Overboard (18 page)

Duncan nodded, but it didn’t feel right. It felt like betrayal. Sebastian hadn’t been there to defend himself, and Duncan had piled on at the first chance he’d had.

He felt dirty.

No matter how mad he was at Sebastian, he still felt the need to protect the guy from others. It would be easier if everyone knew that they were together and not just business partners.

But Duncan still wouldn’t risk coming out during his sister’s wedding cruise. Everything kept coming back to the wedding cruise. Their lives were on hold for the next few days because of the stupid wedding cruise.

Duncan wasn’t sure what the future would bring, but he was ready to get off the ship to find out. George stood first, saying, “We’ve got to go. We’re going to be late and your mom will kill me.” He threw some bills on the counter for the bartender.

Once again, someone was paying for Duncan. Whether it was his dad or his lover, someone else always paid. Duncan promised then and there that when he got home things would be different. He couldn’t even say what that meant or how it would happen, but things could not continue on their current path.

When they arrived at the theater, the usher led them to their seats, right in the middle of the tenth row. They had to shuffle through everyone to get to their seats.

Sebastian was already there. He looked gorgeous in a simple red sweater and blue jeans. Duncan sat next to him and looked around the room. They would have to push past dozens of people either to the left or to the right to get out of the theater. Duncan sat without a word, hoping Sebastian would stay quiet too.

But he noticed the tension in Sebastian’s shoulders. Trouble was brewing. Duncan just hoped that it would wait until they got back to their room. He didn’t want Sebastian to cause a scene.

W
ith the show
about to start, Sebastian anxiously searched for Duncan and George. Since the two of them were late, Sebastian figured they must be together and that seemed like something that wouldn’t end well.

He breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived at the last second. They both had to shove through the audience to get to their seats in the middle of the long row. Sebastian smiled at Duncan delicately trying to shimmy down the narrow space between the two rows without bumping anybody’s knees or stepping on their toes.

He was a bull in a china shop.

Duncan huffed in annoyance once he got to his seat and sat quickly without even a smile at Sebastian.

Hopefully a little thing like a crowded theater wasn’t going to make Duncan miss out on the enjoyment of the show. The poor guy looked confused and bothered about something. Sebastian wondered exactly what had happened since Duncan left the room. Did he have a blow up with his dad? Had he bumped into Jason again?

The poor guy had so many potential people around him to cause him trouble.

Sebastian whispered in Duncan’s ear. “You won’t believe what happened. While waiting for the theater doors to open, I dropped a soda on my pants. I felt like such an idiot. Look at this stain.”

Duncan forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Sebastian tried again. “So what were you up to? Hopefully you weren’t doing anything that would make me jealous.”

Duncan shifted to his other armrest as the curtain started to rise.

Sebastian asked, “Are you okay, bro?”

“Sure, pal. Just great.” Duncan sank further into his seat.

Sebastian flinched at the biting words, but didn’t have a chance to ask what was wrong.

The crowd applauded as the emcee, with a giant grin and waving hands, took the stage. He immediately went into a fast-paced spiel about how amazing the weather was, how great the food was, and ended with a lame joke about needing to buy bigger pants at one of the shops to fit his expanding stomach.

Sebastian rolled his eyes.

The crowd ate it up. The man knew how to sell to his audience. Sebastian could probably learn a thing or two about how to sell stuff from a man like that.

Thoughts about Duncan’s edginess, and his own nervousness about being an inadequate business partner, faded as the emcee introduced the first comedian.

Sebastian relaxed and let himself have fun. Everything would work itself out.

The comedian was an old guy wearing an undersized and weathered brown suit. He looked like he should be selling encyclopedias door to door. Most of his jokes were corny one-liners. Perfect for an audience who just wanted to sit back, relax, and have a few laughs after a long day in the sun.

Sebastian found himself chuckling at the old man. Half the time it wasn’t even the jokes so much as the old coot’s timing and facial expressions.

By the time the comedian started his jokes about marriage and relationships, Sebastian was hooked on the old guy’s performance. His mood had improved dramatically. He was sure that any worries about the business and becoming more responsible could be handled in the future. At that moment, all that he was concerned about was having a good time with his boyfriend.

Unfortunately, his boyfriend still seemed to be in a funk.

Sebastian tried to cheer him up, “Duncan,” he whispered, “you look amazing tonight. We’re not beauty and the beast anymore; just the two beauties.”

Duncan shushed Sebastian, and shifted his body further away.

I’m not going to let my night be ruined just because he’s grumpy. If I stay happy, he’ll come around eventually.

The comedian held up a hand to silence crowd for another one of his one-liners. “Eighty percent of married men cheat in America. The rest cheat overseas.”

The joke was stupid, Sebastian couldn’t believe he was laughing at it, but the mood of the room was infectious. Even Katey, sitting in the seat to his left, laughed at the joke. If the woman who was just about to get married could laugh at it, Sebastian could too.

When he did, though, Duncan jumped to his feet and glared at Sebastian before starting to sidestep his way to the aisle, mumbling “Excuse me,” to the annoyed people as he stepped over them again.

Sebastian hurried after him, wondering what had happened.

The people made room for the big, lumbering ox, but grumbled and complained when Sebastian passed.

“Sorry. Sorry. I just need to catch...”

Duncan spun. Before Sebastian could catch his balance, he crashed into Duncan’s chest. He would have wrapped him in a hug, but Duncan grabbed his forearms and pushed him away.

“This is over.” Duncan’s roar was entirely too loud for the theater that had silenced during the commotion. “Find a new...” Duncan realized that everyone was looking at them. “Carpenter. This business between us is over.”

Duncan continued down the row.

Sebastian watched him go.

“Sit down, you jackass,” an old, white-haired man a couple of rows back yelled at him.

Sebastian couldn’t let him go, but couldn’t force himself to follow him either.

He felt a gentle hand on his back.

Katey said, “Let me go talk to him. Everything will be fine. He just needs a little space.”

Sebastian sank back into his seat. Embarrassed and with buzzing in his ears, he barely heard the rest of the show, and he certainly didn’t laugh at any of the comedian’s horrible jokes.

In the otherwise full theater, Sebastian sat alone with empty seats on either side.

D
uncan almost had made
it back to his room when his sister grabbed his arm.

“Stop, Duncan. Slow down. What’s going on?”

“I’ve got to get away from him. The lies. Sitting there laughing about it. I just can’t take it.”

Going to his room was foolish. Sebastian would have to return there eventually. He needed a better plan, a way to stay away from Sebastian.

“Sis, this is totally unfair. Feel free to say no, but please let me move into your room.”

He expected her to say no. It was ridiculous to ask the bride-to-be to let him ruin her last nights before her wedding by crashing in her room and prevent her from sneaking Jason in for some late-night romance.

Katey frowned and said, “I don’t know what is going on, but I think you’d be better off just talking to him. Running away won’t solve anything.”

“That’s just it, though. There’s nothing between us. We’re just business partners and because he’s a fucking liar, I called off the partnership. Lesson learned. Now it’s time for me to move on.”

Katey shook her head, but didn’t push him for more details. “Of course you can stay in my room. It’ll be fun. Just like when we were kids and spent the week at our grandparents’ each summer.”

The two walked side-by-side through the halls.

Duncan said, “I almost forgot about Grandma and Grandpa’s. Those weeks we spent there were so much fun. A whole week without Dad. As a kid, I always wished we could move in with them instead.”

Katey said firmly, “You’ve always been too hard on Dad. You have to know that somewhere deep down in your heart. No one is perfect, but he’s still your dad. You should try being a little nicer to him and I bet he’d be nicer to you.”

Duncan wanted to point out that he shouldn’t have to make that first move. He was the kid. But the conversation was interrupted when Katey stopped in the hall.

Katey pointed at a door. “Nothing fancy, but here’s my room... Our room now. I hope I’ll still be able to find that extra key card they gave me during check-in.”

Katey open the door. The mess shocked Duncan. Shirts, skirts, dresses, bras, magazines and empty water bottles littered the room.

“Holy crap, Katey. Were you robbed?”

Katey rolled her eyes and pushed him into the room. “I know what your room used to look like when you lived at home. I’ll bet that your apartment doesn’t look much better than this room.”

“True,” Duncan said not bothering to deny it. “But I am a disappointment. Everyone knows that. You’re supposed to be different”

Katey flopped onto the couch, which was all but buried under a pile of clothes. “You really must have not paid attention growing up if you thought I was any better. The only reason you got away with keeping your room so dirty is because Mom and Dad were always yelling at me to clean mine.”

Katey turned on the TV and the two reminisced some more about summer trips to their grandparents’ house.

An alarm started beeping on Katey’s phone.

“Damn it. Every time I get a chance to sit down, there’s somewhere else I should be. Not sure if I’m supposed to be checking out flowers or tasting cake? Some kind of bullshit.”

“Look at you. Such a dainty little wedding princess.”

“Wait. This is going to be a fun one actually. A bunch of us girls are going to karaoke. I don’t suppose you want to come? We could use a good bass.”

Duncan shook his head. “If you’re looking for a good bass, you definitely don’t want me around. Or have you forgotten that part of our childhood.”

“Fair enough. Karaoke doesn’t have to sound good, though, to be fun. It just has to be loud.”

Duncan said, “I’m just going to hang around here. Try to sort through all this stuff going on in my head. The quiet will be good. I need to start figuring out what I’m going to do about money when I get home. Go have fun.”

Katey left him alone, promising to brainstorm ways to help him find new projects sometime before the trip was over.

Left alone in the room, Duncan had nothing to distract him from thinking about Sebastian.

Even though they had only known each other for a few weeks, it felt like they had been through so much together.

Sebastian had changed from the cocky bastard who had flirted with him during the basement project, to the diligent helper who had worked late to help him finish up.

Things had changed quickly between the two of them just on the cruise.

The sex was amazing. The best he could remember.

The trip together to the pyramids and especially that silly little story about the Love Chamber pointed to a Sebastian that Duncan wanted to be around.

Unfortunately, that conversation with Jason just felt too legitimate. It fit perfectly with the man he had met during the speed date. Especially with Sebastian laughing at the jokes about cheating husbands.

How can I trust him?

Duncan should stay away from Sebastian. But most of those other little things pointed to someone with whom Duncan could share something special.

Should he trust the words of a known liar because they fit the man Duncan had first expected Sebastian to be, or did he trust the man he saw during their quiet moments alone?

Could a playboy truly ever learn to settle down? And if he did, what were the odds that he would choose someone as plain as Duncan?

Growing tired with his thoughts, he turned up the volume on the TV to drown out everything. A short while later, exhaustion, frustration, confusion and indecision overwhelmed him. He succumbed to blessed sleep.

D
uncan woke
the next morning with a stiff neck from sleeping on the tiny couch. He hadn’t heard his sister come in yet. It took a him a second to realize that the lump on the bed was her and not just more out-of-place clothes.

Figuring she must have been out late partying, Duncan tried to get ready for the day without waking her. He knew she would want to talk, and Duncan wasn’t ready to talk about any of it. He was still too confused, and hurt, and unsure how much trust Sebastian.

He slid into his clothes from the night before, and started looking for his shoes.

The floor was such a mess that it was difficult to dodge all the things lying about. His shoes were by the door, but before he could get to them, he stepped on something sharp.

“Fuck.”

He tried to cover his mouth but the word had already slipped through.

Katey groaned and rolled onto her back. She rubbed her eyes, and said, “Oh, I feel like shit.”

She started to sit up, but flopped on her side when the movement proved to be too much.

“I need to get this fucking wedding over with. I need a week where I can just sleep till noon. Getting married is such hard work.”

“You should cut back on the drinking for a few days.”

“I didn’t drink anything, jerk,” she moaned. “I’m just a little sick this morning.”

Duncan bent to see if he was bleeding. He pulled an earring out of the bottom of his foot.

With my luck, it’ll probably get infected and I’ll have to chop the foot off.

“Just a couple more days, sis. Then you’ll be a happy bride, and you can start getting your life back to normal.”

And end up catching Jason cheating on you someday. Fuck. I need to tell her about that. How do I tell my sister that her soon-to-be husband is a cheating asshole. You definitely don’t do that while she’s hungover. Soon, though. It has to be before the wedding.

He knew that each second he put it off would make it harder to do in the end. He hoped he wasn’t already too late.

Katey flopped onto her back with her arms over her belly.

Duncan said, “I’m going to go get something for breakfast. You want to come? It would probably be good for you. Maybe some tomato juice and toast.”

“No fucking way. No food. Just leave me here to die. It will be better that way.”

Duncan made his sister a glass of water and handed her some aspirin.

“Here, take these at least. I’ll come back and check after breakfast.”

Duncan made it as far as the door. Instead of leaving, though, he stood there fidgeting with the handle.

He couldn’t handle bumping into Sebastian at breakfast. Not because he didn’t want to see him, but because he might be busy with another man.

Either they would have a serious talk at breakfast, or his love would be away cheating on him. Either possibility threatened to ruin the day.

Katey drank the water, but set the pills on the bed next to her.  

Duncan still stood at the door.

“It’s none of my business,” Katey said. “But I’m making it my business because you’re my brother and somebody needs to tell you. You should give Sebastian a second chance. I’m not sure what happened between the two of you, but you seem happy together. He seems to really dig you, and like I told him the other night, I think the two of you can be good together.”

Duncan pounded his fist against the door, making Katey flinch. “Great, so now that motherfucker’s telling everyone about us. You and Jason? Who else? Did Sebastian already tell Mom and Dad? The captain of the ship? Who else?”

Katey interrupted Duncan’s rant. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sebastian didn’t tell Jason anything.”

“Well somebody told Jason because he brought it up with me. If it wasn’t Sebastian, who was it?”

Katey pulled back the hair that was sticking to her face and tucked it behind her ear. “I did. I’m sorry. And Sebastian didn’t really tell me. I tricked it out of him the other day at the casino. He felt horrible for telling without your permission. Then I told Jason. We’re about to be married. I have to tell my husband everything, right? That’s what married people do. I thought everyone assumed that spouses told each other anything that happened in their lives. I’m not sure why you seemed to not like Jason so much. You’ve barely said a word to him.”

Duncan’s mind panicked. His sister wasn’t going to let it go without explanation. Any explanation would have to end with him telling what he knew about Jason’s affair.

Reminding himself that she was forcing his hand, he started talking slowly.

“Jason and I kind of knew each other before the cruise. We were working on a project together. Technically, he hired me and we never actually met. I did the project, but when it was time for him to pay me, he made up a lie and kept all the money. That was right before this cruise so I haven’t even had a chance to do anything about it yet. And I couldn’t bring it up on the cruise because I didn’t want it to interfere with your wedding.”

“I don’t understand. Why won’t he pay you?”

“I don’t know. I wish I had a better explanation for you.”

Katey snapped at Duncan, “That can’t be all there is to it. I mean, if my future husband is doing something that cruel, the Duncan that I know would’ve told me.”

Duncan hung his head so he wouldn’t have to look her in the eyes when he said the rest.

“There is a little more. The other night Jason found me when I was alone and threatened to tell everyone that I was gay if I said anything about him screwing me over. I wasn’t ready for anyone to know that yet. I’ve been struggling and feeling trapped ever since. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to ruin your wedding. It sounds stupid when I say it now because how can I send you to marry that asshole? I’m supposed to be your big brother.”

Katey dragged her body out of bed and walked over to Duncan. She poked him in the chest. “Jason is not a bad man. That’s my husband-to-be you’re talking about. He deserves some respect. I’m not sure what happened in that deal, but there must be some misunderstanding. We can sit down and talk about it, but don’t say bad things about my him.”

With each word, her finger poked Duncan’s chest harder. He stood and weathered it all the without trying to stop her. “Katey, now that I’ve started, I’ve got to tell you the rest. I saw him with another woman the other night and he threatened to...”

Katey looked him in the eye and screamed, “Bullshit! Don’t even... I don’t even... You have trouble with Sebastian, deal with it. Don’t take down my relationship just because you’re afraid to be in one. Don’t go making up shit about Jason.”

Duncan hated Jason for making him have this conversation. He hated Sebastian for being nearly as bad. He hated all men.

He and his sister should leave all men behind and only date women from now on. The thought of being with a woman made him shudder.

Fine, I’ll stay with men. But not guys like Sebastian and Jason. Nice, trustworthy guys from now on.

They had gone this far. He needed to make her see. He grabbed Katey’s wrist and dragged her into the hallway. “Which way to Jason’s room? You said we should sort this out. Let’s go. When we get there, we can either talk about our business deal, or why he’s fucking another woman. Your call.”

Katey led the way. Despite his longer legs, Duncan had the rush to keep up. Along the way they passed their parents and Sebastian. Sebastian was busy talking to another man.

Duncan’s heart collapsed. He had never wanted to be wrong so badly before, but there was Sebastian and his other lover together right out in the open.

Sebastian couldn’t even wait to get back home to start cheating.

Duncan pushed away the feelings. Sebastian was a dick, not worthy of his attention. Duncan needed to worry about his sister for the moment.

Sebastian and Jason should start a club together.

Nancy waved hello, but Katey didn’t slow as they passed.

Nancy asked Duncan, “Where are you two going?”

Filled with anger, it was impossible for Duncan to hold his tongue, “We’re going to catch Jason with the tramp he’s been sleeping with. You all should come along. It’s sure to be good family fun.”

Katey snapped her head around long enough to bark at Duncan. “Stop acting like an immature asshole. You’ll see when we get there. His room’s right around this corner. You’ll see. And then you can apologize.”

Duncan hoped Jason would prove him wrong, but he doubted it.

They turned the corner and saw Jason.

“Honey,” Katey shouted down the hall. “Good morning.”

Jason turned toward her voice. When he did, they saw the woman standing behind him. The girl from the bar. The girl he was fucking.

Katey stopped in the middle of the hall. “Who is she?” Her voice was restrained, but it sounded ready to burst.

Jason looked at the girl and then back at them and then back at the girl again. In response to Katey’s question, he turned and ran.

Katey and Duncan chased after. Everyone followed after them.

Duncan couldn’t deny that the chase was exciting. One of the two assholes was about to be busted. Maybe when they were done, Katey could help him beat a confession out of Sebastian too.

O
ut on the lower deck
, Duncan and Katey eventually cornered Jason toward the back of the ship.

“Who the fuck do you think you are cheating on my sister!” Duncan yelled, his balled fists pressed against his sides to try and prevent himself from punching the jerk that was the root of almost all of his current problems.

If Jason had paid what he owed, none of the Sebastian mess would have happened. Duncan would have paid for his own cruise, come along alone, and would have had no trouble telling his sister when he caught Jason cheating. And no one would have found at that Duncan was gay.

Before Jason could reply, Katey stepped in front of Duncan and shouted, “Who the hell was that tramp? Actually, she didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the one that was cheating. You’re the fucking tramp. On our wedding cruise? Are you fucking kidding me? That has to be one of the most arrogant asshole things I’ve ever heard of. How did you think you’d get away with that?”

Jason finally managed to catch his voice. He shouted back, “How did I think I’d get away with it? I was getting away with it. All that fake sick bullshit. I wasn’t sick. I was fucking that bitch. Her husband’s at home with the kids. She’s a fucking tramp, too. We’re all tramps around here. It’s a real fucking party cruise. Don’t worry, baby, it’s just one last romp before I put on the old ball and chain.”

They all jumped when George joined the screaming. “Stop making goddamn fools of yourselves. All of you. Shut up! What is going on here?”

Years of resentment boiled over in Duncan. He turned toward his father. “Just go back to your room, old man. None of this has anything to do with you. Nobody cares what you think about any of it.”

Duncan flinched when both Nancy and Katey, standing on opposite sides of him, yelled at the same time. “Shut up, Duncan.”

Nancy rushed up behind George and wrapped him in a comforting hug, shooting eye darts at her son.

Duncan had screwed up again. He had chosen the wrong time to fight with his father, and now his family hated him again for it. His blood boiled as his anger flared at everyone. His entire family and everyone they knew were insane, and he fit in all too perfectly with them all.

Katey joined in yelling at Duncan. “Why are you always picking on Dad? He literally didn’t do anything. Your panties are in a bunch just because you’re too damn moody for your own good sometimes. Dad’s not your enemy. You are.”

Jason, nearly forgotten, started laughing. “Oh my fucking God. What a touching family moment. Someone give me a phone so I can take a picture. I’m looking forward to joining in to all this family fun after the wedding.”

Everyone screamed at everyone. Fingers were pointed. Hands were raised and waved in anger.

Duncan noticed Sebastian standing at the sidelines.

Coward. Letting my family tear up one cheater while your cheating ass stands over there ignored. You must really be enjoying this show.

Duncan was about to pull into the fray when he heard Jason say, “—and she sucked dick better than you do, too. She gave me her number in case I ever need a reminder of what a real blowjob feels like.”

The family fell silent. No one could believe what they had heard. Cheating before the wedding was bad enough, but Jason was talking about cheating afterward.

Duncan couldn’t let someone disrespect his sister like that. He charged. Katey saw him and was able to step between the two of them.

Duncan tried to punch Jason but couldn’t get a good angle with a sister in the way.

“Keep hiding behind my sister, coward, or I’ll break your fucking nose.”

Jason stood against the rail letting Katey shield him. He just stood there laughing at Duncan’s frustration.

“Let it go, Duncan. He’s not worth it. You’ll just end up in trouble. Let me handle Jason, please.”

Duncan growled and stomped his foot. He needed to pound Jason into a bloody pulp, but he knew his sister was right. Jason would just sue him or have him thrown in jail. Probably both.

“Fuck you!” Duncan yelled before giving up and walking over to the railing.

The ship was docked for the morning. Duncan watched the smaller shuttle boats carrying people to land. Duncan wished he were on one of those boats. He needed to get away from his crazy family.

In a life full of lows, this was the lowest that Duncan could remember. He felt totally alone. His family was mad at him. He couldn’t trust Sebastian.

He had no one.

During Duncan’s misery, Sebastian managed to sneak up beside him and ask, “Where were you last night? We needed to talk.”

Duncan didn’t turn to look at Sebastian. He was afraid that seeing Sebastian’s gentle eyes would weaken his resolve.

“You watch all this, and that’s what you ask about. Last night? I left you because of what you did. I don’t feel like talking about it anymore.”

Sebastian opened his mouth. Duncan never got a chance to find out what Sebastian was going to say.