Page 17 of Free Wind (Lifeguards of Barking Beach #2)

“Wait. You’re upset.” Cody reached out, and Damo dodged the yellow glove with a yelp. “Ugh, hold on.” Cody stripped off the gloves, dropping them on the sink ledge with a thwap. “What did you want to tell me?”

“Nothing! Everything. Dunno.” Damo crossed his arms, then fiddled with the cord necklace.

“It’s okay. I’m listening.” Cody waited patiently. This was why Cody was the perfect person to tell. Not only because he was gay, but of Damo’s mates, he was by far the most in touch with feelings and all that shit.

“I’m bloody tryin’ but…” He exhaled a long breath.

“So, you went on a date? What does it have to do with the clubbie?”

“Everything! I met up with Blake the clubbie at the new gay place. There were no chicks. I mean, of course there were chicks there, but I wasn’t—we were—I was with him.”

Cody’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh! I didn’t think you—” He nodded. “Huh. Okay, cool.” He blinked a few times, then grinned. “Liam was right.”

“Wait, what? Liam thinks that I’m—” Damo waved his hand.

“It occurred to him. Don’t worry, we don’t regularly sit around talking about your sexuality. But you’re…exploring? That’s awesome. Right?”

“Kind of? Yes?” He glanced at the door again, but they were still alone.

“It’s okay. Breathe.” Cody kept his voice low and steady. “This disgusting bathroom is a safe space.”

Damo nodded. After breathing in and out, the humid air smelling like fake lemons, he whispered, “I’ve never been with a bloke before. But after the rescue, he kind of asked me out. I don’t know why I went.”

“Yes, you do,” Cody said calmly.

“I mean, I guess I was curious?” He shifted restlessly. “No, I definitely was.”

“Was this the first time you’ve been curious?”

He thought of getting hard watching Cody and Liam kissing in the tower. His face went so hot he must’ve looked like a lobster. He shook his head. “But it’s the first time I’ve done something about it.”

“And you did some…” Cody made a rolling motion with his hand. “Things?”

“I had a dick in my mouth!” he whisper-shouted. “His dick!”

Cody laughed. “You’d be pretty flexible if it was your own. And did you like it?”

“Heck yeah.” Damo giggled, his body flushing to talk about it out loud. “I liked it. We kissed and got naked and rubbed off. Nothing else. Like, we didn’t…you know.”

“Right. Take it slow.”

Damo nodded. Then burst out with, “I don’t want to! I’m dying to do it again. Do everything.” He ran his bare toe along the grouted tile floor, tracing a square. “I’m nervous but excited at the same time.”

“I know that feeling.” Cody smiled, his gaze going fond and distant. “Experimenting can be awesome. Do you want to go back to the club and meet more guys? I could be your wingman.”

It hadn’t even occurred to him, and Damo fidgeted as he imagined hooking up with other faceless blokes. “But they wouldn’t be Blake.”

“I’ll take care of you.”

Cody’s smile brightened. “Oh, so you like him! It wasn’t just a hookup.”

“I don’t really do that.”

“Okay. I guess I assumed you did since I don’t think you’ve had a steady girlfriend since I’ve known you?”

Damo shrugged. “I haven’t.”

Memories of Shaz filled his mind, dominated by the first and only night she’d spent at the house. He cringed to think of it. They’d been nineteen, and Mum had said of course his girlfriend could stay over.

Crammed onto his twin bed with the saggy mattress and creaky springs. Not that they’d been up to anything aside from trying to sleep before everything went wrong…

“Hey, it’s okay.” Cody was frowning at him. “You don’t have to have a bunch of hookups. Do you want to see Blake again?”

He nodded. “I like him. We just met, but… I feel like I can trust him.” Damo thought of Blake’s strong arms around him, his offer to play video games, texting his mum to make sure she was right. “Is that weird?”

“Nope. That’s how you know you’re a grownup. Responsibility becomes super hot.” Cody shuddered. “I did the bad boy thing once upon a time, and yeah, nah.”

“I just met him, so it’s not like we even know each other.”

“Yeah, but you know when there’s a spark.”

Damo nodded. “Kissing was like…New Year’s Eve. Fireworks, I mean—not bogans puking on the beach.”

“Duly noted.”

“What if it’s just because I haven’t gotten off with anyone in an embarrassingly long time?”

“Hey, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Cody said seriously. “Nothing wrong with being celibate.”

Damo cringed. “I’m not a bloody priest.”

“I know, but—okay, what’s your concern? That you’re having these feelings for Blake because of the good sex?” At Damo’s nod, Cody said, “Sure, pheromones and stuff like that can be part of it. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to spend more time with Blake. See where it goes.”

Damo shivered with eagerness. “Hate waiting until tomorrow to see him again. Haven’t liked someone this much in a while.” He thought of Shaz again with a mix of fondness and regret.

“When was the last time?” Cody asked. “A few years ago?”

Damo hesitated. His stomach gurgled with acid thinking about it. It wasn’t like it had ended with a big fight or anything. Shaz was a great chick. But Damo had ruined it. Why had he ever thought her staying over was a good idea?

He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“Yeah. Shaz Warner. She lives in the valley past Barking. She went to uni in Perth.” He shrugged.

“Just fizzled out.” It was mostly true. The awkwardness had been too much to get past. “Got busy with work and surfing. Thought maybe there could be something with Mia at first, but we’re much better as mates. ”

He’d realized he’d dodged a bullet anyway. The beach was separate from home, and it was better that way. Sure, Blake was a clubbie, but they didn’t work together. It would just get too messy otherwise.

“Bet Blake made a good first impression helping you with that rescue.” Cody waggled his eyebrows. “Pretty hot that he backed up.”

Damo couldn’t hide a grin. “Yeah. I told him I’d shout him a beer, and he invited me to Rodeo.”

“Were you nervous? Good on ya for going. That took guts.”

Damo flushed with pleasure. “Thanks. Yeah, I was heaps nervous, but I guess I couldn’t resist.” He added, “I still like chicks. I’m not, like, suddenly gay.”

Cody squeezed his shoulder. “Whatever and whoever you are is a hundred percent okay. You don’t have to figure it out today.”

“Right.” Damo took a deep breath and huffed it out. “Thanks, mate. You’re good to talk to about this.”

“Anytime. I mean it.”

“You won’t tell anyone, though?” He shook his head quickly. “No. I know you won’t. Sorry.”

“S’okay.” Cody grimaced. “After what happened with Liam…”

“Nah. You were off your head. Doesn’t count. Speaking of Liam—” God, he was so curious, but he had to wait for Cody to spill about this possible engagement. “If you want to tell him, that’s cool.”

“Trust me, he can keep a secret.” Cody hesitated. “You know Liam had a really tough time coming out. It’s still hard sometimes, especially with his asshole parents, but he’s so much happier now. Everyone has their own situation and journey, but anytime you want to talk, we’re here for you.”

“Thanks, mate. I’m here for you guys too. For anything you might want to tell me. Or not! Whatever. I’m here. Anything. Big or small. Something pretty big, maybe?”

With a deep sigh, Cody rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me Liam spilled it. After I just said he was the best at keeping secrets!”

“Not his fault! I’m an ace detective. It’s true, though?” Damo glanced at the empty locker room and made a motion with his hands.

“That I’m jerking him off?” A smile tugged on Cody’s lips.

Damo looked down at his hands. “This is putting a ring on!”

“Then why are you going up and down? Just put it on once. And yes,” he whispered, clearly trying to fight a grin. “We’re going to get married. Not sure when yet.”

“And I’ll be your best man? Sounds great.”

Cody laughed. “I was thinking flower girl.”

“Ohhh. I can braid some in my hair.” He twirled, full of nerves and excitement. He needed a good paddle out to burn off the energy. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word until you guys announce it to the world. And thanks, mate. I feel better. Feeling a million things.”

“It’s been, what, a day? Feel all the feels. Be excited about this guy. You deserve it.”

Damo scoffed. “Dunno about that.” He thought of that morning and how he should’ve set an alarm so Tabby didn’t have to deal with Dad.

Cody frowned. “Of course you deserve it. All work and no play, right? See what happens with Blake.” He pulled Damo into a tight hug, and Damo held on gratefully.

Cody stepped back and grinned. “Have fun. Now get out of here before I make you help for real.” He looked down at the shower stall floor. “How is there so much hair in that drain?”

Damo backed away, hands up. “Later!”

Back by the tower windows, he scanned the gray waves and the handful of swimmers back in the water now that the drizzle had let up.

Bickie asked, “What are you grinning about?”

Damo shrugged, spinning on his chair. “Dunno.”

He decided he was glad he’d sent Blake the smiley face, and almost wished it had been a heart.