“I’m the rich one, remember?” David reminded him.
“You’dneedto be rich to pay for those accommodations,” Colin said, laughing. “But we’renot.”
“Don’t worry about it. This trip is my treat.”
“We’re going in April?” Joshua asked.
“No. There are no Alaska cruises in April. So we’re going on an LGBT Alaska cruise during Pride Month.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Colin moaned.
“What?!”
“A ship full of gay guys, all headed to Alaska?” Colin said, then chuckled and shook his head. “A great big floating bathhouse!”
“Colin!” Joshua protested, laughing. “That’s just not so! I have friends who’ve taken those cruises, and they are NOT just one big sex party. There are plenty of monogamous couples on board who have no interest in hookups. Not to mention plenty of lesbians and other members of the gay community.”
“Babe, I was only kidding. But I suspect there will also be plenty of action in the spa for those who want it.”
“Maybe,” Joshua said. “But I would imagine thatanycruise has its share of hookups, gayorstraight!” He leaned toward his husband. “And since when haveyouneeded a gay cruise to secure willing hookups?”
Colin snickered and ruffled Joshua’s hair. “No worries, pretty boy. My hookup days are over.”
“Jesus,” David muttered. “Was this a mistake? Should I have booked us on a regular cruise?”
“No!” Joshua blurted, then reached to give Colin’s shoulder a gentle punch. “Don’t pay any attention to him, David. The gay cruise is a great idea. It’ll be a ton of fun.” He turned to Colin and elbowed him. “Stop tormenting our best friend! The man tells us he’s gifting us with an amazing vacation, and you tease him with visions of drunken gay boys getting all grabby in every corner!”
This time, both ColinandDavid doubled over with laughter.
“He’s not tormenting me,” David told Joshua. “I ignore fifty percent of what he says anyway.”
“Hey!” Colin protested, then leaned toward David. “Iwasteasing you. It sounds like an amazing time, Davy.”
“What if…” Joshua interrupted, then coughed out a sigh and winced.
“What ifwhat?” Colin asked, turning to face him.
“What if… what if there’s a storm? What happens if the waves get high?”
“Josh, these big cruise ships can handle high waves. I doubt you’d even notice with their massive stabilizers.”
Colin peered at his husband over his shamrock-covered coffee mug. “Are you afraid ofboats?”
“No,” Joshua said, then averted his eyes. “I’m not afraid of…” He paused and shot Colin a sheepish glance. “I’m not afraid of boats.”
“What then?”
“Water!”
Colin stared at his husband in shocked surprise. “You grew up right across the street from Lake Michigan! And we went on a cruise when we were in Ireland!”
“Nevertheless,” Joshua scowled and drew in a quick breath. “I love being near water. I love looking at water. I don’t like being on the water!” He shot David a glance. “Big waves and stuff like that make me… nervous. And Ireland was arivercruise. There are no big waves on a river.”
“Do you get seasick?” David asked, clearly disappointed.
Joshua wrinkled his nose. “I have in the past, but don’t worry about it, David. Nervous or not, I won’t let it stop me from going on this cruise. I’ll see the doctor before we go. Get some motion sickness meds.”
“Colin, doyouhave any issues with boats?” David asked.
