I handed him the coffee, then jumped up, clapped, and darted to the bathroom, where my swim trunks hung on a hook in the shower. They were dry enough, so I pulled them on and stuffed my feet into well-worn flip-flops.
When we headed out, Daddy went up instead of down at the stairs. “Where are we going?”
“Breakfast first, silly.”
“Oh. Right.” I was so excited about swimming that I forgot about food, but that wouldn’t have lasted too long because my tummy would have reminded me eventually. We went up to the dining hall, where a buffet was set up. Of course, I made a beeline for the panny-cakes.
“Eat some fruit, too, Cody. I’ll get you a bowl.” He pointed to the sausage links, so I grabbed a few of those, too.
“Yummy-yummy.” I got a coffee refill. Joey and Danny were sitting together, so I headed there.
Warner followed me and set my bowl of fruit beside my place. “I’m going to sit with Vince and Lee. Be good, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy.” I turned my face up for a kiss, and Warner smiled sweetly before giving me a peck and going to sit with his daddy friends a few tables over.
We didn’t talk much during breakfast since we were too busy stuffing our faces. The food on the cruise was so good. When we finished, we put our plates on the clean-up table and headed over to our daddies. It was kind of neat that they were all at the same table.
“Ick. Joey, you’re all sticky.” Vince opened a wet napkin and wiped his face with it.
“I sticky too.” I held up one of my hands, which still had syrup residue.
“Come here.” Daddy Warner opened his wet napkin. I hadn’t even noticed those, but that’s what daddies were for. “Give meyour hands.” He wiped all my fingers and around my mouth until I was nice and clean.
When he finished, I bounced up and down. “Can we go now?”
“It hasn’t started yet. Why don’t you hang out with us while we finish eating?”
I groaned. “When is it starting? I’m dying to get in the water.”
Joey bumped his shoulder into me. “Drama much?”
“Shut up. It’s going to be so fun.” I gave him a playful shove.
“Settle down, boys. It’ll start when Jax makes the announcement.” Daddy Warner shoved a chair out. “Sit.”
I sat where he wanted me, but I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted, which made Daddy roll his eyes.
“They stopped the ship, so it shouldn’t be too much longer. Okay? Can you be patient?” Daddy Warner asked.
I wasn’t good at patient. Hell, I hadn’t even noticed the ship had stopped, but now that he mentioned it, I could tell the difference. Joey climbed up in Daddy Vince’s lap and put his head on Vince’s shoulder, closing his eyes. “Are you going to take a nap?” I asked him, not knowing how he could possibly sleep when I was so excited.
“Shush, you.” Joey waved a hand at me. Danny snickered from across the table.
I hated waiting. “I’m going to dunk you in the water when we get there, Joey.”
“Uh-uh. You better not.” He turned his head and stuck his tongue out at me.
Danny tried to hide his laugh behind a napkin, while Daddy Warner shook his head. “What has gotten into you two? Apologize to Joey.”
Daddy Vince squeezed Joey. “Settle down.”
I huffed. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Please don’t dunk me.”
“I won’t. I’m just bored and I want to swim.”
“Cody—” Before Daddy Warner could say anything else, the overhead speaker came on.
