Page 48 of In the Same Boat

I mean, right now, I’ll drink to anything just to drink, so I raise my glass too.

We all look to Nico.

‘Cheers,’ he says, laughing it off.

He clinks his glass with mine, holding eye contact for a second longer than he needs to after the little ‘ding’ sound of our drinks colliding. Probably just to annoy me.

What a mixed bag of an evening – and I had all the ingredients to be perfect, but with just enough to ruin the flavour. Good food, warm air, too many loaded glances between our parents and a steady stream of bickering between Nico and me. By the time Camille leaves and Hank insists on pouring one last drink, I feel oddly tired. Like it’s taken energy to keep my brave face on all night.

Mum is sitting in one of the comfy chairs now, smiling at something Hank says. He looks at her in a way that can’t hide his attraction to her – how clearly delighted he is that she’s here. As happy for her as I am, it’s hard not to feel a little jealous. I don’t remember the last time someone looked at me like that.

Nico catches me watching them.

‘You all right?’ he asks quietly.

The question is simple enough, with no jokes or bad intentions, that it catches me off guard.

I look back at him.

‘Yeah. Fine.’

He tilts his head slightly.

‘That sounded convincing.’

‘Well, it’s weird, isn’t it?’ I reply, keeping my voice low.

He pauses for a second, so I gesture vaguely around us.

‘All of this,’ I blurt, still keeping the noise down.

He nods for a second, but doesn’t get the chance to reply.

‘Oh, kids,’ Hank calls out.

Oh, I did not want that to catch on.

‘What are you two whispering about?’ Mum asks with a smile.

‘Sammie was just telling me what happens when you flush a toilet,’ Nico calls back.

I can’t help but shoot him a dirty look.

‘Youth is wasted on the young, isn’t it?’ Hank says, turning his attention back to my mum.

I can’t believe this is only the end of our first day here. This is going to be a looong week.

11

SAMMIE

It turns out there really is no dignified way to share a bed with your mother as an adult. Trust me, we’ve tried a few options. We’re both in bed, shoulder to shoulder, because a yacht double bed seems much smaller than a regular one.

My gosh, it’s been an odd evening. The scene was perfect, the food was incredible, but the company left a lot to be desired.

I could see Mum looking at me, that look of recognition in her eyes whenever Nico and I would start bickering. I could see her reading too much into it. I mean, yeah, maybe we do have chemistry, but so do bleach and ammonia, and no one is going to have a good time if the two of those mix.

I’m lying flat on my back staring up at the ceiling. The blinds are open, allowing light from the marina to creep in, and it’s beautiful. If I were sharing this cabin with, say, Jake Gyllenhaal, instead of my mum, I’d be having the time of my life.