Page 97 of Ship Happens

Chapter Sixteen

Putt-Putt!

Owen and Jacob don’t expect anyone else to be back by the time they reach the suite, but they find Kevin and Kaitlyn both sprawled out on the couch, Owen’s heating pad strapped to Kevin’s back while Kaitlyn ices her thighs.

“Jesus . . .” Owen murmurs, taking in the scene. “Did Abby make it back alive?”

“She’s showering.” Kaitlyn eyes him without an ounce of light behind her eyes. “Turns out nine-mile hikes up a mountain don’t really take it out of you when you regularly train for marathons.”

“I don’t think my knees have ever hurt this badly,” Kevin says, staring at his legs extended onto the coffee table, rolling his ankles back and forth slowly.

“Kinda fucked up that they’re both stealing my thunder,” Owen jokes, whispering to Jacob, who tucks his face into his shoulder to hide his laughter.

“Switch?” Kaitlyn offers, holding the icepack out to Kevin.

“Sure.”

Owen and Jacob both watch in amused silence as their friends pathetically readjust their impromptu treatment plans.

“It’s not funny!” Kaitlyn chastises, swiping at her brother. But she’s so exhausted that she’s barely able to lift her arm into the air. “I’m too tired for this.”

Owen falls next to her on the couch, leaving Jacob to walk back to his room.

“So . . .” Kaitlyn grunts as she rolls over to look up at Owen. “What did the two of you get up to today?”

“We walked around, got lunch, saw one of his old classmates from Duke.”

“Oh, right! Dani’s here, isn’t she?” Kaitlyn asks, straightening. “How’s she doing?”

“Good—she opened this rehab center, it was a lot of the two of them catching up, talking about fish.”

“Sounds pretty typical for him.” Kaitlyn cocks an eyebrow when her gaze meets Owen’s. “So, the two of you were together all day?”

“Mm-hmm . . .” Owen hums, fidgeting at her tone.

“Are you wearing his jacket?” she asks, eyeing the thick material that still hangs off Owen’s shoulders.

“Yeah, it was cold.” Owen swallows.

“I bet, I bet.” She nods. “How was dinner?”

“Fine!” Owen says, standing as quickly as he sat down. “You know, we could do Humira shots together, if you guys wanted!”

“Would it actually help?” Kevin asks earnestly.

“No, definitely not,” Owen sputters. “Besides, do you know how much those things cost? I’m not giving y’all a thing for free.”

“Come onnnn,” Kevin whines, all the while Kaitlyn eyes Owen suspiciously. “We won’t tell.”

“How about some extra-strength ibuprofen?” he offers. “Best I can do.”

“Fine.” Kevin holds his hand out expectantly, like Owen can just conjure the pills out of thin air.

“Be right back,” Owen tells them both, eager to get away from the look that Kaitlyn is giving him. Back in his and Kevin’s bedroom, he types out a quick text message to Jacob before he tosses his phone to the bed.

Owen: pretty sure Kaitlyn knows *something* is up

“So . . .” Kaitlyn’s voice behind him makes Owen jump.