Page 70 of Pucking Obsessed

Cody has never had that from Dad.

Michael is in his late thirties. He’s hot but stern with ebony skin and salt and pepper hair. He’s dressed in a casual tan suit that’s open at the neck.

“You’re looking a little green there.” Dad points his glass of wine at Michael. “If you’re going to puke, do it over the side. At least be considerate when you hurl.”

“That’s exactly what I say to my patients,” Michael says, dryly. “They rarely listen.”

“Are you okay?” Cody asks. “Do you want to go back?”

“We’ll go back, when the hour is up,” Dad barks. “Do you think that it’s fair on the staff to set this up on a Sunday and then give up after less than an hour?”

“It’s only because this is straight after an all-night shift.” Michael ignores Dad, tightening his arm around Cody. “No sleep, wine, and yachting apparently isn’t what the doctor ordered.”

Cody chuckles. “I’ll tuck you in, as soon as we’re home.”

Michael works in the ER at Freedom Heart hospital.

He has deep purple shadows underneath his eyes. He usually looks exhausted, but then, he works hard.

On the other hand, he’s an incredible partner to my brother because whenever he’s free, he still takes Cody out to dance and have fun.

Cody picks up a chocolate éclair and takes a bite; cream drips out of it.

He licks his fingers. “This is awesome, Dad. It’s just not what I was imagining…” He glances at me and for a moment, our gazes meet. My chest aches. I know what he means. Staff are moving around in the decks above and driving the boat. The fucking day has beencatered. “I hoped that you could teach me how to fish.”

He sounds so hopeful.

It breaks my heart.

“Aren’t you a bit old for me to start with shit like that?” Dad harrumphs. “I have a meeting after this. I can’t stink. Plus, you’d take too long to learn. It’s not as if you’d catch anything.”

Cody’s bright expression shatters. He places down the half-eaten éclair like he can no longer stomach it.

He tries to still sound upbeat but it’s hollow. “Maybe next time, huh?”

Dad shrugs, noncommittally.

In Dad talk that meansno fucking way is there a next time.

Rage rushes through me.

Is taking Cody out today only a token gesture? Is Dad doing it because he really wants to mend their relationship like he insisted or because he wants me tothinkthat he is?

I sit up. “Everyone is a beginner, when they start. It’s not about whether you catch a fish or not; you taught me that. We return them to the water, anyway. It’s about spending time close to nature together. Code would love that.”

Code’s face lights up again. “I would. I mean, going out together without any staff or shit. I hoped that we’d take out one of those small boats, you know, a small sailboat like the type you’d take Robyn out in, when she was in college. I’d watch you from the window and—"

“Are you kidding me right now?” Dad growls. Cody flinches. “We’re on myyachtand you’re whining…? Am I spoiling you in thewrong way?”

“You’retalkingto him in the wrong way,” Michael says, sternly. “Change your tone, or I will insist that we return to land.”

“This is my boat. Show some respect.”

Michael arches his brow. “I didn’t realize that you were the captain. Are you going to order me to be lashed to the mast and flogged with a cat’o nine tails? Just know that I’m likely to mutiny,captain.”

Michael steers Cody, who’s grinning widely now, toward me.

“Hey.” I shift to the side, leaving room for Cody to climb onto the large lounger next to me.

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