Page 45 of Free Wind (Lifeguards of Barking Beach #2)

“Hey, mate,” Blake said as Cooper and Tasha joined him in the curtained cubicle in the emergency department. “Thanks for coming, Tash. I’m really sorry about this.”

Her smile was tight. “Accidents happen.” She eyed his bandaged leg, which was propped on pillows. “How are you? Did they stitch you up?”

“Not yet. Waiting my turn. There was a bad accident on the highway, apparently.” He smiled at Cooper. “You okay? I know it was scary to ride in the ambo.”

“Nah, it was awesome.” His grin faded. “I mean, not that you got hurt.”

“I know what you mean.”

Tasha said, “Hey, bub—are you hungry? I am.” She gave him a credit card. “Can you grab me a Cherry Ripe from the vending machine out there? You can get something too.”

With a delighted gasp, Coop vanished beyond the curtain, and Tash’s eyes blazed. “Seriously, what the hell were you thinking?” she hissed to Blake. “Coop said the surf is massive today.”

“I know. I wasn’t going to go in! But then I saw Damo out there with two patients, and… I had to help him. I couldn’t just stand there and watch.”

Shoulders loosening, she sighed. “I understand that, but he’s a professional lifeguard! You’re a country boy who learned to surf. Your son could’ve watched you die today.”

Tash’s quiet words were a gut punch. The pressure around his lungs roared back as if he was trapped under the crushing force of the waves again. Tears flooded his eyes, and he had to look down at the blue pattern of the scratchy hospital gown he wore.

Finally, he managed, “I’m sorry.” His throat was like sandpaper. He couldn’t meet Tash’s eyes. “Do you… Can I still see him? I know I messed up.” He wouldn’t blame her and Tony for taking Coop home and being done with Blake. What kind of father would be so reckless?

She exhaled noisily and took his shoulder with a warm squeeze. “Don’t be silly. ’Course you can see him again. You’re his father—along with Tony—and he’d be gutted if you disappeared.”

“Really?” Blake looked up as hope swelled. “So, he likes me?”

She smiled. “Yes. He really, really likes you.”

“He’s such a great kid. I just…I love him so much already. Is that strange?”

“Nope. That’s parenthood.” She winked as Cooper returned.

“Cherry Ripe for Mum,” he said as he passed her the chocolate bar. “Violet Crumble for me, and I wasn’t sure what you like, so I got a few.” He emptied his pockets and put a mint Breakaway, Twirl, and packet of Sherbies.

“It’s my lucky day!” Blake exclaimed, though he had to blink away more tears, touched that Cooper had thought of him. “I love them all. Do you fancy sharing the Sherbies with me?” He patted the side of the gurney by his good left leg, biting back a grimace as he shifted over. “Climb aboard.”

When it was time for Cooper and Tasha to go, Cooper stood unmoving for a moment, then threw his arms around Blake’s neck. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he mumbled.

Blake barely had time to hug him back before Coop disappeared through the curtain, which was probably for the best because Blake might have burst into tears.

Tash kissed his cheek. “You don’t have to be perfect. Just don’t be a fuckwit.”

“Can I get that on a T-shirt?”

She grinned. “I’ll tattoo it on your forehead.”

When Damo pulled back the curtain, still wearing his lifeguard uniform, bubbly warmth spread through Blake despite the throbbing in his thigh. “Shouldn’t you be working still?”

“Hazza came in to take my last couple of hours. Figured I’d get your car keys off you, go home and shower, and come back to pick you up.” Damo closed the curtain behind him and came around the left side of the gurney. “No stitches yet?” he asked before kissing Blake softly.

“Should be soon. I should’ve thought to give the keys to Tash. She didn’t think of it either, but I think she was focused on getting Coop out of the hospital.”

“No worries. I’ll come back and pop up to see Dad before I get you home. It’s not far. Got a taxi. Just had to see you again.”

The mention of Damo’s father had his heart sinking. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even ask earlier how your dad is.”

Damo slid off his left thong and sat on the side of the gurney with his leg folded under him.

“You had a fair few other things on your mind. That was a gnarly fin chop. I would’ve been screaming bloody murder.

But yeah, Dad’s…I dunno. He’ll probably be sleeping.

Mum said she’ll fill me in when I get home. ”

“You shouldn’t have to come back and pick me up. I can call Kat.”

“You know you don’t have to always be taking care of me, right? I can take care of you too.”

Blake had to smile. “Thank you. I’m sorry I stuffed it all up today. I wanted to help.”

“I know. It’s one of the best things about ya. It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but we don’t want clubbies charging out and getting in over their heads. Then we have to rescue you, and it takes us away from the beachgoers.”

Blake squirmed with shame. He knew this. It was part of his training as a clubbie. Why had he been so determined to rush in without thinking? “I just want you to keep liking me.”

Damo blinked. “What, you think I’ll like you more if you risk your neck for me?”

“Well…yeah?”

“Maaate.” Damo squeezed Blake’s bare knee on his uninjured leg gently. “That’s not the only reason I like ya. Sure, it was hot when you came to my rescue when we met. And I really liked what you said that night.”

“Which part?” Blake asked a bit too eagerly.

With a little smile, Damo leaned close and whispered in his ear, “I’ll take care of you.” His hair brushed Blake’s cheek, breath warm.

Blake caught his mouth in a kiss before Damo sat back. “And I want to. I will.”

“I know. You spent three extra years in the middle of nowhere to help your parents.” He shuddered dramatically. “Away from the water. Put your life on hold to be a good son. I’ve got a lot of family shit to deal with, but at least I still have Barkers. I’d lose it otherwise.”

“Trust me, I came close.”

Damo frowned. “Why’d ya stay? Did they really need you for that long?”

Blake shifted, wincing at the pain in his leg. “Can you pass me the water?” Damo handed him the plastic cup, and Blake drained it. “Thanks.”

“You right?”

“Yeah. Keep forgetting to drink water until my throat dries up.”

After a few beats of silence, Damo said, “Still wondering why ya stayed so long.”

“Oh. I don’t know. You know how it is with family.”

“Yeah, I do. I don’t have a leg to stand on, but I feel like you don’t really want to answer?”

A denial immediately sprang up, but Blake stopped it on his tongue. Damo was right—it made him uncomfortable to think about it. Uneasy. Hurt.

He was silent a few moments, the warm weight of Damo’s hand on his knee comforting.

Finally, he said, “When I came out during uni, my parents didn’t react well.

My siblings did, and they told Mum and Dad to get over it.

It was awkward with them for a while, but eventually, things between us seemed to get back to normal.

Except they really didn’t want to talk about anything remotely queer.

If I tried to bring up my boyfriend? Forget it.

It wasn’t as if they said out loud I couldn’t talk about it.

But it was clear how uncomfortable it made them. ”

“Shit. I’m sorry.” Damo traced a semicircle on Blake’s knee with his thumb.

“Then Mum had the stroke, and I was the only one who could stay for longer than a few weeks to help out around the place. That had always been my role anyway. My brothers had moved away by the time I was in year eight, and Mum and Ella had rowed a lot. I was good at helping. Smoothing things over.”

“Mm.”

“And something about being back there—being home—fixed the distance between us. They were so grateful and loving, and I needed that. I guess I needed to be needed. Worthy. I felt loved again.”

“But not, like, completely?”

It was true, as much as Blake hated hearing it said out loud. He nodded. “As time went on, we stopped talking about it completely. Not it. Me. Who I really am. In Blinman, they could pretend I’m not gay.” He laughed harshly. “And I let them because it felt too good to be loved.”

Blake rubbed his face. “Wow, saying it out loud like that makes it sound pretty fucked up, hey?”

Damo shrugged. “Look who you’re talkin’ to. We’re all fucked up in our own way.”

“They’re not bad people! They try. Well, once in a while. Not enough. Not nearly enough.”

“You don’t need to do that with me, okay?” Damo gazed at him seriously. “Yeah, it’s awesome when you’re brave and responsible and all that. You stepped right up for Cooper. I feel like I can trust you.”

Blake nodded eagerly, taking Damo’s hand. “You can. I promise.”

“But I like you for more than that.”

It was cringey and needy, but Blake had to ask, “What else?” He winced. “You don’t have to answer that.”

“Why not? I want to.” Smiling, Damo squeezed his fingers, their palms warm where they pressed together. “You’re smart. You’re funny. You’re sexy as hell, with makeup and without. We can always have a laugh, even when we’re…” He waggled his eyebrows adorably. “You know.”

Blake grinned, glad he’d asked.

“You love the water like I do. You won’t complain if I want to spend all day at the beach. You’ll be right beside me paddling out.”

“I can’t think of anything better.”

“That’s ’cause there is nothing better.”

Excitement rippled through Blake despite the throbbing in his leg. “I want to make plans with you. Surfing and grabbing a coffee and going to a movie.” He hesitated. “I know it’s hard, though. With your dad.”

Damo gripped his hand. “It has to change. I’m going to talk to Mum.

I’ve been out of the house more since I met you than I have in the past year.

I can imagine us driving down to Margs for the weekend.

I dig your music. Never listened to classic rock much before, but I love it.

I can picture us with the tunes going, stopping for fish tacos by the water.

Talking about nothing but everything. You know? ”

Blake’s heart soared, his breath caught in his throat. He loved him—so quickly and fiercely. This was what he’d felt on the beach in the green whistle’s joyous haze that he’d tried to explain. Love for Cooper—his son!—and Damo that was brand new yet life-changing. It filled every pore. Every cell.

“I know,” Blake rasped before drawing Damo close for another long, hopeful kiss.