Page 5 of Ship Happens

“Something like that!” Kaitlyn replies without elaborating.

“Okay, well.” Owen ignores her. “That shouldn’t be a problem, you’re not a picky bunch.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Kaitlyn’s voice floods with relief.

“Okay, well, if that’s everything,” Owen starts to say, “I’ve got a client—”

Then Kaitlyn cuts in. “Jacobiscomingtoo.”

The words come out so quickly that Owen can’t be sure of what she’s said at first. Or maybe it’s just that he doesn’t want to understand what she’s telling him.

Because he can’t have heard her right. Right?

“Owen?” Kaitlyn’s voice is distant in his ear, like he’s underwater. He stands there for what feels like an impossibly long time, staring at the walls of Sunset Tattoo & Piercing, remembering how big everything looked when he first walked in to apply so many years ago, his portfolio held in a vise grip as he considered turning around and making a run for it.

“Yeah?”

“You heard me, right?” she asks.

“I did.” Owen swallows. “I . . . You said he was going to stay in Dover.”

They’d had the conversation two weeks ago, after Owen shuffled into the kitchen midafternoon, still half asleep after an appointment that ran way longer than he expected the night before. It’d taken him a moment to gather who on earth she was talking to on the phone, but Kaitlyn’s eagerness to wrap up the conversation once Owen entered the room had been a pretty big sign.

“Yeah, that’s what he told me too,” Kaitlyn continues as Owen snaps himself back to reality. “But he and his team pushed through their last round of whatever . . . You know I don’t know what that man’s doing. Marine biologists are weird. Anyway, his schedule cleared up, and he’s catching a red-eye into the country.”

“Oh . . . huh.”

“Yeah . . .”

Owen gnaws on the inside of his cheek. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Trevor waving at him from across the shop, pointing at his watch-less wrist when he finally catches Owen’s attention.

“I wanted to tell you before he shows up tomorrow.”

“Not really giving me much notice, huh?”

Tomorrow.

“Sorry . . .”

“Okay, thanks, I guess . . .” Owen hopes he sounds convincing enough. Then he has to question just what he’s trying to convince Kaitlyn of.

“You good?” she asks.

No, he thinks. Why would he be good right now? “You just caught me off guard is all.”

“Would you be okay with him staying with us? Just on the couch.”

No. No, nope, not possible. Can’t do it.

“Sure!” Owen says through gritted teeth.

“You’re positive?” Kaitlyn asks, voice firm. She wants the truth. What’s the alternative, though? To tell his best friend that the brother she hasn’t seen in a year needs to find somewhere else to stay?

“Yeah, it’s whatever. I’m cool as a cucumber . . .” Owen winces, heat flushing his cheeks. “What time does he land tomorrow?”

“I’ll have to check the info he sent. Honestly, who knows how long it’ll take him to get from the airport, traffic’s going to be hell on the holiday.” Kaitlyn forces a bit of laughter, probably in the hope that it will break the tension.

“Right, yeah . . .” Owen’s trying his hardest to hide the growing discomfort in his voice. “It’s been too long.”