The ship had a nice bar. Zack pulled his sunglasses down over his eyes and sipped the fruity concoction that passed for a welcome aboard beverage. There were too many hours to wait before the ship was due to get underway and at least two more hours to kill before he could go to his room. And all he had to do was sit in the sun and try not to think about the last twenty-four hours of his miserable life.

The rum in the drink really wanted him to reminisce. He’d had the hangover from hell when Brian had dragged him out of the bed yesterday morning and shoved him into the shower.

“Big day, bubba, time to wakey, wakey.” Brian was too damned perky too damned early in the morning. He was also handsy. But then, Brian always was perky… and handsy in the mornings. Zack let him turn the shower on and hold him against the wall while the old plumbing grudgingly spit out hot water. They’d done this so many times over the years. Zack didn’t think anything about it. He’d never thought much about it when they’d done weird shit like shower together. Hell, Brian’s hands on his dick were almost as familiar as his own.

Didn’t mean anything. Wasn’t like they kissed or talked or did anything but help each other get off. And he’d definitely gotten off. But it felt different. The way Brian had stared into Zack’s eyes while he washed Zack’s dick… it had been almost as if he meant to do it. “Going to come,” he’d said, reaching for Brian’s dick and the soap. God, he wanted to go back to bed and just forget the rest of the day.

“Don’t worry about me, bubba, let’s just get you taken care of.” Brian had lost his perky. He sounded tired and almost as if he were angry about something. “No point starting off the day with a boner.”

“For you baby, only for you,” Zack joked. They’d always joked about it. But yesterday felt like he wasn’t in on the joke. Not anymore. “Coming, Brian.”

Brian continued to stroke him, even after he’d come until his eyes rolled back in his head. Fuck, he could shoot again if Brian kept going. “You need more? It’s going to be a long day.”

Brian hadn’t been kidding. Yesterday was the longest day of his fucking life. “You could suck me off if you think it would help,” Zack kidded but Brian didn’t laugh. Zack didn’t have time to wonder why. Brian usually laughed when he made blowjob jokes. He didn’t have time to wonder what had Brian in a foul mood, his stomach and his head were starting to catch up with the night before and the liquor was not going to be denied too much longer. “Oh fuck, I have to puke.”

He fell to his knees holding on to Brian with one hand while he emptied his stomach down the drain.

“Feel better?” Brian crouched beside him, patting his back like he was a little kid again. Zack was to the point of dry heaving. Brian’s hand on his back comforted him. When he was finished all he could do was shake while the water ran over his head. He nodded and Brian turned off the shower and helped him dry off. “Want something to eat or something for the headache?”

“Headache first,” Zack remembered saying as Brian rubbed him with the towel. He’d wanted to go back to those moments when everything was funny and nothing had changed between him and Brian and everything was going to be okay. “I’m getting married.” He remembered, dread clutching at his stomach now that it was empty. Yeah, he was having second thoughts. He’d been having second thoughts for days. And not just because Brian was back in Atlanta.

“That you are. In about an hour,” Brian said, his voice sounded strange. Almost angry. “Why Ronnie?” He’d asked suddenly as if he hadn’t known for the last two years that they were going to be brothers.

“Why not Veronica?” Zack had countered because sometimes he wondered exactly that same question. “She’s beautiful. She’s smart. She has a career of her own. She makes me laugh. She can’t cook. I can. So it’s okay.”

“Dude, not a single one of those are reasons to marry my sister.” Brian handed him everything he needed that morning, from aspirin to his bow tie. He stood in front of Zack and tied the damned thing when Zack couldn’t make his hands stop shaking long enough. Brian looked about as happy as Zack felt. Which wasn’t at all. “Are you sure? I mean we can get in your car and drive away. You don’t have to, if you, you know, have any doubt.”

Zack had shaken his friend off and they’d driven to the church in silence. They were a bit late. Most of the guests were already seated when Zack and Brian arrived. Brian’s parents were in the church office waiting for Veronica. There was nothing that made Zack think anything was off.

Not one thing. Until Brian’s mother stepped into the sanctuary and shook her head. Brian let out a sigh. And that was it. Instant relief, followed by immediate shock.

He’d waited another half hour until the minister said he had to clear the church for another wedding that afternoon.

Zack vaguely remembered sitting in the limo with Brian. He had the airline tickets and his luggage, and everything was all ready and waiting for the honeymoon of her dreams. A ten-day Caribbean cruise. Zack hated ships, but he’d wanted Veronica to have what her heart desired.

He handed Veronica’s tickets to her brother. “If you see her. I don’t know. If she didn’t want to get married… we don’t have to. If she wants…” he shook his head as if it didn’t matter. As if it didn’t hurt. It didn’t matter, but it did hurt. “Go and enjoy the reception, Brian.”

Brian had been silent most of the time they sat in the limo. Like he was in shock. Maybe that was Zack. Maybe Zack just didn’t remember anything his friend had said. He’d been jilted at the altar. It didn’t get any more humiliating than that.

Brian had taken he tickets and left him to presumably go back to the church and on to the reception. Zack told the limo driver to take him to the airport where he left his tux in a bathroom stall. And because the drinks were free in first class, he didn’t remember anything about the flight to Houston.

This morning, he could have used one of Brian’s early morning wake-ups. As it was he almost missed his boarding time. His luggage was being searched and here he was sitting in the sun with an umbrella drink before lunch.

It was going to be a long ten days.

He waited until after the shore was a distant memory to go find his stateroom. The door lock didn’t want to work at first, he had to have one of the concierge staff to help him get inside the honeymoon suite he’d booked.

“Hope you enjoy your honeymoon, Doctor Sorensen,” the man said with a wink as Zack stumbled inside… and came face to face with Brian.

“Hey,” Brian said as if he was supposed to be standing in the middle of Zack’s stateroom. He looked sheepish. Not that Zack knew exactly what sheepish looked like, but Brian certainly looked sheepish.

“What are you doing here?” Zack swayed a bit with the ship, or maybe he’d had too much rum that afternoon. All he knew was that Brian was not the person who was supposed to be there… unpacking. Like he was staying. Zack had to hold on to a table to keep from falling over. Brian didn’t seem to notice the swaying of the ship. “How’d you get here?”

“I bribed the ticket person to change the reservation, it’s not like it’s a flight, you know,” Brian said in the rambling way he had when he was nervous. He put down the jacket he’d been transferring to a hanger and turned just as Zack pitched forward. “Okay, no more rum for you.”

Zack threw off the steadying hand and maneuvered himself into a chair before he fell on his face. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Brian looked as if Zack had punched him in the gut. He closed his eyes and turned away. His voice strangely placating. “She never came home. Mom couldn’t get her to answer the phone. Her car was gone, she’d left the dress behind, but she took enough clothes to be away for a while. I’m sorry Zack. I really am.”

Zack’s head throbbed. Too much sun. Too much booze. Too much self-pity. Too much of everything and now he was going to pay for it. “Doesn’t answer why you’re here.”

Brian turned back to face him. “Would you rather be alone for the next ten days? I can get off at the first port and fly home. I just thought maybe you’d like some company. And I guess I just wanted to spend some time with you. For purely selfish reasons.” Brian was angry with him now and Zack’s head went full throttle. He placed his palms against both temples and pressed in, hoping to stop the pounding. “And because you need someone to give you aspirin when you’ve overindulged.”

“I guess if that’s the only reason,” Zack said, trying to find some humor in the situation. “You can stay.”

“Thank heavens for small favors,” Brian said from nearby. Zack looked up in time to see his friend lean over and stroke his forehead. “Have you eaten anything?”

Zack had to think about that one. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw food much less ate anything. Just the thought of food made him nauseous. He shook his head. Brian gave him a look that said he had something to say, but he didn’t say anything. “So, you’re taking more time off to go cruising with me to save me from myself? Is that it?”

“I told the ticket person you might fall overboard in your grief. She was quick to transfer the ticket to my name after that,” Brian said with a crooked smile that usually meant he was kidding. Somehow, Zack thought, this time, he might not be. “Besides, I always wanted to go island hopping. Like Jimmy Buffett. Except I can’t sing.”

“Never stopped him,” Zack said, hoping he sounded like he was joking. “I need to eat something. And maybe get out of these clothes. It’s a bit warmer than I expected for March.” He looked his friend over, Brian was dressed in a pair of loose cargo shorts and a skin-tight tank shirt that advertised Adventures Ink, the place he worked. His shoulders were freckled from his time in the sun. But he was always freckled.

“What exactly did you think the Caribbean in March would be like? You packed for a New England spring, man. We’re heading to the tropics, they don’t wear this stuff any time of year.” That was the Brian Zack knew and loved.

“I don’t own a pair of shorts. Unlike one of us who only wears cargos.” Zack finally focused on exactly whose bags Brian was unpacking. “Why are you going through my things?”

“Looking for your sex toys, why else?” Brian took a stack of Zack’s boxers from the bag and gave him a look that Zack interpreted to mean he didn’t approve of Zack’s choice of underwear.

“Why would we need toys on our honeymoon?” Zack asked and Brian cocked an eyebrow at him, the bastard. “Well, doesn’t matter anyway, since this is going to be a sexless honeymoon… maybe I should have packed a…” he couldn’t finish that, he felt the heat of the blush start at his neck and work its way up to his scalp.

“Pocket pussy,” Brian said laughing. “Say it and set yourself free.”

Zack groaned instead. “I really wish I’d thought of something else to do other than a cruise. This swaying is going to be the death of me.”

“The ship is not swaying, sweetheart, that would be you.” Brian finished putting his things in the dresser drawer and took their luggage and shoved the cases into the closet. “You’re drunk, Zack.”

“Fuck you,” Zack said and Brian’s smile grew wider and more… well, Brian had a wicked smile.

“Oh, babe, you need to get laid and get it out of your system. And food. You need food. And, if I’m being honest, you need to lay off the booze. I’ve never seen you drink as much as I have the past few days. Just an observation. Don’t bite my head off.” Brian was on his knees in front of Zack, he picked up one of Zack’s feet and pulled off his loafer and sock. “And new clothes. You need weather appropriate clothes. And less… well, you dress like my Uncle Bennie.”

“Your uncle Bennie is like ninety,” Zack said, letting Brian unbutton his shirt and take it off, leaving him wearing his undershirt.

“My point exactly,” Brian said as he unbuckled Zack’s belt and stripped Zack down to just his boxers. “There, that makes you look cooler at least.” He took Zack’s clothes and stored them away in the closet with everything else.

“I feel naked,” Zack complained just as his stomach growled. Brian picked up the phone and ordered food from room service. His choices made Zack’s stomach growl even louder.

“I was going to suggest that we get out of here and go explore the ship and maybe hit a buffet or something, but you look like we’re having a stay in our first night at sea.” Brian walked over to the balcony doors and opened them letting in the sea breeze and the scent of salt air. “It’s gorgeous out here. Nothing but water for miles and miles. And stars, so many stars.”

“That’s what all those people on the Titanic must have said,” Zack grumbled and his stomach grumbled back. Not in a good way. “Where’s the bathroom?”

Brian pointed to a sliding door and Zack bolted across the room to inspect the plumbing up close and personal.

Brian crouched on the floor beside him rubbing his shoulders when Zack was down to dry heaves. “I think we’re agreed that you’re going to keep the drinking down to a minimum now.”

“Smug asshole.” Zack leaned against Brian for support. When the ship stopped rolling beneath him, he picked himself off the floor. He couldn’t meet Brian’s gaze in the mirror as he washed his face. “Thanks,” he said, meaning it.

Brian clapped him on the shoulder and left him alone to finish up. “Brush your teeth, your breath smells like dead fish.”

“Asshole,” Zack called back. But he brushed his teeth. He felt better when he finished. Most of the alcohol had left his system. He was cooler. He was still single and on his honeymoon.

Nothing he could do about the situation, but make the best of it.

He stepped out into the room just as room service arrived. Brian signed the bill and the waiter nodded. “Enjoy your meal, Doctor and Mister Sorensen.”

Brian thought that was funny as fuck.

“They think we’re gay?” Zack finally caught up. “Could this week get any worse?”

“Well, there is only one bed in here,” Brian supplied with another of his wicked grins. “And really, as if I’d change my name to yours. You’d have to change yours to mine.”

“We could always hyphen.” Zack smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. “Doctor and Mister O’Daly-Sorensen just rolls off the tongue.

“That’s Mister and Doctor Sorensen-O’Daly to you, me boyo,” Brian said in a falsetto accent. “And eat your dinner before it gets cold.”

Zack looked over at the bed. “At least it isn’t round. I’m too tall for a round bed.”

“We have that at least,” Brian said, pulling out a chair at the table where he removed the silver dome covering his cheeseburger and fries. “By the way, boyo… I spent everything I had on the flight and the ticket change. I’m kind of broke. I put all of this on your room tab. Sorry about that.”

Zack sat across from his friend and uncovered his own meal. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, knowing Brian was the last person to play gold digger.

“I’ll pay you back when I get paid,” Brian said without looking his way.

“I said don’t worry about it,” Zack almost growled at him. “I’d buy you the moon if you asked. A few meals and souvenirs are nothing.” He reached across the table and took Brian’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t want to be alone… you know. I’m happy you’re here.”

Brian squeezed his hand back. “That’s what best friends are for, that and inappropriate comments.”

“Nobody does inappropriate better than you, dear,” Zack said, feeling like his life wasn’t skyrocketing out of control for the first time in a long time.

“Damn, straight.” Brian winked at him, then stole his pickle. “I get the left side of the bed, and I sleep naked.”

“No bringing girls back to have sex in our bed,” Zack said, feeling like a dick when Brian made an outraged face.

“It’s like you don’t even know me,” Brian feigned hurt. “But you know, if you want to, you know… get her out of your system, just put the do not disturb sign up or something. I don’t mind.”

Zack attacked his burger as if he hadn’t heard his friend. “This is pretty good. I’m starving… and…” he couldn’t just pretend none of it had ever happened and he wasn’t hiding a secret from Brian. “I’m a virgin.”

Brian choked on his pickle. Or rather, Zack’s pickle. “What the fuck did you say? I thought I heard you say—”

“I’m a virgin. Mostly. Yes, a fucking twenty-six-year-old virgin. Are you happy now?” Zack lost his appetite.

“You mean you and Ronnie… in two years of dating… never… oh my god.” Brian looked like Zack felt. Embarrassed and seriously, yeah, just, mortified, to his toes.

“She wanted to wait, I respected her wishes.” He shrugged because he couldn’t think of anything else to do. “And then she left me with no explanation.”

Brian sat staring at him, his mouth hanging open as he made a strange gacking sound. When Zack started to worry something was wrong with his friend, Brian swallowed hard and smiled that same wicked smile that always told Zack they would probably need bail money at some point in the near future. “Well, fuck, dude, then we have really got to get you laid.”

Zack sat back down. The ship stopped pitching around beneath him. He could breathe again. That’s why Brian was his best friend. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Brian.”

“Me neither,” Brian said with a wink and everything was right in the world.