Page 95 of Endless Depths

“Everything okay?” he asks after we shed our ear protection.

“Yeah. We’re running behind, and I don’t want to give Javi another reason to leave.” I am also more than a little sore.

We shower quickly, taking turns in the en suite in the captain’s quarters. It’s cramped as hell, but we don’t need to do much beyond brushing our teeth when we’re about to work for twenty hours.

I spit into the sink and rinse my toothbrush. “Be safe out there, okay? Try not to be too disappointed if your traps aren’t as full as mine.”

Morgan takes his toothbrush out of his mouth. “You can’ttake credit for that first string. The family grounds are always a payday.” He finishes brushing, then spits. “Kent said theUnfathomableis planning to see what they can get away with on the Morrissey grounds.”

“Wow. That’s low, even for them.” It feels like they’re spitting on Seb’s grave.

Morgan takes my hand and unclenches it, then kisses it. “They were probably just talking shit. Kent said he’d warn us, but keep an eye on the GPS in case we need to hustle back out there.”

“Does Kent still want to join theBriar?” Poaching him from Luke is going to be satisfying as hell.

“Yeah. We have plans for tonight if you want to talk to him about it.”

“Plans?” I laugh. “Dinner plans, or?”

“We hang out when we do night watch.”

“Hang out?”

“Yeah. We usually just talk, but sometimes we listen to podcasts, watch movies when the weather is nice.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. He’s a good kid surrounded by degenerate assholes. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m a woodland creature you’re very fond of.”

“Don’t be so adorable then. I’m definitely crashing your date.”

“Okay, but you can’t make fun of us.”

I cross my arms over my chest and cock my head to the side. “Why would I make fun of you?” I swish mouthwash and spit. “Wait, what’s your call sign?”

“How do you know about that?”

“Who do you think started the night watch bro dates?”

“Oh my god.”

“Wait, did he make you feel like you were the only one?”

“Shut the hell up, Sunshine.” He cups my cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Make sure you keep taking Tylenol and ibuprofen, but if you’re miserable, call me up and I’ll give you a little massage between pots.”

“Thank you.”

Reluctantly, we part ways. I wish I could spend the day with him on deck, but sharing the same boat, let alone the same bed, is still better than the last half year we’ve spent apart.

TWENTY-SEVEN