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“Oh.” I startle and lean down to lick the stickiness from my fingers, but my brain, intent on torturing me, starts meandering towards other things I may or may not be interested in licking.

Okay, I’m definitely going to need some time to process this.

I’ve always thought of myself as straight. Well, mostly. Looking at guys didn’t count, or so I thought, because I’d never had the urge to take it beyond that. Until now.

“Are you okay?” Cookie tilts his head and laps daintily at his ice cream, once again giving me a glimpse of that tantalising piercing. I wonder how it would feel against my tongue or my?—

Yeah, definitely need time to process, possibly while taking a cold shower.

“I’m fine,” I reply, and my voice comes out a little gravelly. “I, uh… I got you a present.”

“A present?” He blinks as that sinful mouth widens into a big smile. “For me?”

I nod and turn, cocking my hip and showing him what is tucked into my back pocket.

He laughs in delight and plucks out the long plastic pole topped with a pink and purple foil windmill, holding it up to his face like I’ve given him a single red rose and he’s about to give it a sniff. Instead, he puckers those tempting lips and blows gently to set it spinning. He watches and gives another laugh, and even though my poor dick is very confused, it’s also aching.

“You, uh… seemed to like them,” I finish weakly, reaching up and rubbing the back of my neck, which feels hot—most likely from the sun and definitely not embarrassment.

“Are you kidding,papi?” He grins wildly, his dark eyes sparkling. “This is the best gift ever. I love these, they’re so pretty and fun.”

“Oh, good.” My stomach swoops. It’s like, now that I’ve realised I’m attracted to him, I notice how much I like him calling mepapiand how hot his accent is.

Oh my god, I’m pretty sure I’m crushing on him. This is really not a good time to have a sexual awakening. I haven’t even told my family yet that I’m not staying in the bay, and Cookie isn’t staying in the bay either. He said it himself, he and his friend Tyler will be heading to London.

“Come on,” Cookie says, nodding along the promenade towards the railings. “Let’s get out of everyone’s way.”

I follow him over to the edge and lean against the metal rail which borders a small drop down to the sand. Lifting my ice cream to my mouth, I lick and gaze out to sea, captivated by the sun glinting on the rippling waves. From this distance, I can see Beck and Nat with their boards tucked under their arms, walking hand in hand towards the surf.

“So, you wanna watch the hot surfers or you wanna tell me what’s on your mind?” Cookie asks.

“Well, considering two of the surfers are my brother and future brother-in-law, I guess that leaves me with only one choice.”

“There are always other choices,” Cookie says. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but you seem to have something you need to get off your chest, and I’m incurably nosy, according to Ty.”

I turn my head towards him. “You won’t tell anyone, not even Colin? It’s just, he’s close with my brothers, and I don’t want my family to find out from anyone but me.”

“Seriously, I won’t say a word.” He waves his glittery windmill at me like it’s Glinda’s magic wand. “It’s between you, me, and God. Just call me Padre.”

“I’d rather not.” My mouth twitches and then I sigh, gazing out to sea once more because it’s easier than looking at him directly. “I’ve been lying to my family for nearly two years.”

“You kill somebody?”

I snort. “No.”

“Okay, so everyone tells little white lies. What could really be that bad? You’re not a Republican, are you?”

“No. Also not American, in case you hadn’t noticed.” I chuckle and finally turn towards him.

“True. Okay, what gives?”

“I dropped out of uni after my first year,” I confess.

“Okaay…” He draws the word out, waiting for me to elaborate.

“My dad died.”

“I’m sorry,” Cookie mutters as he watches me through those wild Elton John glasses and weirdly, it sets me at ease. “That’s tough. What happened?”