“No. I mean, I don’t go around telling everybody, but it’s not a secret. I just—anyway, I’ll try to think of something for you.”

“Awesome,” Ellis says, putting his fist out and then knocking it into mine.

We’re lowering a canoe down from the rack after lunch when I finally work up the nerve to ask Ellis what I need to know. “Where’s Aiden?” I was going for a casual question, but my voice sounds harsher than I meant—obviously it wasn’t Ellis’s fault that his cousin is an ass.

“I…” He’s looking at me like he’s not sure what to make of my question. “I’m not sure. He just called this morning and asked me to cover his shift.”

“Did he sound sick?” For just a moment I let myself believe it isn’t me.

“Not really?”

God, why couldn’t he just lie to me?

We lower the canoe to the ground and Ellis nods me over toward the brush, away from the family that is loading in to the right of us. “Is there anything you need to let me know about?”

“Um.”

“As your boss—” His voice gets a little deeper, more serious. “—Is there anything you should let me know about? Anything that … could become a problem in the workplace?”

“Like?” I say.

“Like … a relationship?”

I laugh. “No, there’s definitely no relationship to report.” I’m pretty sure kissing someone and then disappearing the next day is the exact opposite of a relationship.

“Excellent.” Ellis pretends to wipe sweat off of his brow. “That’s the first time I’ve needed to ask anyone that.”

“I think need may be a little strong. I just asked if he was sick.” My head snaps up. “No one has ever dated here before? Does Beth and Troy trying to eat each other’s faces the other night not count?”

“That wasn’t at work.”

“Aiden and I haven’t done anything at work.”

Ellis gasps. “You’ve done something not at work?” I don’t say anything, and Ellis’s voice gets serious again. “This is my first year having to worry about it. My brother was still in charge last summer.” He pushes a hand through his fluffy hair, and looks disgusted when he touches it.

I give Ellis an accusing stare. “You’re just being nosy.”

Ellis snorts and smiles. “Fine, don’t tell me…”

“Nothing to tell,” I say. I sort of hate that it’s true. Almost true.