Fourteen

Cory

Rummaging in my closet, I made a mental note that it was more than time to do laundry. I rarely brought more than a week's worth of clothes with me when I worked, and now with the two of us wearing them, I knew it wouldn't be enough. Those thoughts stopped me.

"What the fuck am I doing?" I said to myself, but I already knew the answer. There was something about JJ that I both loved and hated in equal amounts. But after last night the love part was passing the hate part, and that scared the shit out of me. The sound of the shower reminded me it was all real, and he was still here. It also reminded me that he'd be leaving tomorrow when he was unceremoniously dumped off at St. Thomas.

"Did you say something?" JJ asked when he stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. I turned back to my closet and thankfully found a pair of briefs, shorts, and a shirt.

"No, just grumbling to myself about doing laundry."

"I can do that if you want. I don't mind at all," he said as he took the clothes from me and walked over to his bed to start getting dressed.

"Are you sure? I mean I don't expect you to do my laundry," I said, and I meant it. When I found out he'd be staying here I didn't like it, but one night later I didn't mind at all. So far, he wasn't a bad roommate, and if it continued this way I was more than happy for him to stay.

"I'm sure. Also, I need to speak to whoever is in charge. I want to pay what I owe," JJ said, surprising me.

"Really? I mean I would love you to help with the laundry because I don't know when I'll have time. But you want to pay?" He'd said it before, but he was drunk, and I found drunk JJ said whatever got him what he wanted. Nothing he said was to be believed.

"Yes, and I need to see if they'd let me stay on board past tomorrow," he said, and that surprised me.

"I thought you'd be ready to get out of here and go home." I turned to face him and ignored the fact he hadn't pulled his shirt on yet and his toned chest was once again on display.

"No. I'd rather say here."

"JJ, don't you have a job or something to get back to?" I hadn't meant to pry into his personal life so deeply, but we were in a strange situation of being forced to stay together and really, at this point, I wasn't going to start holding back.

"Jackson, my name is Jackson. JJ is the name my friends started calling me when we were out partying. I hate it, and I don't want you to think of me that way. Please. Call me Jackson." His eyes told me it was more than just calling him his given name and not his nickname, but I was happy to call him whatever he wanted me to. I wasn't his friend, so where they didn't seem to respect him as more than a person to party with, I'd use the name he asked me to.

"Jackson, it suits you."

"Thanks, I've had it forever," he said and smiled. The change in his mood was instant and his smile lit up his eyes, making him look even hotter than he already was.

"Let's go see what there is to eat," I said and hoped that was okay with security. I mean he'd eaten with us last night and this was no different. We walked down the hall and as soon as we entered the mess hall Johnny waved to me from where he sat at what had become our usual table. I handed Jackson a plate and the two of us chatted about how good everything looked but we were probably just hungry from yesterday. "How do you feel?"

"Oh, I feel much better today. I was pretty sure I was going to die last night though. Nothing like having a hangover the same day you're drinking. I could live without ever feeling that shitty ever again." He chose some scrambled eggs and fruit to eat, and I knew even though he said he felt better, he still didn't feel great.

"I'm not a fan of a hangover, and when I started working here, I partied every night they had a crew party, but the work is hard, and it's horrible trying to work with a hangover. It's not like I can just say I'm not going in to work. I live where I work," I said, making him laugh.

"We all learn that lesson," one of the other crewmembers said, making me laugh again.

"It's hard enough dealing with drunk guests. But dealing with drunk guests when you're trying not to puke or pass out is a whole new level of hell." I led us over to where Johnny sat taking the last bites of his breakfast.

"I'm surprised you two are awake already. I didn't expect to see you until right before your shift." His eyes bounced between us, and I knew without saying anything that he knew things had changed between us.

"I slept so good last night. I mean I was pretty drunk and being in the sun all day didn't help. But I loved hearing the water breaking against the ship. It's mesmerizing," Jackson said, before taking a tentative bite of eggs.

I looked at Johnny and almost started laughing but I knew exactly what he was reacting to. JJ was trashed yesterday and any interactions we'd had with him were mostly him acting like an entitled asshole. Now apparently JJ was gone, and Jackson was here instead. I liked Jackson. I liked Jackson a lot. That thought did make me laugh, and when Jackson met my eyes, he smiled before taking another tentative bite.

"Yeah, you kinda get used to it after a while and don't notice it," Johnny finally said with a shrug.

"How long have you worked for the cruise line?" Jackson asked and pointed his fork at Johnny.

"Around five years now. I started only working during the summer months and going home to work the other half of the year, but I missed cruising. So as long as it stays fun, I'll continue to do it full time," Johnny said and turned again to look at me with wide eyes.

"How about you, Cory," he asked, but his eyes never left mine. The connection we had crackled and I had to look away to answer his question.

"I've been cruising a few months now. I'd never traveled much before that first cruise, so it was all a new experience for me. But I love it, and I see myself working in the cruise industry for a few more years. Maybe not as long as this guy, but there's nothing else I want to do right now."

"I can see the appeal. Even though you're working you're still on vacation in a way. I mean I know you're busting your ass and some people are total assholes." He stopped for a moment and stared again at me making me laugh. "I know I was one of those assholes, and if I treated you badly, I apologize."

"No, man, I didn't have the pleasure, but I do appreciate the gesture," Johnny said, before lifting his juice in a toast. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jackson said and took another tentative bite.