“I miss you too.” He walked down the hall and out the door onto the creaky porch. It was already dark, but the night was warm. Crickets chirped in the greenery.

“How’s it going? Have you kissed Mateo yet?”

Archer laughed ruefully. “No, but he just saw me practically naked.”

“Ooh, do tell!”

“Unfortunately, not like that!” He told her the story.

“Okay, dick move by Caleb,” Lynn weighed in, “but … like, your body is objectively amazing. I bet Mateo enjoyed the experience.”

Archer flushed. “Maybe. So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Hmm, okay, I’ll allow you to change the subject, only because this is important. As you know, Sasha and I have been together for six months now—”

“Mm-hmm…”

“—and I’m thinking about asking her to marry me.”

“What! Lynn, that’s amazing!”

“Is it? You don’t think it’s too soon? We haven’t even lived together yet … although we basically have been since you left.”

Archer considered what he had observed the past five months, and they seemed like a perfect pair, but he didn’t want to influence such an important decision. “Only you can know what feels right.”

“It feels right, it does.”

“Then that’s great.” His heart swelled with happiness for his friend.

“Great!”

“So, how are you going to ask her?”

“I was hoping you would help with that! Something cute and creative. You’re so good at stuff like this.”

“Hmm, let me think about it. Do you have a ring yet?”

“Nope. I have nothing, Archer. That’s why I need you.”

He laughed. “Okay, you look at rings, we’ll both think about the proposal, then we’ll talk again soon.”

“Thanks, boo.”

“You’re welcome.”

They chatted a bit longer about Shady Queens and Lynn’s work, then they hung up. Archer smiled at the forest around him. A breeze tickled his cheeks, and he could maybe hear the distant shriek of someone jumping into the lake. A thought wriggled through his brain—what would Lynn do with her apartment once she and Sasha were engaged?

Speaking of intrusive thoughts, he figured while he was out there he might as well make another call, though it wouldn’t be as fun. “Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, he finally calls us! One sec.” His mom put the call on speaker. “Your dad is here too.”

He sighed. “Hi, Dad. And you can call too, you know.”

“You never answer.”

“Yes, I do.”

“So, how is it at … What’s it called? Shady Pines?”

“Shady Queens.”

“Queens? Why would it be called Shady Queens?”

“It’s an LGBTQ+ resort, Dad.”

“So?”

“Like … drag queens?”

“You’re not a drag queen … are you?”

“No, Dad. They perform on Sundays. A different one comes in each week.”

“Are they paying you well?”

“It’s decent, plus I get room and board.”

“How much are you making, though?”