Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Arthur

“It’s too early.” I blinked against the strong morning sun. Not even the prospect of the annual last morning donuts and cinnamon rolls was enough to make me want to leave this bed.

“This is what you get for talking me into round two last night.” Derrick cuddled against my back, and no way was I rolling away from his delicious presence.

“Oh yes, I had to do a lot of convincing.” I nudged his chest with my shoulder. He’d been damn enthusiastic about finishing what we’d started in the tub. We’d quickly discovered that the tub was better for teasing than actually getting off, and had ended up racing back to the warm bed where we’d made out until it was way late.

“Maybe I wasn’t that reluctant.” He chuckled against my neck. “We did forgo a fair bit of sleep, though. I’m too old for all-nighters.”

“And yet somehow you’re all perky this morning, oh ancient one.”

“Years of five hours of sleep and needing to be up and at ’em quickly. No one wants a tech who’s dragging ass.”

“But I want your ass, dragging or otherwise.” I bumped my own butt into his groin to make my case. “How about you skip the getting-up part and sleep in with me?”

But before he could answer, a whistle sounded. “Donut time! Everyone come say goodbye.”

“I don’t wanna say goodbye.” I huffed out a breath, not caring if I sounded pouty.

“We don’t have to. Remember?” Kissing the back of my neck, he gathered me closer.

I remembered. Even in his tender embrace, my muscles still tensed. I still wasn’t sure that us dating was the smartest idea. Not that this fake dating turned real fling was wise either. But it was easy to lose my head with Derrick. He was right. Saying goodbye was going to suck, whenever we said it. We might as well postpone it.

But I had noted that he was only postponing the inevitable. Neither of us were claiming this was a forever-after kind of love. Long-term wasn’t for us, but I was also as reluctant as him to say never again.

So dating it was.

However, I still didn’t want to leave the bed. “You’re too cuddly to leave.”

“And so are you, but we both know that gong is about to sound and we’re not packed.” He tickled my ribs lightly before he sat up.

“Okay, okay. I’m going.” I finally rolled out of the bed as he started the packing. “There better be a coffee. And a donut with sprinkles left.”

“I’ll hunt you down one,” he promised.

“My hero.” I faked a swoon back onto the bed only for him to haul me upright. “Fine. Be the adult. I’ll pack.”

“Me too.” He was far neater than me about it, folding even his dirty laundry and neatly organizing his bag whereas I more haphazardly made mounds of my belongings.

“Oh, hey, we never played my dice game.” I shoved the game along with my chess set into the middle of my bag. I’d sort it all out later.

“We could play it tonight?” he offered absently as he folded a shirt. “After I drop you off?”

“You’re dropping me off?” That was news to me, but he snorted like it was a foregone conclusion that he’d take me into Seattle proper, a prospect that added a fair amount of drive time for him.

“I’m not going to make you take the ferry and buses.” He had the same commanding tone as he had when he’d promised my favorite kind of donut. On anyone else, I’d find the caveman alpha act too much, but on him it was endearing, the way he made taking care of me a personal mission. “Besides, I want to see your place.”

“It’s not much,” I warned.

“That’s okay. I’m used to the barracks remember?” He reached over to rub my neck. “You don’t have to impress me.”

“Good. It’s typical shared apartment chaos, but there is a decent TV. You can come up.” I was still slightly dazed that he wanted to, but I wasn’t going to turn down either the ride or more time with him.

“Okay.” That settled, he zipped up his bag and tossed it near the door.

“Wow. Look at us making plans,” I joked to cover how weird this actually was. “Guess we are dating.”

“Yep.” Waiting for me to stuff my bag closed, he then added it to the pile by the door.

“Next thing you’ll offer to cook for me.” I was only teasing but he nodded all seriously.

“I can cook, actually. Basic stuff mainly, but Grandma made sure I could do more than boil water.”

“Well, aren’t you full of surprises?” I took a last look under the bed to make sure neither of us was leaving something behind.

“See? Dating will be fun.” Coming out of the bathroom, he threw my toothpaste at me. I stuck it in the front pocket of my bag, then crossed over to him and looped my arms around his neck.

“Yeah it will.” Feeling decidedly more hopeful about this whole dating decision, I gave him a kiss that quickly had me plotting to tumble him back onto the bed.

Gong. Gong.“Donuts are going fast,” someone called as they passed by our front window.

“Fine. Guess I’m ready.” I wasn’t really, but there was no choice other than to follow him out of our cozy little cabin. “I’m going to miss this place.”

“Me too.” He grabbed my hand. “We’ll have to find you another tub.”

“You do that.” I let the fantasy of another vacation carry me to the dining hall. Maybe no relatives, but some pretty place with another tub for two. That would be nice.

“I’m going to find you that donut,” Derrick said quickly as my mom headed our way.

“I see how it is.” I waved him away right as Mom reached me, a cup of coffee in her hand and a far too upbeat expression on her face.

“And he fetches coffee. Arthur, don’t let this one get away.”

“I’ll try.” I could no more hold on to Derrick than I could capture the lake in my hands, but at least I’d have a little longer with him, and the side benefit of a pleased mom wasn’t a bad thing.

“You do that.” She squeezed my upper arm. “I’ve never seen you as happy as I have this week.”

“Really?” Despite my crankiness around outdoor family reunions, I was known for being a pretty upbeat guy. As a kid, I’d been happy in my little music-and-trivia bubble, and I’d been pretty content in college and graduate school. Was this the happiest I’d been? I dug my teeth into my lip, dangerously afraid she was right.

“Really,” she confirmed before taking a sip of her coffee. “And he’s nuts about you.”

“Oh, we’re nuts all right.” Nuts to ever think we could pull this thing off without some serious collateral damage.

Mom’s eyes narrowed, undoubtedly picking up on my dry tone. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Yeah.” Mindful of her coffee, I gave her a quick hug. “Typical end-of-camp blues.”

“Ha. I know you. You can’t wait to get back to the city.”

“Not this time. This was pretty special.” Glancing away from her, I tracked Derrick to the food table where he’d been waylaid by Aunt Sandy. Even at this distance, he still made me smile, everything from how he balanced two plates and two coffees to how he managed to seem super interested in whatever Aunt Sandy was saying.

“See?” Mom called my attention back to our conversation. “I told you you’re happy.”

“Maybe.” Oh, why keep denying it? I exhaled hard. “Yeah, I am. He makes me happy.”

And now my brain was back in the tub with Derrick telling me how happy I made him and me believing it. Top ten moment of my whole life right there.

“Good. You deserve it.” Mom waved to Oliver’s family as they came into the dining hall, Oliver and Stacey looking even more bleary-eyed than Derrick and me.

“Thanks.”

“And maybe now that you’re happy you can call your mother occasionally, hmm?” Her narrowed eyes said that that point had been her objective the whole conversation. Which was typical of Euler family goodbyes. We couldn’t part without guilting each other into the next get-together and more contact.

“I’ll try.” I was struck by the sudden urge to ask her how she did it, loving Dad all these years, coming in second to the navy. But before I could work up the courage, she was tackle-hugged by Taylor and the twins.

“Help,” she squeaked, pretending to flail under the assault.

“Think you’re on your own,” I said even as I pried the kids off her.

“Found your donut.” Finally free of Aunt Sandy, Derrick returned with a triumphant grin.

“You’re the best.” I accepted the chocolate donut with sprinkles and the coffee, which he’d perfectly doctored to the butterscotch color I preferred. Perfect fake—wait. Perfect real boyfriend. That switch was going to take some getting used to.

“He is,” Mom agreed.

“You promised we could see your car,” Taylor reminded Derrick.

“Yup. Come on.” Derrick grinned at his fan club.

“We’re going to miss you.” Seth sighed dramatically before diplomatically adding, “Both of you. Not just Derrick’s car.”

“It’s a pretty sweet car.” I rubbed his shoulder. Seeing the kids all dejected at saying goodbye reminded me of being their age when the time between visits with cousins seemed to stretch on and on.

“Dude. Cheer up,” Vince demanded. “They’ll be back next year. And Derrick better bring the car. I’m gonna want to drive it someday.”

“Easy there.” Derrick laughed, but he also shifted his weight from foot to foot, undoubtedly uncomfortable at the assumption he’d be back. Would he? My chest clenched. I wanted that. So badly. And yet, what were the chances?

“Arthur better pick some good songs again next year. I can’t wait to see what I win!” Taylor bowed like there was an imaginary cheering audience in front of him.

“Me too.” Derrick glanced my direction and the ache in my chest intensified.

Maybe. Maybe we’d get next summer.It was the most my hope-impaired heart was willing to wish for, but as the kids danced around us, I also resolved not to give up too soon. Derrick said we could figure things out as we went and perhaps that could mean delaying goodbye until we never had to say it. A guy could dream.