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Cadie asked, interrupting his thoughts.
    â€œMe?” Liam looked up in surprise. He’d never heard of Barnard, and although he knew the Ivy League included schools like Harvard and Yale, that was all he knew. He started to answer, “I’m not . . .” but then stopped and casually shrugged. “My uncle wants me to look at Boston. We’ll see.”
    â€œUniversity or College?”
    â€œBoth,” he answered, surprised there were two.
    Acadia’s eyes lit up. “Wow! BU and BC—those are great schools. My cousin scored a 1580 on his SATs and he didn’t even get into BU. What’d you get on yours?”
    â€œOn my . . . ?”
    â€œSATs.”
    â€œOh . . .” Liam suddenly realized he was painting himself into a corner, but oddly, he didn’t care. In truth, he hadn’t thought about college—in fact, the only thought he’d had on the topic was that he wasn’t going—and he certainly hadn’t taken the SATs. After all, it was a little overzealous to take them your junior year when you could take them your senior year.
    â€œSixteen forty,” he answered nonchalantly.
    Acadia looked puzzled, then decided she’d misunderstood. “Well, one of my teachers says anything over 1400 is great, but I only scored a 1320.”
    â€œI wouldn’t worry about it,” Liam consoled. “You can always take ’em again, and I’m sure you’ll do better next time.”
    â€œI hope so,” she said with a sigh. “Enough about school! I get tired just thinking about it.”
    She watched him polish the chrome around the runabout’s glass. “I love Chris-Crafts,” she said. “They’re so elegant and classy.”
    Liam wondered how she knew so much about wooden boats, and then, as if she could read his mind, she added, “My grandfather had one on a lake in upstate New York.”
    â€œWhat happened to it?”
    â€œHe died and . . .”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry . . .” Liam said, feeling foolish.
    â€œIt’s okay,” she assured him. “It was a long time ago. Anyway, one of my uncles inherited his boat—which made my father furious. He thought my mother—the only daughter—should’ve gotten it.
    â€œMy grandfather called her Stardust —after the song.” She started to hum the old Hoagy Carmichael tune, but then realized Liam was watching her and blushed, laughing. “I know—I’m crazy!”
    â€œNo, you’re not,” he said. “In fact, you’re nothing like I expected.”
    She frowned. “Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.”
    â€œIt is a good thing.”
    She blushed again. “Well, I should probably go find my father.” She turned. “It’s been nice talking to you, Mr. Cooper.”
    â€œIt’s been nice talking to you too,” he said, looking after her, “but my last name isn’t Cooper.”
    Acadia looked back. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just called you that because I . . .”
    â€œIt’s Liam . . . Liam Tate.”
    â€œWell, it’s nice to meet you, Liam . . . Liam Tate,” she teased. “My name is Acadia McCormick Knox, but everyone calls me Cadie . . . or Cadie-did. Everyone except my parents, that is. . . .”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you, too, Cadie . . . or Cadie-did,” Liam said with a smile.
    Just then, Cooper and Carlton came back in the boathouse, and as Coop walked past Liam, he rolled his eyes, and Liam had to bite his lip to keep from smiling.
    â€œReady, Acadia?” Carlton asked curtly.
    â€œYes,” she answered, looking back at Liam. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
    â€œMaybe,” he said with a smile.
    After they left, Cooper glanced over and saw the look on Liam’s face. “Oh, no ya don’t! I know that look—you look like a lovesick puppy! Don’t you go gettin’