Mateo clenched his jaw. His eyes shifted to Archer and, for one heart-stopping second, gave him a look so plaintive and searching that Archer almost stepped toward him. Then it was gone, replaced with stone. “Whatever,” he muttered. “Do whatever the fuck you want.” And he turned and marched off.

Caleb made a face at Mateo’s retreating back. “Ugh, I’m getting so sick of him.” He mopped at his brow with a towel and gave Archer a smile. “Let’s go grab some dinner.”

Archer sighed. “We have to return our boat.”

“Nah.” Caleb waved a hand. “It’s fine. The marina is closed now, anyway. We can bring it back in the morning.”

Archer paused. “I don’t feel right about letting it sit there. Plus, our stuff is still in it.”

“Okay, well, if you want to go now, I’ll meet you at the dining hall. I’m starving.” Caleb changed back into his clothes and gave Archer a kiss before he strolled out the door with Ben and Beau and the others.

Archer shivered as he shrugged back into his damp shorts and tank top, then headed out into the evening by himself. He slipped down the small, sandy embankment and back into the boat, arms screaming in protest as he rowed along the beach. The water was dark now, reflecting the last rays of light in rippled yellow stripes. The marina was indeed closed, so he tied their boat to the dock, neatly stacked the life jackets on the seat, and gathered up their belongings. It was a long walk back across the length of the beach and down the path to the employee dorms. He stopped by their room to change and drop off their stuff, then made the hike up to the dining hall. He wanted to jog to save some time, but there wasn’t enough gas left in the tank.

“There you are!” Caleb said when Archer sat next to him with a tuna melt. “You’d better hurry up. We need to head back in a minute.” Caleb was already finished and had his chin propped up on one hand, drinking a milkshake and deep in conversation with Ben.

“A romantic boating adventure, hey?” Dominik chuckled on Archer’s other side. “Hope it was worth it. I haven’t seen Mateo that pissed before.”

Archer sighed and stared at his sandwich, the knot of guilt in his stomach growing.

“He actually wasn’t mad till you got back,” Betty added. “He was just worried at first.”

“I do not need some washed-up old man overseeing my every move,” Caleb said loudly, joining the conversation. “I mean, Mateo isn’t my boss, or my father. He can fuck right off, actually.”