Overboard (11 page)

“I guess. I mean, she looked pissed there, but she’s looked happy and talked nicely about him the other times I’ve seen her.”

“Okay. So just shut up.”

Duncan pulled his hand free from Sebastian’s. “What?”

Sebastian tried to calm Duncan with a pat on his shoulder. “She’s happy. He can’t be that bad if she’s happy. Something happened. Maybe he thought he needed the money to impress her. Who knows? But, I can give you the money he owed you. We can keep an eye on him the next few days and make sure he doesn’t do anything else too stupid.”

“This blows.”

“I agree. If you want to handle it differently, let me know. Should we throw him overboard?”

Duncan laughed. Sebastian was saying all the right things.

It’s not sad that he’s my best friend. He’s a great guy.

“Fuck. You’re right. But, I can’t take your money...”

“You can and will.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to take your dad’s money.”

Sebastian flinched at the jab. “Ouch.”

“Sorry, but it’s true. Let’s make our own way. Fuck all these people. Jason. Your dad. My dad. We’ll carve our own path. We’ll start that business we were bullshitting about and we’ll make our own money and depend on no one but each other.”

Sebastian kissed Duncan’s cheek. “So romantic. You’re willing to give it all up for me? After just, what, one day together?”

“Stupid, right? But what am I really giving up? I’m gaining you. You’re the one that would have to give up something. You’ll have to be your own man. Are you ready for that?”

“Wow. Talk about putting me on the spot, but you are right. Let’s break the shackles when we get back home.”

“Why wait?” Duncan was ready to take on the world with Sebastian. Nothing would stand against him anymore. He felt that together they could overcome anything. He had never been one to believe in instant love, but he had never met anyone like Sebastian before either.

They made each other better people.

“If we cut up the credit cards right now, how are we going to pay for this?” Sebastian waved his hand to include the whole ship. “Besides I deserve one last fuck-you to my dad. Let’s run up the tab. Not that he’ll even notice. But one last hurrah.”

“Deal, but I doubt I’ll be very good about spending much money. I don’t have a lot of practice. I don’t even know what I’d want.”

Duncan leaned forward and kissed Sebastian. Sebastian met his kiss and for a couple of magical seconds neither of them worried who might see.

S
ebastian raised
the embarrassing issue that Duncan had hoped he would overlook.

“You took a job without ever meeting the guy? Not even just for a handshake?”

“I know. Stupid. But I was desperate. Never again. Anyway, let’s talk about something more fun. What are we going to do next?”

Sebastian smiled and pointed up.

Duncan looked up at the rock wall that seemed to stretch forever into the sky.

“Seriously? You were afraid when I threw you into the bed, but this is going to be okay?”

“That’s because there wasn’t a rope.”

“So I should bring more ropes to bed.”

“Focus, Duncan. There’s plenty of time for that later.”

Duncan hadn’t noticed the boat sway against the waves but he felt it while staring up at the wall. “You sure that harness is going to hold me? They don’t have a weight limit?”

“You’ll be fine. You’re nowhere near the limit. Stop being a baby and let’s conquer this wall.”

Duncan couldn’t believe that Sebastian thought someone of his bulk could make it up that wall. He probably had a better chance of being able to lift the wall than scale it.

Knowing he would never make it, he decided to try for Sebastian. And when he had to give up, he’d watch his cute little monkey scurry up the rest of the way. At least if Sebastian was as good as he pretended to be. Duncan had his doubts that Sebastian had ever tried. It seemed like something where the training would require more effort than Sebastian would ever commit.

They waited in line until it was their turn to shimmy into the harnesses. Duncan felt ridiculous as the stranger helped him get everything on correctly. He tried to focus on having fun rather than thinking about how silly he must look. The weather was perfect and he was having a great time with Sebastian. Why worry about anything else?

Duncan placed his foot on a rock. Sebastian shook his head and pointed at a rock a little higher up the wall. “Start with your right foot there. Then here and here and then your left foot should hit this one. From there, you’ll have to wing it.”

Sebastian slapped him on the ass and stepped over to his own section of the wall. Duncan didn’t wait. He knew he would need as much of a head start as possible. He followed the path that Sebastian had recommended and quickly found himself six feet off the ground.

“Hey, this is easy,” he called over to Sebastian.

“It won’t be if you keep using your arms like that. Lean in tighter against the wall. Keep your balance forward as much as possible and use your legs to drive yourself up.”

Duncan tried to follow the directions. “Like this?”

“Better. Good for a beginner. Most big, strong guys just want to use their arms. Try to save those for curling beers later.”

Duncan quickly made it several feet higher, thinking that he had a chance to beat Sebastian, before realizing he didn’t know where to go next. He would have to rely on Sebastian’s help. “Where to next?”

“Hold still a second. Let me see.”

They made it halfway up, with Sebastian telling Duncan where to go with each step before Duncan realized that even with Sebastian’s help, he just wasn’t experienced enough to get his big body up the wall. His muscles were tuned for different exercises. His arms and legs quivered with each step.

“Sebastian, I can’t make it any further,” he called out dramatically. “Go on without me and send help.”

“I’ll go on, but you should be the one getting help. Maybe some pizza.”

Duncan trusted Sebastian’s guarantee that the rope would hold and dropped off the wall. While slowly being lowered to the main deck, he watched Sebastian taking the wall at his own pace.

Without being hampered by Duncan, he climbed nearly at a walking pace as Duncan watched in amazement. His grace and strength were an awesome sight to watch. He effortlessly made it to the top, rang the bell and dropped from the wall.

Duncan offered Sebastian a high five for the performance. “That was amazing.”

“Nah. That’s just the beginners’ wall. I mean it was great how far you got for a first time, but I’ve been doing this for a while with a couple friends.”

“Duncan looked at the wall again. What do you mean beginners’ wall?”

“Well, look over there. See how the cliff actually angles out up there? You pretty much have to use all hands and arms there. That’s brutal on your fingers. I mean, for most people. It’s the toughest one on this ship. We have a few tougher ones at the place we go to. Anyway, what’s next?”

“You’re going up that fucking wall. You don’t get to talk all cocky about how easy it is and just walk away. Put up or shut up.”

Sebastian held out his hand and said, “Deal. But if I ring the bell, we’re going shopping for some decent clothes for you. If I’m going to be your secret lover, you better start looking more pretty for me.”

Duncan looked at the wall one more time. He doubted that Sebastian could make it up as easily as he claimed, but realized that even if he did, the worst that would come out of it was him getting new clothes. And it would be nice to look better for Sebastian. Sebastian was always so well pulled together that Duncan was starting to feel ugly around him.

He shook Sebastian’s hand. “Deal. And for the record I’m rooting for you, so don’t screw it up.”

Sebastian walked over to the line for the advanced wall. He only had to wait for the one guy who was already on the wall. Not many people were willing to try the difficult wall and be embarrassed in front of their friends and family. The guy on the wall had just made it to the overhang section. He lunged for a rock. His hand closed on it but his grip slipped.

A small crowd of teens who had been watching groaned in disappointment.

As their friend reached the ground again, Duncan heard one of them say, “I told you that you wouldn’t make it.”

“No one can make that. It’s impossible.”

The teens stayed to watch as Sebastian started up the wall. Duncan stepped up close to them to get a better view. He towered over them and felt out of place, but he was too excited to watch Sebastian try to overcome the wall to walk away from his perfect vantage spot.

Sebastian climbed slower on the more difficult wall. He constantly evaluated foot and hand options. Once he even had to descend a couple steps before heading up a path a little further to the left.

But he made steady progress.

By the time he reached the overhang, the crowd had grown a little, hoping to see someone make it all the way.

Duncan’s attention was focused more on Sebastian’s legs thin, beautiful legs than on the actual ascent. All he wanted was to get Sebastian back in their bed with his legs wrapped around Duncan’s waist again.

Sebastian broke the worst of the crowd’s tension by smoothly making it past the overhang. The crowd started cheering as he approached the top. Duncan cheered along with them, amazed that his boyfriend had conquered the wall.

Hope blossomed for Duncan. Sebastian had clearly been willing to invest time in something. If he could dedicate time to learning to climb, surely he could dedicate himself to Duncan like he said he was willing to.

Sebastian rang the bell and pumped his fist at the sky. Before jumping from the wall, he took a minute to look around at the sea.

Back on the ground, Duncan rushed in for a hug before Sebastian could even get out of his harness.

“That was a little tougher than I expected,” Sebastian said shyly. “I’m used to climbing indoors. That wind up there was a little trickier than I expected.” He glanced back at the wall. “But I did it.”

“You were amazing. You can do anything, I bet, if you put your mind to it.”

“Well, it certainly helped knowing you were down here cheering for me. That gave me a big boost.”

Duncan’s heart soared at the words. He hugged Sebastian again to hide the tear that threatened to drop from his eye. He wasn’t used to people other than Katey appreciating him being around. His parents mostly seemed to just accept that they had to keep inviting him.

“Now that you’ve conquered the wall, what are we doing next?”

Sebastian pulled away from Duncan and gave him a careful once-over. “I feel like I can do anything right now, but this next obstacle might be my biggest challenge yet.”

Duncan smiled nervously, wondering what kind of trouble Sebastian was planning.

“I’m going to make my gorgeous hunk look his gorgeous best. We’re going shopping.”

“Oh, right. Let’s go try to make me handsome.”

O
n their way
to the ship’s stores, Sebastian dragged Duncan aside for a quick drink.

Sebastian told the bartender, “Two of the most expensive drinks you have.”

The bartender returned several minutes with goldfish bowls filled with liquor.

“Ha. Perfect.”

Sebastian clinked bowls with Duncan. After they had each taken a big chug that barely lowered the level of the drink, Sebastian set the drinks on the bar and pushed Duncan into the hallway.

“But our drinks!” Duncan cried.

“Onward. We’ll buy more the next time we’re thirsty.”

“You’re crazy,” Duncan answered but marched dutifully toward his fate.

Duncan turned into the first store that had clothes, but Sebastian immediately pulled him out.

“Those clothes will make you look like a tourist. Unless you’re going to wear a fanny pack—and you’re not—that’s not going to do. Over there. We’ll get your wedding suit picked out first. It’ll go easier after that.”

Duncan shook his head. “No way. These cost too much. Besides, I don’t wear clothes like that.”

“You should. Sometimes I think you hide behind your big, bushy beard and your baggy, ratty clothes, as a way of getting people to not pay attention to you. Like you don’t think you deserve the attention. You do, you know?”

“Kind of like you hide behind that cocky, bad-boy persona and your daddy’s credit cards?”

The words would have hurt Sebastian if he hadn’t heard the playful sparring in Duncan’s tone and already known what he said was true.

“Absolutely. I’ll keep hiding for a few days until the trip is over. I’ll be that rich, arrogant bastard that everyone loves for me to be. Unless you are ready to tell your family about us?”

Duncan shook his head. As ready as he had been a few minutes ago, his confidence had collapsed again. “No, you stay hiding behind whatever masks you want for a few more days and I’ll do the same. Except for the clothes. I’ll try to change that. For Katey. And you. Let’s go in, but they probably won’t have anything in my size anyway.”

They stopped at the first rack and started flipping through the clothes.

Duncan looked at Sebastian. “So I can get whatever I want right?”

“Sure. Just make it something you’d be proud to wear to your sister’s wedding.”

Sebastian walked over to another rack of suits and started flipping through them, looking for one that would look nice. Duncan went off in another direction.

Sebastian picked up a gray suit and turned toward Duncan. “What you think of gray? I think it would bring out your eyes.”

But Duncan had already disappeared.

Sebastian looked around the room and even stepped out into the main corridor of the ship to look for him. When he returned to the shop, the saleswoman pointed toward the dressing rooms and said, “In there.” She was doing her best to hold back a giggle.

A couple of minutes later, Duncan walked out of the dressing room. He wore a baby blue suit. The white shirt underneath had tons of ruffles.

“Are you kidding me?” Sebastian said with a laugh. “You’re not going to your prom. This is a serious thing. Your sister is getting married. You don’t want to be the fool sticking out like a sore thumb in all of the pictures do you? Don’t be the punchline to her wedding.”

“Well now that you put it like that, I guess I better step it up. So what kind of suit is appropriate for a wedding?”

Sebastian walked back to the rack and picked out the original gray suit. “Something like this.”

“So I should look like a lawyer at my sister’s wedding?” He was shaking his head.

Sebastian looked at the suit again. “This doesn’t look like anything any of the lawyers I’ve ever worked with would wear. It’s too hip and modern and sexy. Not stuffy at all.”

The saleswoman chimed in. “With your wild hair and broad shoulders, that suit would look great on you. Match it up with the right tie and you’ll be the hit of the wedding. Other than your sister of course.”

Duncan’s shoulders dropped in defeat as he took the suit and headed back to the dressing room. Before closing the curtain, he called over his shoulder, “I’ll give it a try. Anything to make Katey’s day just a little bit better.”

“Onward, soldier,” Sebastian called after him.

Duncan’s willingness to do something so clearly uncomfortable, just for his little sister, touched Sebastian. Anyone who would do so much for his family had to be a good guy, not that he’d ever had any doubt in the first place.

But knowing that such a good man was interested in him had to mean something about Sebastian himself. And Sebastian had plenty of doubts about himself.

Don’t fuck this up.

Sebastian and the saleswoman dug through ties that were all laid out on a table.

“What color are you thinking?” Sebastian asked the saleswoman, more to be polite than actually needing her opinion.

“What color are his eyes?”

Without missing a beat, Sebastian said. “Green. A dark, pretty green.”

“How about something like this? The tie was red and had some subtle swirling outlines. Sebastian nodded. “That’ll do nicely. He’ll look very handsome in it.”

“Oh good. You two are going to look so cute together. What’s your suit look like?”

Sebastian flinched at her words. Yet another person thinking they were together. Did everyone on the ship assume they were gay lovers? He thought they were being a little more subtle than that.

Except when they were kissing and touching each other.

He sighed. He would have to work harder to make sure he didn’t blow Duncan’s cover.

“Oh we’re not together. We’re just friends, business partners.”

“Sure.” She said not sounding certain at all. “I’m sure business partners go on romantic cruises together all the time.” She zipped her lip with her finger and threw away the key.

Duncan came out of the dressing room. He tugged on his shirt while walking with his shoulders slumped.

“You look great,” they both said at the same time.

“You really think so?” Duncan spun to look at himself in the three-way mirror. “I guess it’s okay. It feels weird having so much tightness across here.” Duncan said pointing at his chest.

“That’s just because you’re not used to clothes fitting properly.” Sebastian said holding up the three ties in his hands to Duncan’s neck. “If we can just find you the right tie, you’ll be set.” Sebastian tossed all three ties back onto the table.

The sales lady came over with the red one and held it up to his neck. “I think this is the one. Try it on.”

Duncan held the tie awkwardly. “You really think I need a tie.”

“Absolutely,” Sebastian said. “Unless you’re wearing a tux, you need to have a tie. Weddings are a formal affair. It’s an occasion that really means something.”

Duncan hesitated a little while longer, fidgeting with the tie.

Sebastian couldn’t tell what was wrong. “I don’t get it. You don’t like that tie, we’ll pick out a different one. No big deal.”

Duncan grinned sheepishly. “I wouldn’t know a good tie from an ugly tie. That’s not the problem. The problem is I don’t know how to actually tie them.”

Sebastian threw back his head and laughed. He seemed to be doing that a lot around Duncan. Everything the muscle-bound carpenter said and did made him happy.

Not knowing how to tie a tie fit Duncan’s personality to a tee. Unlike Sebastian, Duncan hadn’t been dragged to formal parties his entire life. The few times he would have needed to wear a tie, someone had probably helped him pick it out and put it on or bought him clip-ons.

Sebastian was happy that he could be the one to help Duncan this time. “Big baby. Watch out.” Sebastian grabbed the tie and wrapped it around Duncan’s neck. He quickly realized he had no idea how to do it backward. He had only ever tied his own.

“Well, I think you’ll have to turn around. Then I can pretend I’m doing it on myself.”

Sebastian found himself staring at Duncan’s broad, strong back. He had certainly never been with someone who was just so fucking manly before.

Sebastian reached around and stood on his tiptoes to peek over Duncan shoulder. “Oh yes. This is the one. She was right. It will bring out your eyes.”

Duncan stood rigidly while Sebastian’s deft fingers tied the knot. “Well it’s not quite as good as if I was doing it on myself. But it will have to do.”

The sales lady shook her head as she walked back to the cash register. “None of my business,” she said.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. At least she didn’t know anybody who would care that the two of them were getting along so intimately. What happened in the suit shop would stay in the suit shop.

“Oh my God. You look so handsome!” Katey shouted, rushing into the store and wrapping her brother in a big hug. “I was expecting you in some baby-blue thing with frilly lace like you wore the prom.”

“You wouldn’t have been too far off,” Duncan said with a grin. “Fortunately, Sebastian here was able to help me find something more appropriate. I might change into the baby blue one for the after party, though.”

Katey patted Sebastian’s shoulder. It made him feel like he belonged in the family. He liked the feeling. It was so rare that he felt like he belonged to anything, and doubly so with family.

“If you are able to help Duncan pick that out, you’re going to be quite an amazing partner.”

Sebastian didn’t have to strain too hard to hear the implication in Katey’s voice. She clearly suspected that there was more going on between him and her brother. Unless Sebastian had heard wrong, not only was Katie willing to accept that her brother was gay, she was willing to accept Sebastian being with her brother. Sebastian had liked Katey since first meeting her. That appreciation grew with leaps and bounds every time he saw her.

Katey hurried off to a meeting for the wedding. “I can’t wait until this is over and I can start having fun.”

The two men continued shopping until Duncan had enough clothes to not look homeless.