Page 35 of The Doctor's Truth

While I’m changing, my eyes land on my backpack. Burtie is in there. It’s been days since my last mind-blowing release around Jason’s cock and Donovan’s fingers. I’m wound up, and I’m tempted to relieve some of this pressure, but—

“Mum! I broke a button on my jumper!”

A mother’s job is never done.

Miraculously, the three of us somehow get dressed, get in the car, and make it to the ferry before it departs.

I’ll admit, Jason wasn’t wrong: it actually is pretty magical.

The cold wind that whips off the ocean feels like beestings on my cheeks, but it’s worth it to watch the ferry lit up like this. The siding is draped in strings of pine and holly with large red bows wrapped on every pole. Christmas lights sparkle around the sides and around the enclosed deck. There are two levels to the ferry, and there’s a stage jutting out from the second level where a band is set up but not yet playing. They have holiday music going over the speakers in the meantime. There’s a small cart up front, too, and it looks like they’re handing out hot drinks.

We hand over our tickets at the gate and then climb the ramp to board. Everyone is dressed in thick, puffy winter coats with scarves wrapped around red faces.

The first thing I do is look for Leonard King. If he’s here, I want to avoid him at all costs, even if that means abandoning ship. Luckily, I don’t see him anywhere—maybe this is too “pedestrian” for him. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful not to be in his crosshairs.

The ferry lets out a couple of bursts from the horn, and the engine churns as the workers toss thick ropes onto the deck.

I wrap my fingers around the cold railing as the ferry pulls away from Hannsett Island.

“Hey, stranger.”

I glance over to see Jason standing beside me. He has both hands on the railing, but he looms over me in a thick dark wool jacket. His smile is crooked and uncharacteristically shy.

“Hey,” I say back.

His eyes flicker to Otto. He crouches down then to get on level with the kid. “You must be the man of the hour.” Jason grins.

And I swear—my heart collapses in my chest in that moment. I don’t know what I expect—will Jason look into those blue eyes and immediately recognize his own? Will Otto see himself in that strong jaw? Will they connect on some incomprehensible level, that somehow they’ll just see each other and know?

I lose the ability to inhale. Meanwhile, Jason lifts his palm. “Up top.”

Otto politely gives Jason a high five. Jason drops his hand down. “Down low.”

Otto moves to give Jason a low five, but Jason retracts his hand too quickly with a grin. “Aww, too slow.”

Otto crinkles his nose. “That’s not very nice.”

Jason blinks. “What? No…I mean, it’s a joke. It’s fun. Don’t kids do that anymore?”

Otto looks up at Pearl. “Can we get hot chocolate?”

“Of course,” Pearl says and slips her hand to Otto’s back, guiding him toward the drink station.

“You’re my bacon,” Otto tells me.

“You’re mine.” I squeeze his hand, and he leaves with Pearl.

Jason unfurls, getting back to his feet, and he rubs his hands together as though to warm them. “Tough audience,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say, “he’s too old for his own good.”

I don’t know why, but I’m relieved. Jason is awkward with kids. He and Otto don’t immediately click. This isn’t one of those heartwarming feelings you get after watching man-returns-from-war-to-hug-his-dog videos. It’s just…two people. Existing.

I can breathe again.

Jason resumes his spot beside me, elbows on the railing, one foot kicked up against the side.

“What’s the bacon thing?” he asks.

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