We're married?!

Dude's don't discuss feelings

Chapter 9

James's POV:

I pushed open our cabin door and poked my head in. Things seemed okay. I grinned and sauntered in, feeling very proud of myself.

Skylar was sitting on my bed, playing with a rattle. I picked her up and looked around the cabin for Duncan. Nothing.

"Hey Skylar, where's mommy?" I asked her. She pursed her lips and flapped her hand at the door.

"Thanks," I said, putting her back on the bed. She giggled. I went to Duncan's bed and jumped on it. It seemed much softer than mine. Oh well. One of the two reasons I came in here was to get changed into some more appropriate for the pool and another was to talk to Duncan about the purring floor.

The door swung open as I was changing. I turned around, a death glare on my face. Duncan stared. The death glare switched off and I flapped my hand at him. He waved back uncertainly.

"Ever heard of changing in the bathroom?" he asked me, shutting the door and sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Dude, we're all guys here," I replied, pulling on a shirt and grinning at him. He looked pointedly at Skylar.

"She's just a kid, she won't remember anything," I scoffed. Duncan hmmmed doubtfully. Skylar blinked at me. I smiled at her. She popped her thumb in her mouth and looked like she wanted to cry.

"Skylar needs some sleep," I told Duncan. He arched his brow at me and asked, "Why can't you put her to bed?" I grumbled and picked the baby up. She started crying.

"That answer enough?" I asked Duncan. He looked angry and took the baby off from me. A few minutes of constant rocking and bad singing of children's nursery rhymes later, Skylar was asleep and I was highly doubtful that I'll ever be able to listen to nursery rhymes without recoiling in horror now.

"At least she's asleep," I said. Duncan looked at me. I coughed and looked away.

"Where were you planning to go anyway?" he asked me.

"The pool," I replied.

"Oh, well...have fun."

What's his prob? I held out my arms, offering him a hug. He stared at me for several long minutes before shaking his head. Huh?

"Not this time," he said, flopping down on his bed. What gives? I stood over him, a confused look on my face.

"I'm just a bit upset," he said, not making eye contact with me. "Why?" I asked.

"Coz you're gonna be having fun on this cruise, chasing girls and stuff and I'm gonna have to stay here and look after the baby."

"We can take turns."

"Oh..."

"Now what's really bugging you?"

"At the risk of sounding kinda...bromantic, I'm a little irked right now. I mean, you just shoved me aside and went to chase girls. I didn't think I was that unappealing."

I laughed. He said irked. He looked irked too. I quickly stopped laughing and threw myself down next to Duncan. He rolled onto his side. I mimicked him.

"Duncan I'm a teenage boy. Those are pretty girls. I'm not made of stone."

"You neglect me."

He looked like he was gonna start crying. I quickly grabbed him. Can't stand waterworks. He sniffled. I thought hard. What always stops tears? I always just kiss the girls. It was the only plan I had at the moment so I pressed my lips against his cheek. He repeated himself. In desperation I kissed his nose. Nothing. He actually sounded like he was crying now. Oh boy. I stared at his face, trying to work out how to make this better. His face loomed dangerously close now. He looked really sad and close. I kissed him.