A Little Relief
The next day found all of them rising early. Kevin had to drive back to Orlando to attend his JWR function, and was not going to be returning till late the next day. The other four got their gear packed ready to take Nick's boat out. Nick and Howie wanted to get out there as soon as possible, but for two very different reasons; Nick loved the ocean, and thought that it might help Brian; whereas Howie (and AJ) wanted to get going so that they could put Howie's plan into action.
Within an hour they had cast off and were heading out to the open sea, planning on heading towards a small isolated cove that Nick knew of. Nick steered the boat whilst the other three lounged about on the deck. When they were out of sight of land, Howie got up and headed up to talk to Nick about the plan. AJ watched Howie go and smirked, both at the thought of what was going to happen, as well as the sight of Howie's beautiful body glinting in the sunshine from the suntan oil he had applied earlier. He felt his groin stir, and turned over so that he was face down on the deck, hiding his arousal from Brian.
"Nick." Howie smiled at his younger friend as he joined him. Nick looked relaxed and happy at the helm, the ocean having its usual calming effect on him. Nick smiled back with one of his million dollar smiles.
"Hey D. Y'alright?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Listen I need to talk to you for a sec." Howie glanced around to check that Brian was out of earshot before continuing.
"It's about yesterday." Nick glanced up, wondering what Howie had to say.
"AJ and I have been thinking."
"Sounds dangerous." Nick smirked. Howie stuck his tongue out at Nick playfully before continuing.
"It could well be. Look. We were talking last night and we have decided that we agree with you."
"Huh?" Nick asked, thoroughly confused. "Agree with what?"
"With your idea to get through to Brian. We can't think of anything else that will work either. It might be the only way." Howie looked away from the ocean to glance at Nick, who was staring in open-mouthed shock at him, not quite able to believe what he was hearing.
"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" Nick asked, making sure he heard right.
"Yeah Nick."
"Fuck." Nick breathed, still having trouble believing it.
"Later." Howie replied, his eyes full of promise.
"What about Kevin?"
"He's not here."
Nick grinned suddenly. "Cool. I won't tell him if you won't."
"I think you can guarantee that. The question is what will Brian do? It's all well and good us agreeing to this, but will he go for it?"
Nick glanced back at Brian, who was sitting on the deck watching the horizon before turning back to Howie. "Yeah. He'll go for it."
"You sure? I don't want to fuck things up between us all."
"I'm sure. Trust me."
Howie looked at Nick for a minute, Nick returning his gaze, before Howie nodded in acceptance and turned to rejoin the others.
"How long till we reach this place of yours?" He asked, stopping just inside the wheel house doorway.
Nick glanced at the GPS system and then at his watch, working it out. He turned back to Howie and grinned. "Bout 20 minutes."
Howie smiled back. "Good. Gives me time to set things up below decks." Nick looked at him confused.
"Me and AJ brought some things for later, I stashed them below decks before we left. I just gotta go set them up."
Nick closed his eyes as he imagined what Howie and AJ could have brought with them, and Howie laughed at the look on his face.
"I think we can wait 20 minutes, don't you?" Howie told him as he walked away. He then laughed as he felt the boat's speed increase. "Or then again, maybe not." He laughed to himself as he headed below decks.