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I turned over to face the wall, smiled to myself, and pressed my back against him to cuddle. “Actually, I take back the sex and sweat comment. You smell like fertilizer, Mr. Lawson.”
“Okay, Mrs. Lawson.” He kissed my cheek, squeezing me tight. I didn’t remark on his Mrs. Lawson comment. I had already made enough marriage jokes, and his tone was endearing. It felt right to be called Mrs. Lawson.
BeLew rustled in their bunks moments later, and Sam got up and opened the divider. “You boys want to get cleaned up? And you can make sure I don’t fall over, okay?”
“Do we have to use soap?” Beau asked.
“Yes,” I rumbled in response, making Sam giggle. “What kind of question is that, honestly?”
“Well, Beau’s question was a yes or no question. Your question is disjunctive,” Lewis added.
Sam cracked up laughing, and he had to place a hand on the wall to stay upright.
“Well, I’m pleased you are learning new things in school. Now get,” I giggled.
BeLew grinned from ear to ear at their smart-ass remarks. They all gathered some fresh clothes and headed out the door. They left me with the room to myself on my day off, and the boys had only a few hours of school. My body hummed, knowing what would fill those hours. I didn’t want anyone but Sam to have me. That may not be true forever, but it would be for now.
Later that day, Lori and I took a trip to the deck. The sun shone down on us, and I loved the feel of heat beating down on my skin. We stretched out on our bunk blankets in sports bras and panties while the boys played in makeshift saltwater pools. No one had a bathing suit and once a few people had mentally said, ”Fuck it,” and got down to their underwear, everyone else followed suit.
It was hot. The world was ending, and the kids were playing in plastic barrel drums that someone melted on the sides and bonded together. The entire scene was a mix of parental desperation and creativity.
So really, who gives a shit that we’re in our panties?
There were close to fifty people at our impromptu pool party. We traveled as far away from the agriculture unit as Lori would walk. Drones were fast, but the distance gave the illusion of privacy.
Scanning faces, I saw a familiar boy and girl from the lower decks. “Look who it is,” I said. I stood up to greet them, and Lori grabbed my hand and yanked me back down. I almost landed on my ass with the sheet sliding underneath me.
“You can’t act as if you know them,” she hissed. “Don’t be stupid.”
My face fell. She was right. “I’m not used to that kind of isolation,” I admitted. “They’re just kids, and it’s like they’re hidden in the basement.”
Lori tilted her head to the side and looked up at the sun. “We’re doing more than we should, honestly. You can’t hug two hundred people in public. That doesn’t make you or them isolated. What, you don’t have enough friends on this boat with me and Dean?”
I rolled my eyes and laid back down.
“You care about Dean,” Lori said. “But there’s something between you both that isn’t right.”
“You could say that.”
“I did just say that, Rowan. Throw me a bone. I’m shockingly bored on my day off. Speaking of, have you noticed everyone is off today? And I mean everyone. School even closed early. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”
“Lori, everything seems odd to me. I’m numb to the insanity that is my life right now.”
She planted a playful smack on my ass and dropped the subject. The boys ran over to grab snacks with a few friends in tow. No doubt they knew that being nice to the sons of the cafeteria lady was a good move. They cleaned us out and then went back to running and splashing. The boat felt almost bearable today. I closed my eyes and pretended I was on a beach.
My mind went back to the morning with Sam. We had exhausted each other. He used whatever energy he had left for my pleasure, and I adored every minute. He had a way of being strong and sweet at once. He moved in and out of me while pulling my hair. He slapped my ass while we cuddled. It all worked with him, and I couldn’t get enough.
“What’s that grin on your face?” Lori asked. “You look like you just did something naughty.”
“I did do something naughty,” I shot back. “Sam and I made up. And then he made up for having to make up in the first place. He’s sleeping it off right now.” I raised my arms over my head, stretching in satisfaction.
“Well, your mood is loads better. Are you spirited enough to help me in the kitchen tonight? I want to get some prep done and get ahead. Especially since I need to make another run downstairs this week.”
“You know I will.” I closed my eyes and continued to unwind in the sun.
She tapped on my forearm minutes later, bobbing her body in excitement. “What?” I stammered. “I just started to relax.” But she didn’t need to tell me what. I saw Luke headed our way out of the corner of my eye. He looked edible, and Lori was salivating.
“Well, what luck? I come up for a break and find… what exactly have I found? You’re both undressed, and I’m into that. Damn, ladies.” Luke rubbed his jaw with a playful glare, and he fixed his eyes on Lori. She ate it up, lifting onto her elbows and pushing her chest forward.
