She and Destiny and Caitlin had existed as a threesome since Destiny moved to town in fourth grade, with a trace of Southern accent lingering from her early Tennessee years. Three had never been a crowd with them. But now Alexa felt like the loneliest person in the entire universe: lonelier than a hermit living in Siberia. She was a third wheel here, and if she went home she’d be a third wheel there too.

“I’m going home,” she said anyway.

“Don’t be mad?” said Caitlin. “I’m sorry for what I said?”

Alexa’s head was aching and her heart was aching. “I’m not mad,” she said. “I’m tired. And I forgot I have to get up early tomorrow.”

Two truths, one lie.

Now Alexa heard someone saying her name, and she looked up. It was Cam Hartwell, smiling that giant, goofy smile. She felt herself flush. She remembered the cup of tea he’d put by her bed. Something about this memory made her feel happier than she had in a while.

Next to Cam was a reddish golden retriever attached to a navy blue leash. “This is Sammy,” he said. “You didn’t meet him the other day because he was at the lake with my parents.” Sammy looked like a dog in an L.L.Bean advertisement. He was sporting a navy blue bandanna to match the leash and a collar with anchors on it. Very nautical. Sammy licked Alexa’s hand and then did a thing where he pulled back his gums and really looked like he was smiling. It was hard not to smile back.

“What are you up to?” asked Cam.

“Headed up to Portsmouth a little while later,” Alexa said.

Cam nodded. “Good day for Portsmouth.” Sammy let out a little whine and started to pull at the leash and Cam said, “Sorry, boy, we’re going now. We really are.” To Alexa he said, “Duty calls! But I’ll be in touch soon.”

Who was he, Alexa wondered, to be so confident that she wanted him to be in touch? She remembered the kiss in his driveway. He had definitely kissed her back.

Alexa Thornhill, will you rate your experience with Cam Hartwell?

She’d give him a four and three-quarters out of five. Could be a little less earnest, she’d put in the comments. Then she pictured Cam reading that and becoming sad. He’d say something like, I’m not that earnest, am I? He would say that very earnestly, of course.

Alexa Thornhill, how likely would you be to see Cam Hartwell again? On a scale of one to ten, one being not at all likely and ten being very likely.