Page 86 of Ship Happens

“Can I come in?” Kaitlyn asks.

“No!” Jacob says, a little too quickly and way too loudly. “I mean, uh . . . no, you can’t. I’m . . . naked.”

“Oh, well, I was just wondering if Owen was in there with you? Kev said that he never came to bed last night.”

“Huh . . . weird.”

Kaitlyn pauses, and there’s a sound behind the door. For a moment, Owen thinks it’s going to open, but then he figures that she’s probably just leaning against the frame. “So, you haven’t seen him?”

“Nope! Maybe you should . . . call him?” In an instant, Owen pops out of bed and darts around the room, searching for his phone. Deep down he knows it’s on silent, has been since he got his first phone as a teenager. But that doesn’t stop his imagination from running wild with the image of Kaitlyn calling him and his phone ringing loudly from inside Jacob’s room. Like something out of a rom-com.

“Nah, his phone is on the coffee table outside, that’s why I’m worried,” Kaitlyn tells him.

“Oh, uh . . .” Jacob looks to Owen for any help at all, but he can’t risk saying much.

Just lie! Owen mouths. It’s not that hard!

Jacob looks panicked. “I think . . . uh . . . actually, yeah. He fell asleep on the couch.”

“Did you see him?” Kaitlyn asks.

“Yup! Before I went to bed, he was knocked out, so I left him there.”

“Oh, well . . .” Kaitlyn sounds confused. “Do you know where he went? Or why he didn’t take his phone?”

“No! No idea.” Jacob continues being an amazing liar. “Maybe he went to the breakfast buffet?”

“Yeah, probably . . .” Kaitlyn pauses. “I’m just overthinking it, right?”

“I’m sure he’s okay, Kait. He’s a big boy, don’t worry too much.”

Owen pretends to gag at being called “a big boy.”

“Ew,” Kaitlyn unknowingly agrees. “Don’t call him that, please.”

“I’m sure he’s around,” Jacob says, ignoring her. “He can take care of himself.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” she says, seemingly letting the subject go. “Abby and I are heading to breakfast; do you want to join us?”

“I’m okay, just gonna shower! I’ll catch up with y’all later.”

“Okay, I’ll let you know if we spot Owen.”

They both sit there in silence, listening as Kaitlyn’s footsteps get quieter.

“You still can’t lie, holy shit,” Owen whispers.

“Well, I don’t like it, so why would I be good at it?” Jacob scolds. They both hesitate, watching each other when they hear Abigail say something, then Kaitlyn laughs, and there’s some movement.

“We don’t tell them, right?”

Jacob shakes his head. “Hell no.”

Owen watches him, noticing the way that Jacob seems to be avoiding eye contact. “Now you’re thinking too much.”

“Well . . . what is this?” Jacob pulls his knees closer to his chest. “I know you said last night that it doesn’t have to be anything, but I . . . I’ve never been all that good at casual. If that’s even what this is.”

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know,” Owen admits. And that scares the shit out of him. It’s not like he’s good at casual either. Owen’s always needed a plan, needed to know what’s going on at all times. But this—how does he plan for this?