When they reached the check-in counter, a staff member sporting a rainbow badge on his shirt offered a huge smile. "Names, please?"
"Colin Campbell-Abrams and his very sexy husband, Joshua Campbell-Abrams!"
David leaned closer to Nate, "Is it just me, or does Colin always sound like he’s presenting visiting royalty when he introduces Josh?”
"It's not just you.” Nate turned to gaze at his friend. “He’s an obnoxious twat, but he does have charm."
After receiving their wristbands, they moved towards the gangway, surrounded by hundreds of fellow travelers. The ship’s size and opulence were intimidating, and boisterous, happy passengers surrounded them. Still, with some help from eager crew members, they located the upper decks and found their staterooms.
Once inside, Colin opened the door connecting the two cabins and found Nate standing in the center of their living area, reading a pamphlet. “It says here that there’s a bon voyage party happening on the Lido deck,” Nate announced, then glanced up at Colin. “You want to go, Hardparty?”
“Of course I want to go. Just let me collect my husband.”
He found Joshua wandering through their quarters, examining every nook and cranny. “My god, this room is fantastic.” He shot Colin a worried look. “But our luggage isn’t here yet.”
“Babe, they have to deliver luggage to three thousand passengers. Might take them a while.” He tugged Joshua toward the door. “C’mon, bud. We’re off to the bon voyage party. Our stuff will be here when we get back.”
The Lido deck was crowded with high-spirited passengers. Stewards moved through the crowds carrying trays covered in margaritas, gay pride banners hung in every doorway, and a band blared out “YMCA.”
The four friends grabbed drinks, then moved to the edge of the gathering and leaned against a railing, taking in the crowd’s energy and laughing at the passengers’ antics.
“I gather formal attire isn’t required here,” David noted, nodding toward a group of scantily clad partiers entertaining the crowd with their highly risqué dance moves.
“Did you bring your Speedo, Davy?” Colin asked with a snicker.
“Hey, he’d look good in a Speedo!” Nate snapped.
“I do notowna Speedo,” David huffed.
“I bet you could buy one in the ship’s store,” Colin told him, then turned to Nate. “I’d love to see David doing the bumps and grinds with all those pretty boys.”
David blew out a dismissive breath. “Fat fucking chance ofthat!”
“And how about you, Hardparty? Didyoubring a Speedo?” Nate shoved Colin toward the dancers. “Get out there! Show ‘em what you got!”
“What he’sgotisn’t available for public viewing,” Joshua told Nate.
“Spoilsport!”
Colin snickered and took a long swallow of his drink, then glanced up when, above their heads, the ship’s horn blew out three short blasts.
“We’re leaving the dock,” Joshua murmured, nudging his arm.
“Let’s go to the stern,” David said, tilting his head toward the ship’s rear. “Better view.”
“And a lot quieter,” Colin added.
They found four lounge chairs in the aft and settled into them as the ship departed. The day was clear and sunny, and as the ship moved away from the dock and into the waters of Puget Sound, they could see Mount Rainier in the distance, filling the sky. Its snow-covered slopes created a breathtaking backdrop to the Seattle skyline, with its iconic Space Needle tall against the blue sky.
Colin lifted Joshua’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “Beautiful,” he murmured.
“It is,” Joshua replied, then turned to Colin. “Do you want to go back to the party?”
“No,” Colin told him. His eyes were fixed on the view before him, which seemed to grow lovelier as the ship moved further into the waters of Puget Sound. After a moment, he turned to face his husband. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not as much of a party dude as I used to be.”
“You?” Joshua questioned, a look of faked shock on his face. “Mr. Hardparty himself?”
“I just want to sit with you and look at this glorious view.” He released Joshua’s hand and leaned back in his chair. “You’ve domesticated me.”
