He was done. My bag was so full he couldn’t zip it closed.

I motioned him aside and took it, stuffing my underwear down so there was enough space to close the zipper. Then I handed it back to him.

He took it, staring at me. “I don’t know your deal. I don’t want you to know my deal, but sometime over the last week, I started to like you.” He pointed at me. “And not like that. You’re kinda cool, and I don’t say that shit to anyone, so if you claim I said it tomorrow, I’ll lie. Got it?”

I nodded. “Got it. I’m not cool.”

“See? There’s the annoying side of you.” He started for the door. “Now come on.”

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my cabin. Juan’s there, but I’ll have him bunk with Lestroy tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I waved. “Have a fun time with that.”

He stood at the door, looking back to see I had not moved with the bag in his hands. “What? No.” He threw the bag at me. “That’s for you. You’re not staying here. This place can’t be healthy. The whole thing should be burned down.”

“Don’t tell Owen and Hadley.”

“Why not?”

“They worked really hard at airing out the smell.”

His eyes got big. “You mean it was worse?”

I was not usually the giving-in kind of girl, but I was tired.

Finding one of my other bags, I put in enough clothes for the night and some of my things from the bathroom.

When I had my phone and charger, I stood in front of him. “Ready to go.”

He eyed my bag. “What’s that for?”

“Clothes.”

He held up his bag. “That’s what this is for.”

I took it from him and tossed it to the chair. “Thoughtful as you were, you packed all the wrong clothes. I don’t actually wear half the stuff I brought with me.”

“Jesus Christ.” He grabbed my bag and shoved through the door. “Come on.”

I went with him, my insides quivering in fear and aching with excitement.

The fish cabin had won this battle.

• • •

Juan Cartion was sleeping on the bottom bunk. His suitcases were open on the bunk above him, and that was the only bed open. They had one of the more private cabins, so Reese bunked on the couch and said I had to take his old bed.

I started to make a comment about not encouraging the he-girl, but he clamped his hand over my mouth and hissed in my ear about not being a smart-ass. I experienced a flurry of déjà vu

moments, but did as he asked. I heard Juan snoring lightly, so I decided to be kind.

And I continued to be kind, even though I barely slept.