It was that new thing, the new manliness he was beginning to grow into, that made her stomach flutter when Alex smiled at her. She still wasn’t used to feeling that way around him, so she pushed it down and tried to ignore it.

“The stupid piece of junk won’t run.” Gemma gestured to the rusty compact and stepped over to where Alex stood on his lawn. “I’ve only had it for three months, and it’s dead already.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alex said. “Do you need help?”

“You know something about cars?” Gemma raised an eyebrow. She had seen him spend plenty of time playing video games or with his nose stuck in a book, but she’d never once seen him under the hood of a car.

Alex smiled sheepishly and lowered his eyes. He had been blessed with tan skin, which made it easier for him to hide his embarrassment, but Gemma knew him well enough to understand that he blushed at almost anything.

“No,” he admitted with a small laugh and motioned back to the driveway where his blue Mercury Cougar sat. “But I do have a car of my own.”

He pulled his keys out of his pocket and swung them around his finger. For a moment he managed to look slick before the keys flew off his hand and hit him in the chin. Gemma stifled a laugh as he scrambled to pick them up.

“You okay?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.” He rubbed his chin and shrugged it off. “So, do you want a ride?”

“Are you sure? It’s pretty late. I don’t want to bother you.”

“Nah, it’s no bother.” He stepped back toward his car, waiting for Gemma to follow. “Where are you headed?”

“Just to the bay.”

“I should’ve known.” He grinned. “Your nightly swim?”

“It’s not nightly,” Gemma said, though he wasn’t too far off base.

“Come on.” Alex walked over to the Cougar and opened his door. “Hop in.”

“All right, if you insist.”

Gemma didn’t like imposing on people, but she didn’t want to pass up a chance at swimming. A car ride alone with Alex wouldn’t hurt, either. Usually she only got to spend time with him when he was hanging out with her sister.

“So what is it about these swims that you find so entrancing?” Alex asked after she’d gotten in the car.

“I don’t think I’d ever describe them as entrancing.” She buckled her seat belt, then leaned back. “I don’t know what it is exactly. There’s just … nothing else like it.”

“What do you mean?” Alex asked. He’d started the car but stayed parked in the driveway, watching her as she tried to explain.

“During the day there are so many people at the bay, especially during the summer, but at night … it’s just you and the water and the stars. And it’s dark, so it all feels like one thing, and you’re part of it all.” She furrowed her brow, but her smile was wistful. “I guess it is kind of entrancing,” she admitted. She shook her head, clearing it of the thought. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a freak who likes swimming at night.”