Page 105 of Ship Happens

“Oh, baby . . .” The way he says the pet name pierces Owen’s heart, only pulling the tears out further. Jacob scoots himself between Owen’s legs, tugging him in close. “It’s okay.” He comforts Owen so softly, voice calm as his hand reaches up to stroke Owen’s hair.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” And now he feels like an idiot for crying over this of all things.

“Shush.” Jacob’s voice is gentle. “I’m not mad. Owen. Everything’s going to be okay, alright? We’re going to find our way home; we’re going to get back. You’re safe here, okay? You’re with me.”

Relief floods through Owen, a warmth spreading in his chest as the tears flow harder.

“And we’ll figure it out, okay?”

Owen nods silently, burying his face deeper into Jacob’s chest. If that’s even possible.

There’s a soft knock on the door, and Jacob diverts his attention just long enough to take the towels and say good night and thank Dani one more time.

“It’s no problem at all,” she reassures them. “You two are better company than the bears that wander around here.”

“There are bears?” Jacob swallows.

“What makes you think there aren’t?” Dani deadpans. “See you boys at breakfast!”

Jacob closes the door behind him after one final hushed good night. “Do you want to take a shower?”

The shower certainly isn’t meant to accommodate two people, but they make it work. Owen is fine, for the most part. It’s Jacob’s broader frame that has them bumping into each other as they trade places underneath the showerhead. And because of his height, any time Jacob is underneath the water, he completely blocks the flow, leaving Owen to freeze despite the heat.

“Switch,” Jacob commands.

“I just got under here!” Owen protests, brushing his wet hair away from his forehead.

“Too bad,” Jacob argues. “I’m freezing.”

Owen shakes his head. “Such a baby.”

Jacob’s hands find a spot on his waist. For a moment, Owen thinks he’s going to go in for a kiss, but then he forcibly switches their places.

“Asshole,” Owen murmurs, grabbing the shampoo.

“Want me to do that?” Jacob offers, holding his hand out.

“Oh, uh . . .” Owen’s eyes dart from Jacob, to the bottle, then to Jacob again. “I can do it.”

“But I want to.” Jacob urges with his hand again. “Please?”

He lets Jacob have the bottle, turning away to face the wall as Jacob squeezes a generous amount into the palm of his hand. He starts like he always used to, at the base of Owen’s scalp, working the shampoo in expertly with his long fingers, just barely scratching, making Owen rear his head back.

“Still like that, huh?”

“Not a word,” Owen mutters, eyes fluttering. After a while, they switch places so that Owen can do the same for him.

“Are you feeling better now?” Jacob asks, staring down at Owen.

“A little, yeah . . .”

“Is there anything that I can do to help?” Jacob asks.

“Just . . . be here,” Owen says, resting his head on Jacob’s chest.

“I’m not sure there’s anywhere else for me to go,” Jacob says, voice muffled under the sound of the running water. Then he smiles as he looks down at Owen, kissing the top of his head. “But I’ll stay anyway.”

They dry off quickly, Owen changing into a pair of sweatpants that Dani left for him. Jacob tries his best to fit into a pair of oversized flannel pajamas, but his thick thighs stretch the material to their limit, the back of them nearly ripping when he sits on the edge of the bed.