“I crewed on an eighty-foot super yacht while I was in college,” Colin told him, grinning. I was the Chief Officer for three seasons on a run from Boston to Nova Scotia. It was really cool! I enjoyed it a lot.”
“You never told me that!” Joshua exclaimed.
Colin winked and nudged him with an elbow. “I have many secrets, my love.”
Joshua’s head reared back, his dark eyes narrowing.
“Noneyouneed to worry about,” Colin said, chuckling as he kissed Joshua’s cheek.
“So, you’re good with the whole cruise scenario?” David said.
Colin grinned and leaned toward his friend. “Absolutely!”
“Good,” David told him. “Pride starts June first. Do you two have a preference about which week I should book? And can you guys get the time off?”
“I don’t have a preference. Esther will probably be glad to get rid of me for a week,” Colin said, referring to his boss, the Commonwealth’s elected attorney Esther Jackson. “I just need to know enough ahead of time to get a continuance for any pending cases.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Joshua said. “I can reschedule my patients for a week, and plenty of therapists are available at the clinic in case of an emergency. Just let us know when you book so we can arrange things.”
“And I’m paying foreverything,” David repeated. “This cruise is a gift for Nate and you two as well.”
“That doesn’t seem fair, Davy,” Colin protested. “We can pay our share.”
“I don’t want that,” David told him, getting to his feet. “This is on me.” He held up his hand. “No, Colin. Not this time. This trip is my gift to all of us.”
“The final frontier,” Joshua murmured.
“Hmm?” David queried.
“Alaska,” Joshua told him. “It’s the final frontier. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
Colin smirked and lifted his coffee mug in salute. “Every Trekkie’s dream come true.”
David moved toward the door. “I gotta run. I have class in a half-hour. You guys arein, though, right?” He paused, waiting for their answer.
“We’re in!” Colin assured him, lifting his hand in an energetic thumbs-up.
David grinned. “Good!” He waved one last time before moving through the porch to the back door.
Joshua shot a sideways glance at his husband, then sighed.
“Isawthat.”
“Sorry.”
Colin husked out a heavy breath. “If you don’t want to go, now’s the time to tell me because David has the bit in his teeth, and I feel sure he’ll be booking staterooms before the sun sets today.”
“Oh, lord god,” Joshua moaned.
“Josh, if you don’t want to go,say so!”
“Idowant to go. I’m just nervous about it! I told you. Water makes me…anxious.”
“I just don’t want to hear you grumbling about… aboutwhateverwhile we’re bobbing around in the middle of the North Pacific, and it’s too damned late to do anything about it.”
“I wouldn’tdothat!” Joshua snapped, then shot an annoyed glance at Colin and scowled. “D’you want breakfast?”
Colin peered at him, squinting. “Always makes me nervous when you’re both mad at meandcooking for me. Somehow, that seems like a bad combination—especially forme!”
