Out in the Surf (Out in College 9)

Then again, they knew I was queer. Cal’s folks hadn’t known that about him, however, they didn’t care. Like Cal, the Donnelleys didn’t have any hang-ups about sexuality, and neither did any of his friends. They just wanted him to be happy.

Me too.

I bit his shoulder playfully and pushed a lock of hair behind his ear. “Wanna organize the boxes with me before I have to go to work?”

“Nope.” Cal nipped my chin. “We’re letting Sarah do that, remember? It’s her job.”

“Mmm. You’re right, but she won’t know where everything goes.” I pointed at the shelves of T-shirts at the far end. “I want to stack the new merch by Hannah’s line.”

Yes, we’d agreed to carry Hannah’s brand, but only designs we liked. No cutesie dolphins. Cal left the wheeling and dealing to me. Hannah didn’t mind. And I knew that having a nice working relationship with her was a relief to Cal.

“Got it. I’ll take care of it.” He nuzzled my neck and breathed me in. “Fuck, you smell good. If the contractors arrive at eight, we have thirty minutes of happy time.”

My chuckle morphed into a low moan. “I have to go to work, you know.”

“Fine. Twenty minutes.”

“Deal.” I gazed into his eyes for a long moment. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Luca. So fucking much.” He sucked on my bottom lip and kissed it better.

“Just for that, I’m gonna give you twenty-one minutes.”

He barked a laugh and held me close. “I’ll take it.”

I grinned into the crook of his neck and didn’t let go until the delivery guy cleared his throat and asked where we wanted the rest of the boxes. Cal’s cheeks looked a bit flushed, but he didn’t miss a beat. He pointed toward the far end of the shop and barked orders like a boss.

And me? I pinched myself and thanked my lucky stars…for a new start, a new path, and for Cal.

I sometimes jokingly referred to that first fateful surf lesson as the day Cal saved me. He’d roll his eyes and tell me I had a flair for drama. But it was true. He literally and figuratively saved me. I wasn’t lost anymore. I’d changed directions and found my way.

Maybe that day changed Cal too. Sure, he’d always known what he wanted, but he realized now that he didn’t have to do it all alone. It was okay to let others dream with him. It was okay to ask for help. And it was a beautiful thing to come out in the surf.