Asher was glad that his lovesick self hadn't taken them too far out from the main island. The ride was still a lot longer than he would have liked it to be, but it could have been much, much worse. It was about the only bright spot he could find in any of this.

As he sat and kept the boat on course, he fussed with his tie, knotting it and un-knotting it and re-knotting it again, wringing the fabric in his hands. When he couldn't think of anything else to do with it, he would up just staring at it, as if he were expecting it to entertain and occupy him all on its own. It didn't, obviously, but it didn't matter once the boat had eventually come up on the docks. Asher wasted no time hoping down from the helm and trudging across the deck, throwing the glass doors open with one word: "Off."

Grabbing the rope that was wound off in a corner, Asher carefully made the boat-to-boardwalk jump and tied the tethered the vessel in place.