Page 45 of Any Port in a Storm

And even if we could, the city’s just announced a mandatory shutdown for all nonessential workers. “Two weeks to flatten the curve,” they said cheerfully.

“Yeah, where have we heard that before?” Nick grumbled when we watched the news report.

“It’ll be okay,” I told him with all the false bravado I could muster. “And when it’s done, we’ll get you home for the tail end of your spring break trip. Your grandpa’s going to be thrilled to see you.”

I can’t be sure, but it had looked like he was about to cry. “I hope you’re right,” he’d said.

I grinned. “I usually am.”

But now, elbows deep in my empty fridge, I’m feeling like I might, in fact, be wrong. Very wrong. Because every time I turn on the news, I’m accosted by stories about increasing infections, more and more people dying, and how the world is just generally going to hell all around us.

“Okay. So, onions, milk, lettuce, tomatoes, oranges. Bread, cheese, eggs. Cereal, peanut butter, grape jelly.” Nick looks up from his phone. “Anything else?”

“Ice cream.”

A smile starts. “How could I forget?”

“I don’t know how we’ll get through this without the essentials,” I joke.

“What, I’m not enough for you?”

I draw my lips into a line. “No offense, Nick, but you pale in comparison to ice cream.”

He goes back to his phone. “I see how it is.”

“Sorry.”

“Okay, order placed. They’ll email us with any substitutions.”

I shut the refrigerator, sponge in hand. It’s never been this empty, so I figure I might as well take the opportunity to clean the shelves. “Thanks. You sure I can’t Venmo you for my half?”

“No way. You’re letting me stay here for free. I’m sure I’m using more than my share of hot water, what with all my in-shower brooding.”

I snort. “Water’s included in my rent.”

“Well, still. I’m going to pay for the groceries. I suspect you’re not earning too much right now.”

I cross my arms and lean back on the counter. “Oh, and you are? Last I checked, adjunct professors don’t exactly rake in the big bucks.”

“Well, I’m no hedge fund manager,” Nick says coolly.

“Whoa.” I blink rapidly, frankly shocked he went there. “Can we not talk about Porter right now?”

“Who said anything about Porter?”

I narrow my eyes. “You did. Just now.”

“I just don’t understand why it’s a problem for me to buy you something.”

“You are shockingly jealous for a man who claims to be over me.”

Nick looks down. “I don’t believe I ever said that.”

My jaw falls all the way open. “Excuse me?”

He stands up from the dining room table. “Let’s not do this, okay?”

I follow him out to the balcony. “Do what? Drop bombshells and then just walk away?”