* * *
By the timethe two couples returned to their staterooms, they had been feted by everyone at the deck party and were both exhausted and staggering from copious amounts of liquor.
“How many times did we conga line around the whole goddamned deck?” Colin grumbled, collapsing onto David and Nate’s bed.
“At least two,” Joshua said, stretching out beside him.
“You lightweights didtwo,” Nate told him, lying at Colin’s feet. “We,on the other hand, didthree!”
“That’s because your husband was tonight’s star attraction,” Joshua replied, his voice sleepy. “And all the pretty gay boys kept dragging him onto the dance floor.”
“I wasnotthe star attraction,” David protested. “And donotfall asleep on my bed! Get the hell up right now.” He pointed to the adjoining door. “Out, you two!Out!”
Colin snickered and hauled himself to his feet. “OK, Professor.” He grabbed Joshua’s arm. “C’mon, bud. We’re being evicted.”
Joshua heaved a groaning sigh as he got to his feet, then reeled toward the balcony.
“Nope!” Colin said, moving to grab his arm. “Wrong direction, bud.” He waved at David and Nate and then led Joshua to their stateroom.
“God, I’m drunk,” Joshua slurred as Colin deposited him on their bed.
“You and everyoneelseat thatcraic. Get undressed.” Colin pulled his T-shirt over his head, yawned, stretched, then turned back to Joshua, who was still fully dressed and lying on his back.
“Awwwfuck!” He dragged Joshua to his feet, yanked his shirt off, then knelt to loosen Joshua’s jeans and pull them down. He glanced up to see his husband leaning against the wall, peering down at him, bleary-eyed. “Donotpuke on me!”
“Have Ieverpuked on you?”
Colin barked out a laugh as he got to his feet. “No, but there’s a first time for everything, and I’m not in the mood.”
Joshua gave him a cockeyed grin and lolled against his shoulder. “Wanna make out?”
Colin’s eyes squinted as he studied his husband as if evaluating his condition. Then he shook his head and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Not while you’re this drunk, darlin’. I’d feel like some evil oldnecrophile.”
Joshua scowled and jerked away. “I’m notthatdrunk!”
But Colin maneuvered him back to the bed and forced him to lie down. “I’m thrilled to hear it, but we’re done for tonight.” He drew the blankets over Joshua’s still form and bent to kiss his cheek. “We’ll make out tomorrow.”
Joshua snuggled into the blankets and then pulled them over his head. “I might notwantto make out with you tomorrow. Ever think ofthat, hotshot?”
Colin gave a soft laugh as he settled next to his husband. “Never once crossed my mind.”
* * *
The following morning,they were awakened, as usual, by the sound of pounding on a door. But this time it was the door connecting their suite to David and Nate’s.
“Oh, sweet Jesus, I’m going to fuckingkillhim!” Colin moaned, then turned over in bed and covered his head with a pillow.
Joshua crept to the door and opened it. “Sh!Headache! C’mon in. But I’d avoid Colin if I were you. He’s threatening to kill you.”
“Well, he can’t becausehe’sthe one I want to see!”
“Where the hellarewe anyway?” Colin moaned, his voice muffled.
“We’re in Victoria, British Columbia,” Nate told him. He flopped on the bed and shook Colin’s shoulder. “Wake up, Irish! I have news!”
Colin turned to face him, his eyes narrowed. “Seriously, Nate?Seriously? I’m hungover asfuck, and in no mood for your shenanigans.”
“I don’t care. You have to see this.” He shoved a pamphlet in front of Colin’s eyes. “Read!”
