Page 57 of Ship Happens

The boat landed in Sitka not too long after Owen and Kevin got back to the suite, a chime playing through the ship’s intercom system before the smooth voice of the captain came on to announce that they’d docked.

Kaitlyn had ordered everyone to get dressed and meet in the kitchen within the hour so that they could make their breakfast reservations. And it’d been Owen’s luck that he’d walked out of his and Kevin’s room to find Jacob the only other person who was ready.

Kevin’s words still echoing in Owen’s head, he opened his mouth to say something to Jacob but then decided against it. Instead, he pulled out his phone, praying that he might find something to break the ice with, but nothing felt natural. Before too long, Kevin joined them and the two started talking about hockey, and Owen watched his chance slip away.

Breakfast was so rich and decadent that Owen would’ve loved nothing more than to go back to the suite and fall into a food coma on the couch, but Kaitlyn hadn’t even entertained the idea of missing out on their candle-making course. When the entire class was separated into groups of two, Owen silently prayed that he’d be paired with Jacob, just to give him an in. But he ended up working with Kevin instead. And Jacob was paired with some twink who Owen stared daggers at the entire length of the class, wary of just how handsy the guy seemed to get, Owen’s ears perking up every single time the guy laughed a little too loudly at one of Jacob’s—probably terrible—jokes.

“Uh, Owen . . . I think you overfilled . . .” Kevin said, pulling Owen out of his spiral just in time for Owen to see the hot wax running over the lip of the jar.

“Shit!”

After that, they took a walk around the downtown area near a ton of different shops: a candy shop that offered bags by the pound, a bookstore that mostly specialized in authors from the Tlingit and Haida tribes, a shop that advertised specialty smoked salmon and even offered free samples of something called fish jerky that only Kevin and Abigail seem to like. They shopped for souvenirs in some of the more touristy places, Kaitlyn somehow managing to hide the Bear Lover hoodie from Owen until she’d already bought it, presenting it to him outside.

“I hate it,” he said, slipping into the comfortable material.

And before too long, Owen and Jacob ended up in a Christmas shop, of all places. Just the two of them. Owen’s still not sure how that happened.

“This one looks like you,” Jacob says, pulling an elf statue from the shelf.

“And how is that supposed to be me?”

“Blond.” Jacob points to the elf’s hair. “And short.”

Owen can’t help his smile. “That’s very rude of you.”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Jacob teases, setting the statue down. Owen moves past him to the next aisle over. Through the glass display case, he’s able to keep an eye on Jacob.

Just talk to him, Owen thinks. He’s a person, he’s a man. It’s not that hard. But every single time he thinks of something to say to Jacob, he starts to second-guess himself, wondering if it’s worth it.

“How’s your arthritis?” Then Jacob beats him to the punch. “We’ve been walking a lot the last few days. And Kevin told me he got you into the gym this morning?”

“Jealous of my gains?” Owen pulls up the sleeve of his hoodie, flexing his arms, not a muscle to be seen. “I’m doing okay, Humira’s doing the trick these days. Watch!” Owen squats before he jumps, managing a few inches into the air. “That didn’t even hurt!”

“Look at you!” Jacob beams, ignoring the way the elderly woman behind the cash register eyes them both suspiciously. “You’ll be competing in the Olympics before you know it.”

“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves,” Owen says, digging his phone out of his pocket as it begins to buzz.

“Kaitlyn?” Jacob asks, peering over Owen’s shoulder.

“Yeah.”

Kaitlyn: we’re wrapping up here

She attaches a photo of a paper bag filled with what must be every flavor of fudge available from the shop the rest of the gang ended up in.

Kaitlyn: you lovebirds meet us at the pier the boat’s gonna take us out soon.

Kaitlyn: we’re gonna see WHALESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Kaitlyn: 🐋🐋🐋

“‘Lovebirds’?” Jacob’s curious voice makes Owen jump. “Does she know something I don’t?”

Owen hides his phone screen against his sweater. “No, she’s just, uh . . . just being Kaitlyn.” Like he doesn’t already know her.

“Isn’t she always?”

“Unfortunately.” Owen swallows. “Come on, we should head to the docks.”