Mateo was on the dock, too. He didn’t join them often, and he had removed himself from the crowd a little now, stretched out on a red and white striped towel and watching the antics with a straight face.

Caleb was the obvious choice. He clearly liked Archer a lot, was fun and affectionate, and had the easy lightness that came with being only twenty-four … and it wasn’t like Archer wanted anything serious that would last past the summer. But Mateo … Archer’s gaze lingered over his thick, sculpted shoulders and long limbs … Yes, he was ideal teenage crush material, stupidly hot, and could set the dance floor on fire, but in person … mercurial, closed off, older, and overly serious … None of those things sounded like a good idea for a summer fling.

“I don’t think he does,” Archer said to Lynn. “He just likes to bake and … buy people stunningly perfect birthday presents.”

Lynn laughed. “Okay, Archer. As long as you’re happy.”

He looked back at Caleb, who was now trying to drag Ben into the water. “I am.”

“Good. Listen, when you’re back, I’m going to take you out for the most incredible belated birthday dinner. There’s this new, sort of over-the-top Italian-but-not-really place Sasha found in Brooklyn you have to try.”

“Sounds amazing.” Archer strolled along the porch toward the back of the cabin and a quieter view of the lake. “Hey, speaking of Sasha, have things slowed down at work? Any more proposal ideas?”

Lynn sighed. “Yes, they have, but not really.”

“What if,” Archer said with a flash of inspiration, “you did it old-school—baked the ring into a cake?”

She laughed. “You want me to bake a cake?”

Archer considered the sketchy old kitchen in their apartment. “Or hire someone else to do it?”

“Hmm … you know, that’s so unexpected for me, I kind of love it. I could bake a cake! Maybe if we win the trial, I’ll tell her we’re celebrating. Or, I guess if we lose, moping.”

“There you go! And get some champagne. A bottle of nice champagne, one that costs more than two-ninety-nine.”

“Thanks so much, Archer! I have to run now, though. Hope the rest of your day is amazing!”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for calling. Love you.”

When he got down to the dock, he barely had time to pull off his T-shirt before Caleb hauled him into the lake. He surfaced, laughing and wiping water from his eyes, and he found Mateo watching him. Archer smiled and flicked a few drops at him. “You coming in?”

“Nah.” Mateo lay back, a lazy smile on his face. “I like it up here.”

“Come on, Mateo,” Caleb called, sloshing him with a wave of water.

Mateo sat up, spluttering. “Fuck off, Caleb!”

Caleb rolled his eyes and splashed him again. “It’s only water.”

Mateo stood and, with another glare at Caleb, marched off down the dock.