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“There’s nothing to it.” He grabs my hand and places it on the warm gearshift. “I’ll work the pedal, you shift.”

Before I can pull my hand back, he covers it with his, threading our fingers together around the shiny black knob. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see. I’ll guide you.”

We ride in silence with Caleb’s hand guiding mine. My heart beats out of control, and I’m certain he can feel my pulse thrumming under his. By the time we reach town, every bone in my body has turned to mush, and my stomach is tied in knots.

Caleb pulls into the Beanery parking lot and cuts the engine. He squeezes my hand before releasing it.

I stare up at the steaming mug etched into the glass before us. I haven’t been back since Nicole and I came up with the list. “Are we getting coffee?”

Caleb scratches his head. “I hadn’t planned on it, but if you’d like to, I guess we could—”

“No, it’s okay. I wondered since you parked here.”

He tosses his keys back and forth between his hands. “I, uh, it’s safer to park over here. In the light.”

“That makes sense.”

He glances at the community aquatic center across the street. “I’m sorry we couldn’t use the pool on campus. I didn’t realize the women’s team was practicing tonight.”

“No, really. It’s fine.” I peek at the dark, deserted lot across the way. “But are you sure we’re allowed to be here after closing? We won’t get into any trouble, will we?”

“Nah.” He opens his door but pauses and turns back to me. Shy Caleb is back. “Sometimes, I come here to swim after hours when our pool is in use. I like getting in the extra practice.”

“Of course.” I act casual, but inside, I’m freaking out. His nervousness is making me nervous. “Guess we’d better . . .”

I leave the rest of my thought hanging, hoping he’ll get the hint. Time’s a wasting, as my mom likes to say.

Caleb nods and jumps out of the car. He opens my door before I even have my seat belt unbuckled. “Ready?”

After looking both ways, he drags me across the road and around the back of the building to an unmarked metal door. I expect him to pull a key from his pocket, but when he turns the knob, it opens.

With a grin, he pulls me inside and closes the door, plunging us into total darkness.

I let out a squeal, tightening my grip on his hand. He chuckles, and the sound, coupled with the inky blackness, sends a ripple of fear through me. Since I can’t see a damn thing, I assume he must be operating on pure instinct as he leads us through the deserted building.

“I thought you said you had a key. I wasn’t expecting the door to be wide open.”

“It wasn’t wide open, it was unlocked.”

“You know what I mean,” I snap, anxiety getting the best of me.

Caleb stops in his tracks, fumbling around in the dark. With a click, the overhead lights flicker on.

“I do have a key.” He grins. “Her name is Lacy, and she leaves the back door unlocked on nights I feel like getting in extra laps.”

His unexpected revelation makes me angry, and not only because it seems as if some other girl horned her way into our date. I didn’t mind being in the aquatic center after hours when I thought he had permission to bring me here, but now I wonder how many rules we’re breaking.

I squeeze my bag to my chest like a shield. “Maybe we should go.”

“Someone sounds jealous.”

I nearly choke getting my denial out. “You wish.”

“I do wish, actually.” He leans in, brushing his lips across my ear. “Can’t you tell how much I like you, Kennedy?”

His words melt my anger into a puddle, and I relax the stranglehold on my bag. “I like you, too.”

“Then come on. Let’s swim.” He nudges my shoulder and points me in the direction of the women’s locker room before slipping through the opposite door marked “Men.”