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Nav
Adamandhisfiance, Kennedy, planned this whole trip, so Nav wasn’t surprised when the shuttle bus pulled up to a loading dock with a massive fifty-foot Catamaran waiting for them to board. Nav wasn’t used to the elaborate things money could buy. When he took on the “responsible big brother” role as a kid, the money he earned was spent on bills and stuffed into savings accounts in hopes they could one day get out of the crappy frat house they grew up in. When Adam started making money off his programming company, Ev3, everything he earned went straight back into the business. Nav paid for college with cash and budgeted his money weekly. He knew what it was like to be at rock bottom and no matter what luxuries tempted him, he wouldn’t allow himself to fall into the pattern his parents had shown him. His parents had lived lavishly, always spending money on the next big thing. He and his brothers relished in the luxuries while they could, but the moment their mother got sick, it all took a turn for the worst. Without their mom’s income, they could no longer afford all the things they were accustomed to. Nav knew what it was like to lose it all in an instant and he’d never set himself up for that kind of failure again.
Nav argued with Adam on several occasions about the expensive nature of the bachelor party, begging him to consider something more affordable. Adam laughed at him every time and offered to pay his way. He reminded Adam he had the money to spend on the trip—that wasn’t the issue. The issue was spending thousands of dollars to celebrate the love between two people. It seemed insane to spend exorbitant amounts of money just to show you love and support someone. Adam ultimately won out, detailing the shitty hands their friend group had been dealt over the last ten years. Between deaths, car accidents, traumas, and various setbacks, they had all been through a lot. Nav had to admit that getting away from work and the mundane day-to-day tasks would be a welcomed break.
He stepped out of the vehicle and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of the massive boat gently rocking in the water. He glanced around at his friends, who were all grabbing their bags out of the trunk. Adam was absent, off talking to the crew to ensure everything was good to go for boarding so they could start their cruise. He watched as Adam returned to the group, rubbing his hand across his chin. Everyone surrounded him as he popped his lips.
“Turns out there’s been a huge mistake.”
Everyone remained silent waiting for Adam to continue.
“We were supposed to get a five-cabin Catamaran for this trip. Eagle and Sedona in the master cabin, Avanna and Payson in the forward port cabin, and Kennedy and Adam in the aft port cabin leaving the other two cabins for Nav and Lexie. However, they accidentally loaded up and brought us a four-cabin vessel instead. There’s still sleeping room in the saloon, but only four cabins…” he trailed off before Nav spoke up.
“Ah, no big deal. I’ll sleep in the saloon as long as someone lets me use their bathroom.” Nav honestly didn’t care. He didn’t need a luxurious bed to sleep in and he’d get just as much sleep, if not more, closer to the top of the boat than he would be tucked underneath.
“Oh, I can sleep in the saloon too,” Lexie piped up.
Adam tossed his hands up.“I don’t care who sleeps where, I just want to make sure we’re good to go. I can demand they bring back the correct boat, but I’m unsure where that’ll put our cruise,” Adam said as he glanced back at the boat behind him, and then his watch.
“Nah, don’t worry about that. Lexie and I will figure it out,” Nav said as he looked behind him at Lexie with a shrug of his shoulders.
Adam clapped his hands together and yelled out, “Fuck yeah! Let’s get this party started!”
They stepped onto the boat and Nav was immediately transported to a world he wasn’t familiar with. Everything was perfect, clean, and orderly. He listened closely as the crewmate spoke up, elongating his vowels in a hearty rhythm.
“My name is Elvin. I’ll be your captain this week. All the cabins are located beneath the boat and access to them can be found here, here, and here,” he said as he pointed down beneath the boat. “Crew quarters are down over here,” he said as he pointed behind him. “My wife will be your chef for the week, so she’ll be staying with me in the quarters. We will try to stay out of your way, but we are always here to answer questions or provide information about your stay. Thank you and welcome to paradise,” Elvin said with a gushing smile.
Nav smiled back and turned to watch everyone scramble off to their rooms, leaving Nav and Lexie standing in the saloon alone.
“So, how do you want to do this?” she asked.
“Honestly, the thought of sleeping beneath the boat haunts me. You go ahead and take the cabin and I’ll sleep up here. But I will need to use the closet and probably the bathroom.”
She glanced around the saloon before wrinkling her forehead and peeling off to the only cabin remaining. He followed her down the small set of stairs, ducking his head. As he stepped off the last stair, they stood shoulder to shoulder at the foot of the bed, both pulling their arms tight in front of them in an attempt to keep distance.
“Maybe we should have done this one at a time,” she said with a snicker.
“I gotta use the bathroom anyway. Have at it,” Nav said as he tilted his head toward the small door behind them. He did have to pee, but being so close to Lexie was bringing back memories and he hadn’t expected them to sting this much. He never felt they truly had closure—she gave him an ultimatum and despite everything, he couldn’t stick around for her. He said no and hadn’t really spoken to her much since then, other than occasionally reaching out in his covert attempts at fixing what he broke. He flushed the toilet and took a deep breath looking in the mirror. He ran his hands through the shaggy curls growing in that he hadn’t seen in years due to military regulations, and exited the small bathroom. He watched as Lexie shoved her clothes into the built-in dresser at the foot of the bed, snapped her suitcase shut, and spun around, jumping suddenly when she met Nav’s gaze. He stutter-stepped, trying to get out of her way as she pushed her suitcase into the closet. The closet door squealed against the track as she pulled it shut. Without a word, she bounced up the small set of stairs, leaving a trail of her familiar scent behind. He sighed heavily and pulled open the closet door, wrestling with his duffel to fit into the crowded space. Lexie’s massive suitcase contrasted greatly with the small duffle bag he haphazardly packed the night before he arrived in Otsego. He shoved the bag into the closet without unpacking and walked up the stairs into what he hoped would be a good week with his best friends.
