Page 111 of Endless Depths

Cole falls in and out of sleep as I clean us up. Sending him off to sleep sated and pain-free heals something in me. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to take care of him so fully, and grant him peace.

He’ll probably still be sore tomorrow, but he’ll wake up without all those knots. Hopefully this flare-up will be short-lived, and if not, the hot tub I ordered for his Christmas present will be installed before we get home.

“I’m sorry I put us into boxes,” he murmurs when I climb into bed. “I didn’t want to be your burden, and I couldn’t look at everything that reminded me of you.”

“You have never been a burden, Cole.” I pull him into the little spoon and kiss behind his ear. “And packing up all those boxes means we’ll have less to pack when we get home.”

He laughs softly, eyes still closed. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Sunshine.”

THIRTY

Morgan

Sunlight warms my back.A small pod of orcas joined us a few hours ago, playing in our wake and looking for scraps. Seagulls call to each other jovially as they glide and soar overhead, some boldly swooping down to steal from our catch.

Cole charted our course to finish at the family grounds so we can be close to Seb before we head back to the docks. We couldn’t have asked for a better last day hauling pots. Even the weather is unseasonably warm.

Lawrence stretches his arms over his head, baring his abs on the sides of his bib.

“Please tell me you’re wearing pants,” I say.

“Only one way to find out. Come over here and check.”

“Lawless, don’t flirt with my husband,” Cole says over the PA.

Lawrence’s laugh turns into a yawn as he sorts crab. “Man, I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.”

“When we get home, I’m sleeping for a week.” Alejo slides a crab to Javi. “What about you?”

“I don’t know.” Javi steers the crab into the chute. “Let’s just finish the trip first.”

Lawrence sighs loud enough to be heard over the ocean andheavy machinery, a feat only he could accomplish. “You’re exhausting.”

“Me?” Javi scoffs.

Lawrence passes a crab to Javi like a hockey puck.

“Slow down,” Javi says.

“Work faster,” Lawrence snips back.

Alejo and I trade glances across the table.

Sensing an argument on the horizon, I force myself to do one of my least favorite activities: small talk. “I’m looking forward to?—”

“We know,” Lawrence interrupts, sending another crab Javi’s way. “Sex with your best friend. A happily ever after. A kid you can dump at Javi’s place on date nights because he won’t be going anywhere.”

“Fuck off, Lawless,” Javi growls.

Alejo’s gaze ping-pongs between them with growing worry. A traffic jam of crab is starting to pile up. I could really use Wes down here, but Cole called him up to the wheelhouse to talk about next season.

“Knock it off.” I reach past Javi to break up the traffic jam. “You two fight like an old married couple. You’re worse than me and Cole.”

“Married couple?” Lawrence drops a rejected crab into the plastic tote at his side. “That’ll never happen. I’m not marriage material.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Javi says.