After three hours of driving, my heart had settled more, and Caleb was pretty amazed all we drove through was boreal forest past that point. Sometimes the road rose and fell and we followed hydro lines, but otherwise, it was tamarack, spruce and birch trees, rock, and this asphalt road as far as the eye could see with the occasional lake.

We made a quick stop in Grand Rapids to check out the intersection of the Saskatchewan River pouring into Lake Winnipeg, our province's largest lake, before we arrived at the inconspicuous turnoff for Little Limestone Lake. There was so little warning before the access road that without Caleb's help, I would have flown right past it.

A small white sign with a moose in the corner announced the lake's name along with Mosakahiken Cree Nation whose traditional lands these were. The reviews and blog posts weren't kidding about the shabby road. It was a pot-hole haven, and that was saying something from someone who had grown up in an area built on shifting riverbed soil in a free-thaw cycle that made our roads look like a war zone constantly needing to be patched and rebuilt.

Once the road got wide enough, I parked, as our speed was comparable to walking, and I wanted my parent's car to return in one piece.

"How do you feel about a stroll? I'm not sure how long it'll be, but it should be nicer than driving," I said.

He peered out the windshield at the bowl-sized dip in the unpaved track. "Need a good ute for these. This reminds me of the outback but with trees."

"Without all the cool critters."

"I beg to differ. Moose, beavers, deer, wolves, bears—they all sound intriguing." His voice rose, and he grinned.

"We don't want to cross a bear. She could have cubs and that would get dangerous. I'll bring my bear spray just in case."

"Okay, I'll settle for a moose."

That made me laugh as we hopped out. In my twenty-some years living out here, I'd never seen one in the province, but perhaps luck was on Caleb's side. He'd had enough misfortune to last a lifetime. Misfortune destined to keep us apart.

But I wouldn't ruin the day dwelling on that.

I filled a small bag with snacks and a few items to bring to the beach. We wouldn't stay too long as it was still another two-plus hours to Paint Lake, and we had a waterfall to explore en route, but I couldn't resist dipping into the water. This was one of our province's hidden gems, far enough from the city to not be overcrowded with Instagrammers too often, and it was a weekday.

I dug a bikini out of my travel bag. "Bringing your swim trunks?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You're joking?"

I shook my head and smiled at him. "Please?" It would be much more fun to swim together.

He glanced at the swimwear still in my hand and chuckled. "This time I will, as I suspect it'll be warmer than Paint Lake."

"Yay!" I beamed even wider and snuggled against his arm.

He grinned back at me. "You're adorable, completely devoid of nerve endings and any sense of temperature, but adorable."

Once he'd dug through his bag, we walked with our packs of snacks, water, and swimsuits. I wasn't sure how many kilometres remained to cover, but it never hurt to be prepared. Caleb had followed my lead without many questions. He must be used to those remote hikes in the outback or when heading out for his job.

That would have been extraordinary to have such a beautiful and natural place to work in every day and to protect. We had part of that in common with our professions. But his environment was so different from the one I was used to.

"What's the outback like?"

"It's peaceful. I love that rusted red colour of the earth and the incredible critters that survive out there. Visitors freak out about the venomous snakes and scorpions, and it pays to be mindful of them, but there is so much more. Lizards, skinks, thorny devils, goannas, dingoes, even camels, though they shouldn't be there."

The more time we spent together, the more comfortable he was sharing the details I imagined his past dates tuned out. I'd love to see photos or learn more about the animals' habits and differences. But the unexpected inclusion of camels on his list had me intrigued. 

"Camels in Australia?"

"To haul goods across the country before there was more infrastructure. Some genius thought releasing them into the outback once the rail system was in place was a brilliant idea. Almost a million feral camels roam Australia and wreak havoc on the environment. I imagine the bloke that did that was related to the one who introduced rabbits and cane toads without considering how they'd decimate the environment." Frown lines had etched into his brow and his shoulders stiffened.

I had heard tales of the toads and rabbits from some of the Australian divers I'd met who were fellow animal lovers. My sandals crunched over a larger piece on the gravel road.

"Is that a lot of what you deal with at work?"

"It depends on the job and assignment. Sometimes we're more focused on present human impact related to industries, and other times we'll conduct studies and organize efforts to protect certain at-risk or endangered species."

"Which do you prefer?"

"Always the animals. I'm sure you can relate."

I grinned as while my duty was to manage and teach humans to exist in an aquatic environment, the marine life often brightened a sour dive or group.

"So you want to see the camels gone?"

He pressed his lips together. "It's conflicting as you have to prioritize one animal's survival over another. Invasive species target the native ones or compete for their food and can lead to their extinction. In the right environments, camels, toads and rabbits are wonderful creatures, but in the wrong ones they're quite destructive."

That happened in marine ecosystems too. As much as I loved lionfish in Southeast Asia, over in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean, they were invasive without natural predators, fed on the prey of other native species, and put more pressure on the reefs.

"It takes some tough love."

"Exactly. At the end of the day, we need to do what's best for the entire ecosystem."

I suppose, in a sense, that applied to Caleb and me too. While our relationship was good for both of us in isolation, it wasn't healthy for his overall family dynamic or his ability to support his sister in the way he desired. Although, unlike an invasive species, I hoped there would be space for us to exist in the future as a couple without disrupting his family vibes.

Asking him would only dampen our connection and lead to more doubt on his part about whether I could handle our short-term relationship. I didn't want to put more pressure on him, given how much stress he was managing. He'd been checking his phone on the drive up, even if it was the middle of the night there.

As we walked, we crossed paths with an SUV struggling with the road as well. They waved at us and continued their journey to the highway. When we reached the beach twenty minutes later, an Indigenous family had set up to camp in open spots, though it was more of a bush camp without the facilities we'd had at Steep Rock.

Near the water, my jaw dropped at the blue hue. In another country, I wouldn't bat an eye, but seeing that tropical turquoise tint in Northern Manitoba was out of character for the region and Canada. A rock painted with a blue heart and a yellow star beckoned us forward. Much like Steep Rock, this was a white pebble beach with smooth stones lining the shore interspersed with small boulders.

"Wow," the words escaped my lips as I took in the colour. The water reflected such a bright turquoise like we'd stepped through a portal to the tropics, but without the high humidity. Somehow this managed to one-up Steep Rock's impressive beaches with its glow. "Looks like we'll get a tropical holiday together after all."

"The breeze is pleasant, but I have a few doubts about the tropical nature of the water temperature."

"It's not as big as Lake Manitoba, so it could be warmer, and if not, I can keep you warm."

Caleb smiled and leaned closer to whisper, "I'll hold you to that."

A giddy sensation traveled through to my toes. "I hope you do." 

While I hadn't planned on discussing my asexuality so early, it was a relief we had and that he related to some of it. Only a tiny part of me screamed it was unfair that we'd found another way we were compatible, yet couldn't stay together. But the more I ignored that voice, the more I could live in this moment.

He scanned the quiet beach where another family with two parents and four kids played near and in the lake.

"So, where do we change?"

I dug in my bag for my sarong and pulled out my favourite bathing suit. "Portable change room."

"You have a lot of trust in that fabric."

"I spend a lot of time in the water. I'm used to it. Plus, I'm comfortable and feel safe around you. You want to go first?"

He shook his head.

As I'd be half naked in a minute anyway, I tugged off my t-shirt and placed my bikini top over my bra. The top strings were still tied from the last time I'd worn it but they'd gone a little loose. Caleb's eye flickered around the beach and surrounding forest, and his cheeks grew red as our eyes met. It made him even more adorable and increased my desire to bug him more.

"Could you help me tie the top?"

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't trust you."

I pulled my hair back in a handheld pony while his warm fingers tickled at the skin on my neck as he fumbled with the strings. He uttered a few apologies as he attempted the knot for the third time.

"Your hands are nice and warm," I said as he stood behind me.

"They haven't been subjected to a Manitoba lake yet today."

I chuckled, the action creating more unanticipated yet thrilling connections between us. As if Caleb sensed it, his fingers caressed the spot where my neck met my shoulders.

"If you're that worried, I can go alone," I said.

"It's our tropical holiday. Can't let you have all the fun."

The way he stretched out 'our' melted my already liquid heart even more. I couldn't wait to jump in the water together.

He got a better grip on the bathing suit strings and pulled them tighter, checking if it was okay before tying the final bow. Yet another characteristic I adored about him, his interest in making sure I was okay. Then he stepped away. 

Thanks again for reading! Part 2 will be out next week. I'm off on my own intercontinental adventure today, but have edited and scheduled one more Saturday chapter so the story will keep moving. Have a great weekend everyone!