We stand there for a moment. Then Nick puts both of his hands on my shoulders and looks down at me

“Really. Why are you staying in this place?” he asks slowly. I look up at him and can only muster a shrug. He stares at me for a minute, then shakes his head and averts his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles. “It’s not my business.”

“No,” I say quickly. “Don’t say that. I appreciate . . . I appreciate that you care.”

Nick looks at me for a moment, then removes his hands from my shoulders and sits down on the edge of my bed. I do the same, leaving a foot of space between us. He seems to be thinking about something. Finally, he speaks.

“Look, Amanda, it’s just that you’re kind of mysterious,” he begins, looking at the floor.

“I’m sorry. I—”

“Kallie was all mysterious for a couple of months. I thought it was kind of cute at the time. But I realized later it was because she was lying about stuff. And cheating on me. So I guess I’m kinda weird now about mysteriousness and avoiding questions and stuff.”

“I’m sorry,” I repeat.

“It’s not like you have to tell me anything you don’t want to,” Nick continues. “It’s just . . . I haven’t really liked anyone since Kallie. Then I saw you at the restaurant, and, well, you spilled those drinks on me, and we talked for a minute, and I actually felt something I hadn’t felt in a while.”

“Ice?” I kid him, trying to break the seriousness that seems to have settled over us. It’s making me uncomfortable. Nick laughs.

“And sticky soda,” he says with a half grin. Then he looks at me seriously. “What I mean is, I like you.” He pauses and looks nervously at me. “Too much?” he asks.

“No,” I say with a laugh. I can feel myself blushing. This might be the first time in my whole life someone has simply liked me for me.

“Well, anyhow, I thought you seemed really nice,” he says. “But I’m not a big fan of secrets.”

“But I’m not trying to hide another guy or anything,” I say. “I swear.”

He gives me another half grin. “Well, that’s good.”

We sit in silence for a minute. “Anyhow, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I just wanted you to know where I’m coming from.”

I feel bad. I feel terrible. I want to tell him the truth. But I know I can’t.

After a moment, Nick reaches over and folds his hand around mine. I look down at our intertwined fingers, then back up at him. He smiles at me.