Page 105 of Endless Depths

“I am,” Wes says.

Javi nods again. “Good.” Another nod, like he’s trying to convince himself. “That’s good.”

“I call deck boss,” Lawrence says.

Morgan feigns contemplation, stroking his beard. “I don’t know. Lawlessness on deck sounds pretty dangerous.”

“Shut up, Mor. I know you guys picked me.”

Morgan looks to me. “You told him?”

“I deduced,” Lawrence says.

Wes’s brows lift. “You deduced?”

Lawrence cocks his head to the side and smirks. “I’m not just a pretty face.”

I hold Wes back after we finish. “Hey, do you want to haul these pots so I can be out there with them?”

Maybe I can figure out what’s going on between Javi and Lawrence while we work the deck.

Wes sucks air through his teeth and frowns. “Sorry, Cap. I’d love to, but I’d rather freeze my ass off than spend the day in the wheelhouse.”

I laugh. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”

My thoughts drift back into anxiety over Lawrence and Javi, but he waits patiently, holding space for me. Seb was good about that too. It’s a fatherly inclination, maybe.

“Sorry,” I say, shaking my head.

“Don’t be. You’re doing a damn good job, Cole. I have every faith in you.”

He pulls me into a hug that fills me with grief and gratitude, because after Seb died, I lost my father figure, and I’m hungry for whatever paternal approval I can get.

“Oh, and Captain? Be careful out there. I’ve been old and busted a lot longer than you. Don’t rely on muscle memory. Take each step lightly until you find your new sea legs.”

“Could it be?”Lawrence rubs his eyes. “Is that Cole Morrissey out here on deck?”

Alejo salutes me, smile lifting the corners of his mustache. “Ay, our fearless leader is back!”

Following Wes’s warning, I walk toward Morgan’s post at the hydraulic controls with measured footsteps. It’s not like I haven’t been on deck since the accident. I just haven’tworkedthe deck. The last thing I need is to eat shit in front of the crew the first time I work out here.

“Hey there, Sunshine.” Morgan takes my hand and pulls me against him, and into a kiss.

I cradle the back of his head and lower my voice. “You sure you’re okay with me out here?”

When I told him I wanted to work the deck today, he was supportive, even though he looked queasy. His only concern was that hard labor will exacerbate my chronic pain. He’s not wrong about that, but I want to try.

I wouldn’t blame Morgan if he changed his mind since breakfast, and I’m happy to head back inside the minute he asks. If the roles were reversed, I don’t know if I’d be strong enough to work with Morgan on deck without having a panic attack.

“I’m okay,” Morgan says. “Just behave yourself.”

“Roger.” I salute him.

“Stop being so cute.” Morgan’s aquamarine eyes sparkle like we’re standing in sunlight instead of cloud-covered twilight.

Lawrence groans. “I liked you two better when you weren’t talking to each other.”

I flash him my middle finger and ask Morgan serenely, “Where do you want me, deck boss?”