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He felt like he wanted to puke. How could he let this happen again?

Archer climbed the last step and swung open the door.

Tea chased after him. “Archer, come on. We need to talk about it.”

“No, I really don’t think we do.” He ripped off his shirt and tossed it in the laundry basket, then grabbed his towel and stepped into the bathroom. When he went to close the door, Tea stopped it with her hands.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath. Stepped away from her to turn on the shower head. “Listen. It’s a weird time right now. We’re both scared and lonely and forced to be around each other. We got ahead of ourselves. Let’s not do something we’ll both regret.”

Her eyes dimmed. “Is that really how you feel?”

Not even close. But he nodded, because what else was he supposed to do? He had to protect himself against her, or he would lose himself all over again.

He watched her hesitate, watched the range of emotions cross her face, until she settled for a complacent, blank expression. “Fine. Then that is how we leave it.”

She grabbed the handle and slammed the bathroom door.

Archer stripped down and got in the shower, turning the spigot from hot to very, very cold.

They quickly slipped back to being cordial with one another. They were like roommates—maybe worse. They didn’t hang out or talk. Archer spent his days working himself to the bone, doing any task he could possibly think of, even offering to buy groceries for anyone with COVID who couldn’t leave their cabins. He spent his evenings in his bed, imagining how easy it would be to crawl into hers, then cursed himself for being such a goddamn fool and punished himself with a brutal round of pushups.

When they hit day fourteen of their quarantine, Archer came back to his cabin to find Tea packing her things.

He frowned. “Are they good?”

“No fever or symptoms for five days, so things should be safe now.” She slung two tote bags over her shoulder, then made her way out of the room.

He stepped to the side to give her space, then realized the picture frame was still on the shelf. He picked it up and followed her out. “Wait, you forgot this.”

Tea turned to him, looking at the photo in his hands. Then she looked up at him, her face like stone. “You can keep it.”

She left without another word. She didn’t even glance back in his direction.

Chapter 19

Tea

Loons are expert fishers, moving at lightning-fast speeds. They use their large webbed feet to propel themselves like torpedoes through the water, while easily breaking and kicking to make abrupt turns when needed. They also use their wings for quick escapes when they feel threatened, known as “wing rowing.”

Tea sat on the couch in Cabin B, half listening to the meeting for the Ten Thousand Lake Loon Committee on Zoom. The other half of her was listening to her grandparents fight about what they should have for dinner.

“Wayne, it’s not hard. Pick something,” Nan pleaded. “Tater tot hotdish? Tuna macaroni salad? Fried fish?”

“Anything will be fine, darling.” Pop sucked on his inhaler, then placed his fishing cap on his head and kissed her cheek. “Whatever works.”

Nan growled, slamming her fists on the counter “You say that every night, then complain when I make something you don’t like!”

“I’m sure it will be brilliant!” He was out the door and beelining toward his boat. Nothing would stop him from fishing after almost two weeks of being confined to the house. Their entire cabin smelt like bleach after Nan washed it thoroughly, the smell still lingering three days after Tea had settled back in her room.

Nan shook her head, muttering under her breath.

“We could have burgers,” Tea said.

Nan huffed. “You know what, fine. At least someone will make a decision.”

Tea sat up. “Really? You never say yes to burgers for dinner!”

“Tonight, I’m willing to make an exception for my girl.” Nan reached into the freezer and pulled plastic-sealed burger patties out of boxes and placed them in the sink, then walked to the cabinet. “Although I don’t have any burger buns, and I’m pretty sure we’re out of ketchup.”