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off being nerdy and full of himself? It’s like he thinks he lives in some kind of alterna-world where nerds are cool.”
    â€œHe does,” Drew says, smiling wide. “It’s called arts school.” It strikes me for the first time—what’s a guy like Drew doing in arts school anyway?
    Mandy rolls her eyes, but she smiles, too. “Okay, that’s not the problem. The problem— ” Drew doesn’t slow for the turn onto University Boulevard, and Mandy has to swing forward to absorb the curve. She rights herself and goes on. “The problem is that Peter’s nutty.”
    â€œI said I’m not interested, so it doesn’t even matter.” But I would like to know what qualifies a person as “nutty” in Mandy’s book.
    â€œDon’t be bitchy, Mandy,” Drew says, and he looks bummed by whatever he expects her to say.
    â€œI hate that word,” Mandy says.
    â€œThat’s why I used it.”
    The what-happens-next? of the moment works like a vacuum, swallowing all sound, all breath.
    Mandy zaps Drew with one of her lightning stares. He should be a sizzling pulp melting into the seat, but I guess he’s immune. Mandy turns back to me, and the next moment floods in.
    â€œYou’re talking about stuff that’s private,” Drew says, but Mandy holds firm.
    â€œNo,” she says, “ You are. All I meant was he’s a goof, like that crap that he pulled with my car. But now that you mention it . . .”
    â€œMention what ?” I ask.
    Drew eyes me sternly in the rearview mirror. “It’s Peter’s own business.”
    â€œNot if my friend’s thinking about dating him,” Mandy says.
    â€œ Peter’s your friend,” Drew says.
    â€œNobody’s thinking about dating anyone,” I say, but I can’t help asking, “What ‘stuff’ are you talking about?”
    Drew says, “It’s from a long time ago.”
    â€œNot that long,” says Mandy. “He had to go for counseling.”
    She doesn’t know I had counseling for my panic attacks in middle school, back when Dad first threatened to split. What would she think of that?
    â€œMandy, Peter’s my best friend,” Drew says. “He’s a good guy. Can we drop it?”
    He zooms into Ragamuffin’s parking lot, completely ignoring their speed bump. It makes my teeth clack.
    â€œI love Peter,” Mandy says, “but can we agree that he’s nutty? You saw what he did to my car!”
    â€œ My idea! ” Drew growls, shaking Mandy’s thigh. It’s playful, but he’s frustrated. “You can’t hold a grudge against him for that.”
    â€œFine, then I’ll hold a grudge against you,” Mandy says sharply. She hops down from the truck but says, “Ah-ah-ah,” when Drew opens his door. “You, Mr. Idea Man, can wait outside. The ladies have shopping to do.”
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding me.”
    â€œConsider this your punishment for calling me ‘bitchy,’ and for telling me what I can talk about, AND for my CAR.”
    â€œMandy, play nice,” Drew says.
    â€œLady time,” Mandy says with a flourish and sashays toward the store.
    Their fight came on so quickly, I feel like I caused it somehow. I turn to give Drew a sympathy smile, but he’s in his own world, fuming.
    Inside, Mandy seems oblivious to the tension we just left. “Peter’s not a bad guy,” she says as we navigate the narrow aisles. “Drew’s right about that.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter because I’m not interested.”
    Mandy smiles knowingly. “You’re not that good of an actress, Caddie.”
    Then I’ll have to get better. I already feel like I’m one touch away from having all my craziness exposed. The last thing I need is a public, puppy dog crush on a guy who shows affection through wrestling.