“Right, now tell me all about the proposal.”

  Liam flushed an even darker shade of red, and Damo whistled. “There’s an adults only story there, hey?” And he was not allowed to think about it because Cody and Liam were his mates.

  “No more questions,” Liam muttered.

  “Whoa!” Damo exclaimed. “That chick got smoked.” He watched as the young woman’s surfboard popped up in the shallows. She’d disappeared in the white froth of the worsening impact zone, nosediving on her way back to shore on a breaking swell that dumped her in a meter of water. Damo and Liam sat bolt upright, watching and waiting, all joking and talk of weddings forgotten.

  The woman did appear, staggering to her feet unsteadily. Damo said, “Gonna make sure she’s okay.” He hopped out of the buggy and jogged over to her. Dark-skinned and gorgeous, she was about thirty, her long legs shaky under her half wetsuit.

  “How ya goin’?” he asked.

  “Been better,” she replied in a Brit accent.

  “Copped it hard, hey?” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Did you hit your head at all?”

  “No. But my back feels sore.”

  Damo led her to dry sand. “Sit for a minute. You probably just tensed up and strained the muscles a bit, but let’s make sure.”

  He went through the questions they asked to rule out a spinal injury. If there was any doubt, he’d call for a spinal board to be brought down and tell the tower to ring an ambulance. But after a few minutes, he was satisfied she was okay.

  The woman—Ella—put her warm hand on his knee where he crouched beside her. Smiling, she said, “It’s nice to know there are lifeguards like you to take such good care of us.”

  Last week, Damo probably would have smiled back and chatted her up for a minute if it wasn’t busy. But now, he leapt up and smiled too wide. “No worries! Just doin’ our job, hey? Later!”

  What was that? He was still allowed to enjoy a moment’s flirt with a gorgeous chick, wasn’t he? It wasn’t cheating. He and Blake had only had one date! And he still liked women. He was allowed to like boys and girls—Blake had said so himself.

  Wiping his sunnies on his shirt, Damo cursed himself. He was strung so tightly he was going to snap. He never picked up chicks while on shift, but there was no harm in being friendly. So why did he feel so guilty and weird?

  It had been less than twenty-four hours since he’d finally hooked up with a bloke, and he needed to tell someone or he’d explode. There was already so much he didn’t talk about. There was no room inside for this too. If only Blake was there to give him another one of those long hugs and whisper in his ear.

  “I’ll take care of you.”

  Back in the buggy, Liam said, “That surfer gave herself a fright?”

  “Yeah, I think she’s done with learning to surf for today.” Damo glanced at Liam’s familiar profile. Liam would understand. He didn’t talk much, but he’d listen. Damo could just…tell him. Open his mouth and say, “I got off with a bloke last night.”

  Not that this was a good time for it. Not for bisexual confessions or teasing Liam more about apparently getting engaged to Cody.

  Indeed, Liam said, “Croc’s going to be full on any minute.”

  It sure was—all the lifeguards in and out of the water bringing back patients who got in over their heads. It was a strange relief since Damo could only think about patients and paddling, all his energy zeroed in on rescues.

  It clouded over fully around four and rain started sprinkling. Fortunately, most people packed up, and he breathed easier without thousands in the water to monitor.

  In the two-story tower, Damo cleaned up the first aid area by the back ramp that zigzagged up to the second level, forcing himself to stay away from the locker room beyond the kitchenette.

  He ate a chicken schnitty from the cafe and watched the gray waves, half listening to a few of the guys on shift and thinking about what he’d make Tabby for dinner.

  He’d been paid that week and stocked up on groceries, so at least he knew there was dried pasta and a can of sauce. He’d grabbed a pack of mince at thirty percent off since it was due to expire. He’d text Tabby and tell her to take it out of the freezer.

  The thought of texting made him fidget in his office chair, wondering if Blake had been in touch. Rain splattered the large curving windows of the viewing area, and he tapped on the benchtop that ran under the windows.

  A few feet away, Bickie toweled off his floppy brown hair—now going gray at the temples—and answered one of the office phones that sat on the bench.

  Damo tucked one foot up under him. Then switched it to the other, the chair creaking as he spun in little half circles. If Blake—

  Stop thinking about Blake!

  “Good work today,” Teddy said as he hopped up the three steps to the main viewing area. Damo jolted guiltily before forcing a smile.

  “Thanks, boss,” Bickie said, crunching on one of the biscuits that gave him his nickname. He looked through binos toward the north end, where surfers ignored the drizzle.

  Teddy—also known as Cyclone—ran a hand over his buzzed hair. His tanned face was etched with laugh lines, and he was going gray too. “Tomorrow’s going to be chockers. Twenty thousand at least with the heat.”

  “Glad I’ll be catching waves,” Damo said. His belly fluttered as he imagined paddling out with Blake. Would it be considered their second date? Was he going to have a boyfriend?

  “Same,” Cody said and gave Damo a fist bump. “I’m outta here.” He’d already changed into his street clothes.

  “Not before you scrub the toilet and shower,” Teddy called.

  By the back tower door behind the small first aid area, Cody groaned. “Come on. You’re not really going to make me, are you?” He looked up the few steps at Teddy with big puppy eyes. “Liam’s already at the cafe. I’m starving.”

  “Uh-uh, Chook—you lost that bet fair and square,” Bickie insisted. Bare feet up on the long, curved bench under the windows, he popped one of his trademark biscuits in his mouth, this one a mint choc Tim Tam.

  Cody grumbled. “Don’t call me that. I’m Tassie, remember?”

  Bickie laughed. “You’re not gonna ditch the original nickname if you whinge about losing bets. Get scrubbin’, mate.”

  Cody groaned dramatically, smiling as he disappeared into the locker room. Damo was dying to ask him about getting secretly engaged, but no, he’d promised Liam. And while earlier he’d merely considered telling Liam about Blake, now the need to talk burned.

  Damo handed Teddy his binos. “Hardly anything happening. I’ll give him a hand.” He realized Teddy and Bickie were staring in disbelief. “What? I’m a kind and generous pal.”

  “More than we knew, apparently,” Bickie said through a mouthful of chocolate crumbs.

  Heart thumping, Damo hopped down the steps and hurried along the short passage, the tile cool under his bare feet. He pushed open the door to the small locker room ringed by battered yellow lockers. He could hear running water in the adjoining toilet. What should he say to Cody?

  To start, he could tell him about Blake—

  With a giddy rush, Damo had to stop and get a grip. Just thinking Blake’s name was enough for a flood of memories—dancing, touching, kissing, sucking, talking, laughing. Standing in the locker room, his fingers twitched to get out his phone. What if Blake hadn’t texted?

  “What if the pope grows a set of wings and flies away?” he muttered to himself. “Check the bloody thing, ya pork chop.”

  He fumbled with the lock, and it took three tries to get the right combination. His heart was ready to explode by the time he looked at the messages appearing on the screen. There were a couple from Mum and Tabby and—there. There!

  Hey. I had an amazing time last night. Looking forward to tomorrow. I hope—

  Damo lifted the phone to his face to unlock it. “Come on, come on…” He continued reading the message, holding his breath like he was under crashing swells.

  —you are too. If you’re freaking out or anything, you can tell me.

  He reread those four words: You can tell me.

  Relief washed through him. Blake somehow understood. Now he needed to respond. Shit. Damo typed and retyped before going with a simple white lie:

  Not freaking. See u tomorrow :)

  He hit send before he could second-guess the smiley face. Then he stared at the text for a good solid minute, praying the reply bubbles would appear.

  It was fine. He wasn’t freaking out. He was going to put away his phone and continue definitely, positively, a hundred percent not freaking out. He locked his phone with determination.

  Leaning in the doorway to the toilet, he said to Cody, who was bent over the bowl with the seat up, holding a stained scrubber, “I’ll give you a hand.”

  “Yeah? Sweet, thanks.” Cody grimaced. “Council needs to pay cleaners for this shit. Literally.” He motioned to the open door next to the toilet, a small white-tiled room that held a single shower stall. “And if everyone would squeegee the shower after like they’re supposed to, it wouldn’t build up like this.”

  “Mm.”

  “The tile cleaner’s there by the bucket.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Maybe he should have left off the smiley? He wouldn’t have thought twice with a chick, so maybe he was being sexist or something? Tabby would probably have an opinion—not that he was going to tell her about Blake. Not yet. Not until he knew for sure there was something to tell.

  He twisted his hair around his index finger, going to the root then back down to repeat.

  “So, by giving me a hand, you mean you’re going to watch me clean?” Cody asked.

  “Huh? Yep.”

  Cody snorted. “You’re all heart.” The yellow cleaning gloves went almost to his elbows below his faded Billabong T-shirt. He scratched his nose with his upper arm. “Had enough cleaning toilets lately. Did I tell you there was a flood in the new pod we bought for guests?”

  “The what?”

  “The steel pod we put in the backyard after all the council paperwork. One bedroom and bathroom, but the bloody plumber didn’t hook up the water properly. Good thing no one’d actually used the toilet. Liam flushed it to make sure it was working.”

  “Good thing you found out sooner rather than later.”

  Cody grimaced. “You’re telling me. One of my sisters is visiting later this year for a month, so we decided to invest in it since Liam’s house isn’t that big.”

  “Isn’t it your house now too?”

  “I guess so, yeah.” He smiled softly. “Moved in over a year ago, and sometimes, it still feels like a dream. In the best way.”

  Heart thumping, Damo looked behind to make sure they were still alone and that the locker room door was shut. He cleared his throat, breathing through the rush of nerves. “Remember that clubbie who helped with those Irish tourists panicking in the Croc?”

  “Uh, I think so? The surfer? You know, I thought he looked familiar.” Cody cringed as he got the scrubber up under the rim. “Good thing he was there. That was hectic.”

  “Yeah. I saw him last night. At, um, Rodeo, that new club in Freo.”

  “Cool. Who’d you go with? I wish Liam would give it a try. It’d be fun to go dancing for a change. Not that Liam would dance in public, but if we went with a group, it could be fun.”

  “It is, yeah. Blake and I were dancing. That’s his name—Blake. Blake the bloke.” Damo laughed, his breath high and tight, fingers twitching. “That’s who I went with.”

  Cody glanced up from the toilet. “Cool. I didn’t realize you were mates.”

  “It was kinda like, you know.” He glanced behind him and lowered his voice. “Like a date.”

  Of course, Cody had flushed the toilet at the same moment. “Sorry, what?” He dropped the scrubber back in its holder with a grimace. “You went on a date? Do I know her?”

  Damo fidgeted. “Maaate, don’t make me say it again.”

  Forehead creased, Cody said, “Sorry, I’m confused.”

  “Forget it.” Damo backed up and thumped into the doorframe. “I should get back.”

  “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.