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He revealed a hidden door and how there was, in fact, a full toilet on board. It was approximately the same size as the bathroom in my old apartment in Melbourne. “I don’t want to know how much this boat cost, do I?”
He chuckled. “Probably not.”
“Well, considering it’s absurdly expensive—and you know I saw the radome on the roof—and now that we’re not going to capsize, can we have a look at the weather radar system?”
He grinned at me, the soured mood from before seemingly forgotten. “Of course we can.”
He showed me how to turn it on, and I was impressed with it too. Though, honestly, given my time in Darwin, I’d be impressed with any radar system that wasn’t as old as I was. “This has a better system than my office.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be difficult, considering your office isn’t operational right now. But they’ll be starting soon, and it’ll be state of the art. Everything.”
“I hope so.”
We watched the radar for a short time. There was a cloud band right across the screen. The rain had moved east and there didn’t appear to be much left in the tail. He kissed my shoulder. “Feel better now that you can see it?”
I nodded. “Yes, thank you.” I turned to him and pulled him closer. I might not be able to say some things out loud, but I could say this. “Thank you for before. You never ridicule me or make fun of me. And you know exactly how to make me feel better. I want you to know how much that means to me.”
He smiled, not a full-wattage grin, not even really a happy smile. And I realised then the difference between his honest smiles—like the ones that made my heart skip a beat—and the one he wore now. They were so very different. “I know,” he murmured. Then he put his finger to my lips. “You’re supposed to be resting your throat.”
So yes, I was failing at being a boyfriend.
I needed to do better. I needed to be better, try harder.
For him.
So I took his hand, turned it palm side up, and nervously drew a heart with my index finger.
Tully chewed on the inside of his lip before a smile broke out. A genuine smile this time. “Did you just draw a butt?”
I rolled my eyes and he laughed, pulling me in for a hug. He kissed my temple, and any hurt from before seemed to have dissipated. And that was Tully Larson—hurt for a brief moment before letting the sunshine-side of him win again.
My god, I didn’t deserve him.
“It was a heart,” I mumbled into his neck.
“It was a butt.” Then he ran his hand to my arse and squeezed. “I happen to like butts.”
I sighed, long and loud. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Wanna call it a day?”
“I think so.”
“Can I still hold your arse if we lay down?” He gave me another squeeze for good measure.
I snorted. “Fine.”
When we lay down, I used Tully’s arm as a pillow and sighed as tiredness crept over me. The gentle rocking of the boat was even kind of nice. “We’re heading home tomorrow, yes?”
“Don’t wanna stay for a few days?”
“I really don’t.”
Smiling, he kissed my temple. “We can try fixing that weather box stand in the morning, then head back with the change of tide in the afternoon. Sound okay?”
“Perfect. Thank you for bringing me out here. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I’m so thankful you’re here with me. And I cannot believe head office thought I could come out here with anyone that wasn’t you.”
“Well,” he said with a sigh, “even if someone else brought you out here, I’d still be coming with ya.” He rolled onto his side and pulled me into his arms properly. His eyes were closed. “No one gets you to themselves but me.”
