Page 9 of Secrets Aboard!

Westly stood stunned when Luka rushed to his side of the cabin and slammed the door behind him. He had upset Luka by saying, “not tonight.” His “no” had meant he wanted Luka to think about it. During lunch tomorrow, they would define their relationship together before going further and prevent things between them getting uncomfortable. Unfortunately, Luka hadn’t seen it that way. Westly wasn’t sure he could balance the conflicting areas of his life if he engaged in a relationship. What would have happened if he had said yes? He worried Luka would change his mind after his assignment of scrubbing decks and toilets. He might expect special treatment, which he couldn’t and wouldn’t provide. He pulled his phone out and called Brock.

“Is something wrong, sir?” Brock asked.

“I need to talk to you. Meet me at your cabin now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Westly locked the door between his cabin and Luka’s, then he left and locked Luka’s cabin from the outside. Brock’s cabin was on the same deck.

He listened through Luka’s door to see if he was moving around, but heard no sound. He wanted to open the door and check on him, but he had nothing to say. He wasn’t sure what to say to him. He’d messed everything up. He continued on to Brock’s cabin and arrived just as Brock did.

He unlocked the door, and Westly followed him inside.

“Want a scotch on the rocks?” Brock asked.

“I need one.”

“What’s going on?” He went to the bar and made two drinks.

“First, I want to apologize for talking to you the way I did. I didn’t mean to sound threatening. It’s no way to treat my best friend. I’m sorry.”

“I figured you were into Luka and wanted to make sure no one interfered. I understand where you’re coming from. I asked him if he was seeing you and he said he was single. I thought he was safe to pursue.” Brock handed Westly his drink.

“We’re not together yet. That’s the problem. So, technically, he is single and available. I tried to talk to him tonight. He’s been here one day and I might have botched it. He left my cabin and slammed the door when I told him we needed to outline what our relationship would look like with his restrictions and my conflicts before he spent the night.”

Brock laughed. “You’re so fucking structured. Relationships are not contracts. Let things happen without all your rules and structure.”

“You’re not understanding the conflicts and restrictions.”

“None of that shit matters. Go for it. You haven’t felt anything for anyone for years. Finally, someone walks into your life, and you want to make rules before fucking. Let it happen and deal with whatever comes up then.”

“Maybe you’re right. What if he changes his mind after he works for Mr. Griffin tomorrow morning?”

“There are no guarantees in relationships. Even marriage isn’t a guarantee. There is always uncertainty in beginning a new relationship. Take the lead and just do it.”

“I can’t allow my feelings to cause me to treat him differently.”

“I don’t understand why he’s here or what is going on between you two.”

“This is confidential. Don’t tell anyone. His father asked me if I would take him as a crewmember for a year instead of him doing time in prison. He got into trouble with his ex-boyfriend. I can’t discuss the details of the contract with the court.”

“So, he committed a crime, and that’s the issue?”

“The issue is I’m overseeing the court order. I can’t treat him like other crewmembers. He has more restrictions than they do.”

“What restrictions?”

“He has to work and then stay in his cabin at night. It’s like house arrest. In this case, cabin arrest. He’s only allowed to leave his cabin for work.”

“Perfect then. You are in control of everything. You should love that part. I don’t see any problems, especially on this cruise. It’s Pride Week too.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is simple. Stop complicating things. You have nothing to lose. If he changes his mind, then you can find someone else. He can’t.”

“I like to control things, but I don’t want him with me if he feels he has no other choices.”

“That’s a risk you’ll have to take. He’s a hot young man.”

“He’s completely the opposite of me.”

“Opposites attract. Go for it. You deserve to have a special person.”

“There is something else that gets in the way. I can’t talk about it, but just know I’m keeping a secret from him.”

“What kind of secret?”

“I want to tell you, but I can’t right now. That is another reason I’m worried about making a connection with him. I go back and forth on whether I should tell him now or at the end of his year.”

“What’s going to happen in between cruises?”

“He has to stay with me. I might take him to the mountains the week we’re off.”

“Sometimes, telling the complete truth too soon doesn’t always work in our favor. Whatever it is, wait for a bit.”

“That’s what I thought. Look, I want to apologize one more time for being so rude to you. It won’t happen again. I value our friendship.”

“I do too. Good luck with Luka.”

“Thanks.”

Westly went back to his cabin, then unlocked the door between his side and Luka’s. He peeked inside, then tiptoed in and checked on him in his berth. Luka was wrapped up in his covers. He bent down and kissed him on his forehead. Luka didn’t move or say anything, but Westly still waited for a while before he returned to his side.

In the morning, Westly was up at four, put on a pair of shorts, and opened the connecting door. “Hey, Luka, you need to get up and shower.”

Luka twisted and turned in his bed. “It’s too early, sir.”

Westly pulled the blanket off Luka. “Get in the shower.”

He stood up from the bed completely naked and smiled at him.

“Good morning! What do you want for breakfast?” Westly asked.

“Bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and orange juice with wheat toast.”

“That’s an excellent breakfast.”

“Yes, sir. Whatever you say.”

Westly moved closer to Luka. “You are too sexy in the morning. Get in that shower before I nail that cute ass of yours.”

Luka laughed. “You’re all talk.” Turning on his heel, he went to shower.

Westly ordered two breakfasts and waited. He looked over at Luka’s unmade bed. What a disaster! Sheets hung down to the floor as if he’d tossed and turned all night. Hearing Luka shower made him wish it were large enough for two, then he could have jumped in with him. Luka stepped out of the bathroom, still naked. His hair was wet, but he had toweled himself dry.

“I didn’t know you were still here.” He bent to open a drawer and put on his G-string.

“Where are you going with that G-string?”

“I’m going to put my uniform on. Don’t blow a gasket.”

“If you bend over like that again, you might get what you wanted last night.”

Luka made a show of pulling up his navy slacks and zipping them. He did the same as he put on his shirt, tie, and vest.

“You look so damn sexy with and without clothes,” Westly said.

“Thanks, Captain.”

When someone knocked on the door, Westly answered it. They brought in the food, then Westly and Luka settled across from each other.

“Are we going to eat breakfast together every morning?”

“I’d like to.”

“What about lunch?”

“We’ll eat in your cabin. Take a shower as soon as you get done.”

“I’m nervous. I’ve never cleaned anything before.”

“Watch the others. If you need help, ask Mr. Griffin and he’ll show you how.”

“I’m sorry I slammed the door when I left last night. I had way too much to deal with. I was overwhelmed.”

“I know you did. It’s a big change from what you’re used to. You’ve lost a lot of things.”

“I felt like you were rejecting me when you said no.”

“I wasn’t rejecting you at all. I was looking after your interests. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret later. I want you to know what you’re getting into if you decide you want to be with me.”

“I know. Are we still going to talk during lunch?”

“Yes, of course.”