming with information.

“You look alarmed,” Caleb says. I glance up, and my heart jumps. He’s watching me in the mirror again. Gone is the dark expression from before. Was I reading too much into it?

Maybe I have watched too many horror movies.

I shake my head, but inside I’m screaming yes.

“Don’t be, Piper. I’d like to get to know you better, and I can’t do that if we never hang out. Was it the lock? It’s a habit I picked up from my mom.” He presses the button again, and the car unlocks.

My stomach settles, and I breathe. Also, I feel a bit stupid now, too.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “My mom does the same.”

“No need to apologize. I didn’t think how it would look to you.”

Owen watches our exchange with curiosity. Does Caleb not talk to girls much? That seems incredibly unlikely. With his movie-star good looks, charm, and charisma, I would have thought he had girls falling over themselves, eager to spend time with him.

I’m too young for him, and my ex will attest to the fact that I’m not very exciting.

Caleb could have his pick of girls, so why choose me, who he shouldn’t actually date? Unless that’s it. He likes that nothing can happen. Some people want something they can’t have purely because they can’t have it.

Okay, there’s a chance I’m overthinking the crap outta this.

Holding my hands up, I say, “I’m done being an idiot.”

Hazel arches her eyebrow, and I want to whack her. We both know I’ll never be done being an idiot. My mouth engages before my brain too often for that.

Caleb chuckles and shakes his head, but he watches the road. “You’re not an idiot, Piper.”

Hazel snorts, and this time I do whack her arm. “Violent much, Pipes!” She turns her attention back to Owen, who is still craning his neck to see into the back of the car. “Where is this place we’re going?”

Owen’s toothy grin widens. “A place that isn’t full of high schoolers.”

“We’re high schoolers,” I say, folding my arms.

“Yes, well, Caleb seems to have made an exception for you, so I will, too.”

All right, then.