Chapter 23: The Cutter
I startled awake for the second morning in a row. I don’t know how I’d managed to sleep at all. I was used to the constant noise of the ocean, but not the noise of engines, or the rocking of waves. I was used to being sandwiched in the middle of our firm raised sand sleep platform, with warm bodies on either side of me, not a solid wall at my back. I was used to the freedom of nudity, not an elastic band around my waist with the material of shorts twisting around my thighs, or a tee shirt wound around my torso.
Buddy was in my arms, staring silently into my eyes, patiently waiting for me to wake up naturally. I smiled at him and he smiled tentatively back. He hadn’t wanted anything to do with sleeping in his own berth last night.
“Did you sleep okay, Buddy?”
He n
