CHAPTER 3

nick

So that was the best friend. The sweet, gorgeously adorable best friend with his delicious brown curls and big innocent eyes that had instantly called to that naughty, hidden part of me. The one that wanted to take those innocent brown eyes and corrupt.

I chuckled to myself as I let those thoughts have their moment as I washed down my board and soaked the salt and sand off under the outdoor shower. Knowing my luck, Ajay would prove to be just as stuck up and snooty as my younger brother and this would be a long, long summer where my so called various inadequacies were laid out to bare for the amusement of others.

But if my vibes were correct, and they generally were, I did not get that feeling from the ridiculously sweet, absolutely gorgeous boy I had just met on the beach. No, I had a very strong notion that this could be a very fun summer indeed.

He'd hidden it better than most but I'd seen the way his eyes had widened at the sight of me, drunk me all up, fixated on my abs the way many other eyes had done before him. Sweet Ajay wouldn't be the first presumably straight guy to look my way twice and he probably wouldn't be the last.

Besides, I certainly wouldn't say no to a bit of fun this summer. And Ajay sure looked like a bit of fun. I hadn't had any fun since Mateo and I broke up and that was four long months ago. I hadn't had a dry spell like this since before I'd discovered the wonderful, exciting world of gay sex way back at the sweet old age of sixteen. I was twenty-two now and that world had so far been most kind to me.

Besides, Mateo had well and truly moved on from me with his brand new girlfriend, so it was time for me to do the same. We were never meant to be serious anyway, Mateo and I, but I think the guy might have crushed my heart a little more than either of us had anticipated when we'd decided to test the boundaries of years of friendship into something more.

I shoved thoughts of Mateo back into the crevices of my mind and focused on the pretty face I had just met instead. The guy looked like he could do with a bit of fun and sun and I knew I was just the man for that particular job. And if it would get my little brother's snobby nose out of joint in the meantime, well then, all the better.

I had a long, enjoyable summer break ahead of me since my site foreman, Brad, had decided to piss off to the Maldives to impress his new girlfriend. But Brad's need to impress meant that Rob and I got to extend our little festive season holidays for a couple more bonus weeks which was super great because the sun was out and the surf was up and my little brother had just brought home a pretty young treat for me to look at. And hopefully play with a little too.

Not that I didn't love my job. Brad was an awesome supervisor but I would be lying if I said I wasn't also anxious to finish off my carpentry apprenticeship with him next year. As soon as I was signed off I would be free and fully qualified to do whatever I wanted to do next. Not to mention getting off the slave labour apprentice wages. I could hardly wait.

I took my time in my shower upstairs, the one that came with continuous flow hot water unlike the cold water tap outside that was a real shock to the system on a winter's morning and forgot about the pretty new boy for the moment.

That was until I made my way downstairs in time for dinner to the melodic sound of a guitar duet and the most gorgeous voice I had possibly ever heard. I knew immediately who it belonged to. Dane, as much as it pained me to say, was an absolute natural at everything musical, could pick up a new instrument and master it in a matter of days. But he could not sing to save his life meaning the angelic, husky voice I could hear had to belong to Ajay.

I made my way towards the sound, feeling like one of those sailors caught up in the call of a siren, unable to look away. Dane and Ajay had their guitars out, Mum and Dad sitting in the formal front lounge we never sat in, listening with matching serene smiles on their faces as the boys played Here Comes the Sun. And Ajay sung the lyrics, his tone catching me right in the guts. And maybe a little lower than that too if I was being completely honest.

I leaned up against the doorframe as I watched, my eyes laser focused on the head of brown curls as Ajay smiled at Dane when he tripped over the lyrics. I was right. The guy was beyond adorable, like one of those sweet, perfect cupcakes you want to squish and mess up a little. And maybe have a cheeky taste while you're at it.

Ajay's eyes flicked up to me and I felt a zing right to my stomach before he looked back down to concentrate on his fingers and a faint flush crossed those cheeks. Oh, hello there. Was that gorgeous trail of pink just for little old me?

Mum, of course, chose that very opportune moment to glance up at me, a knowing smile crossing her face as she busted me admiring the cute boy. I winked back at her before deciding a retreat was in order before I gave my entire game, and possibly my entire heart, away.

Mum and Dad clapped at the end of the song like they were at the symphonic orchestra and demanded more music. I hovered in the kitchen like some creeper as the boys humoured my parents and played a couple of Harry Styles and Taylor Swift songs and I tried to pretend I wasn't just a tad enamoured.

Mum finally got up to organise dinner and I stepped out onto the deck with a cold beer to enjoy the last rays of the sun. I might have also been motivated by my need to pretend as though I hadn't been listening in to every note Ajay had just sung.

But nobody else needed to know that.

Christmas morning. It was a low key affair in our house, kind of had been for years. Santa had stopped visiting after Dane had turned thirteen and we were generally a low key family anyway. Mum hadn't even bothered putting up the Christmas tree this year. She didn't want to have to deal with it when she returned from her three month cruise mid-March and I couldn't fault her for that logic.

Yeah, I could have put the tree up myself but there was absolutely no joy in the task of taking it down all on my own. So it had stayed in the box in the attic this year. Such a festive family, us Tempe's.

I hit the waves before the sun had fully skirted the horizon just as I did nearly every day of the year. The sky was an infinite study in blue and the waves had that silver mercury quality to them that hinted at the day to come.

This was my home out here on the waves and I loved it. I'd grown up surfing this break out the back of our house and it was the one thing that kept me rooted here in Esperance to my small town life. There was always that part of me that knew there was more out there, that the world was mine to explore.

But I also knew this was God's own country and why would I ever want to leave perfection?

The numbers were down this morning, likely on account of the fact it was Christmas day but I had never let anything like that stop me from a morning surf. Not even a polar vortex straight off the Antarctic could keep me from my waves.

At least, that was until I spied a certain someone with a certain head of dark brown curls sitting on the sand, big brown eyes pinned on me as I waited out the next set. I gave him a little show, threw in a few aerials and tricks for good measure. It was what he'd come out here for after all but one more quick glance at him and all of a sudden I decided I'd had enough surfing for the morning.

I rode a wave into shore, scooping up my board and watching with great satisfaction as Ajay's eyes dipped all the way down my body as I shook out the water from my hair. I was pleased to see Ajay in a pair of boardies but he had unfortunately worn a t-shirt over the top. I freely admit I wouldn't mind a glimpse of what he was sporting underneath.

"Morning," I said, big smile on my face as I planted my board in the soft sand and took a seat beside Ajay. His eyes followed my movement, snagging on my abs again before snapping up to my face.

"Morning," he replied softly. "You're really great out there."

I gave a nonchalant shrug, no use for false modesty. "Been surfing that break since I could walk."

"I could tell."

"What about you?" I asked, leaning back on my elbows and turning towards Ajay. "You surf?"

"Not for ages," he admitted. "I used to try and get out every once in a while but I haven't been since I moved up to Sydney."

"You should come out with me some time," I offered. I was kind like that. Absolutely zero ulterior motives to see here.

"Oh I am very much still at beginner level," Ajay chuffed a self-deprecating laugh. "I think I'd just embarrass myself if I tried."

"Nah you wouldn't," I encouraged. "The ocean is for everyone. I can give you some tips if you like."

"Really?" he asked, a sweetness and an innocence to his question that almost had me feeling guilty about my plans to corrupt him. Almost.

"Course. I have a couple of spare boards back up at the house you can borrow."

"Well, yeah. I'd love that," Ajay returned, a smile spreading across that impossibly gorgeous face. Oh, look at that. I might be in love.

"Good. Tomorrow morning then, first light," I said, using the opportunity to nudge his shoulder with mine. "I'll meet you in the waves."

"Tomorrow morning."

I managed to keep Ajay out on the sand for a little while longer, enjoying his smiles and big brown eyes, the ones that couldn't help themselves from dipping to my abs. Dane was a notorious late sleeper so I knew I had Ajay's full attention for the moment as we shared the rising sun.

He was quiet and kept things close to his chest but that was okay. One of my God-given talents was prying people wide open until we were lifelong best mates and I found myself looking forward to the challenge of seeing what made Ajay tick.

It was with a fair amount of reluctance that we eventually returned to the house and I parted ways with my new obsession. Our lowkey Christmas day was continuing back at the house, Dane staggering downstairs just in time for lunch. I'd been busy in the kitchen helping Mum with the preparations and batting away Ajay's constant offers to help. I liked that he was aware though. Entitled people were one of my biggest turn offs. Aka Dane.

At the same time, there was something about that sweet boy that just made me want to do stuff for him like making sure the glass in his hand was always topped up and never empty.

Ajay insisted on setting the table and I indulged that whim of his while Mum and I set all the food out on the kitchen island. I loved cooking with my mum. It was one of those things we liked to do together and I was not too shabby in the kitchen after all these years as her sidekick.

The five of us sat around our dining table, the fancy one at that, wearing the stupid Christmas hats that Ajay had set out for us and enjoying the food and the ‘good wine' that Dad had brought up from the cellar for the occasion. Ajay's bright green hat squished down those curls of his and I had to force myself to look away as my hand itched to reach out and touch them. They looked so soft.

We exchanged gifts after lunch but I found my eyes drifting back to Ajay as he sat amongst us but not quite part of us. It twisted a little something-something in my gut, knowing he was feeling a little out of sorts away from his family. Mum, bless her soul, had rushed into town yesterday afternoon, battling Christmas Eve traffic in order to buy a box of chocolate macadamia nuts, fruit jelly candies and a music book for Ajay. He had seemed inordinately pleased by her thoughtfulness even though he'd arrived with a bottle of gin for the both of them too.

I had bought a pair of matching gift hampers for Rob and Mateo that I'd intended on giving them later on and I stared at the hampers as they sat untouched where the tree should have been. I ended up raiding them and stole a pair of blue socks and some extra chocolate to give Ajay just to see if I could get that smile back on his face. It worked, his big brown eyes lighting up even though he guessed I'd just pulled the gifts out of nowhere.

"Not true," I returned. "I gave that gift much time and thought."

"I kind of hope that's not true seeing as I didn't bring you anything," he'd returned.

"I guess you'll never know," I hummed, trying to be all cryptic and mysterious but probably failing. But he smiled and I even got a little laugh out of him so I guess you could say it was completely worth it.

Mum found me later that afternoon as I washed the dishes at the kitchen sink. She sent me that smile of hers before picking up a towel and getting to work beside me. We'd always been like this, her and me, our own little silent communication.

Ajay and Dane had their guitars back out in the open plan living room, the acoustic sounds of Jack Johnson filling the air. I was listening in with more attention than I was letting on as I scrubbed at the pots and pans.

"He's good, isn't he?" Mum said, a knowing smile on her face.

"Who?" I replied, pretending I didn't know exactly who she meant.

"Ajay," she returned, bumping me with her hip. "Cute too." I flicked a few drops of dishwater her way and she swatted me with her tea towel with a laugh.

"Is he? I hadn't noticed."

"Sure you hadn't." We worked in silence a while longer, my eyes constantly drawn Ajay's way. I wasn't sure if he noticed my attention but I did see that flush of pink on his cheeks a couple of times and couldn't help wishing they were for me.

"How's everything with Mateo?" Mum asked at length, a flicker of concern in her voice.

"We're okay," I told her with half a smile. "Just focusing on getting the friendship back on track. In fact, he's gone and found himself a girlfriend."

"Oh Mateo," Mum sighed. Because she knew. Just like I did. "Poor kid."

"Yeah. I know."

I knew I was one of the lucky ones. My parents had always been my biggest supporters and it was hard for me to fathom how scared Mateo was of having his parents find out his sexuality. Mum had always tried to make our home as welcoming as she could for him and it was one of the main reasons why Mateo had always loved hanging out here where he could be more like himself.

"We'll be off tomorrow morning before you even get up for your surf," Mum continued, interjecting my thoughts.

"I'm sure you'll have a great time," I returned, smiling at my mum. "Don't miss us too much."

"Keep an eye out on the younger boys for me, yeah?" Mum said, knocking her head in the direction of Dane and Ajay.

"You really think Dane will do a single thing I tell him?" I scoffed.

"I know better than to hope for such miracles," she returned with a wry grin. "I just mean make sure they don't get themselves into too much trouble."

"I love how much confidence you have in me," I couldn't help laughing.

"Yes, well that's the thing about you, my darling. You know how to have fun with the best of them but you know where to draw the line too," she said. "And I do mean it. Make sure you have fun. Live a little and enjoy the long, hot days. Maybe even enjoy the company," she added, knocking her head Ajay's way with a glint in her eye. "And try not to smoke too much weed?"

"Ah, Mum," I grinned, stepping into the hug awaiting me. "Sometimes you know me too well."

"Never change, Nick," she said, a little humour and a bit of softness in her words as she squeezed me tight.

I couldn't help glancing over at Ajay, catching his eye for the hundredth time of the day. I was pretty sure enjoying his company would be the easiest part of Mum's parting words. I didn't expect anything else from having him here in my little part of the world but I would certainly try to enjoy him. It was the least I could do.