Page 18 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
No, you’re not.
Shut up, Tay.
“Anymore worries that you’re being followed? You know I told you to call.”
“I know. Thanks, Mike. I was probably imagining it.”
Liar.
Willis already didn’t like Jonty, so calling Mike to come over and see if that really was Brad lurking across the road would make him even less popular.
“Want to come to dinner at our place next week? Willis has a single friend he’d like you to meet.”
Jonty gave a short laugh. “Who won’t be my type. Or Willis has a grudge against his friend and wants to use me to exact his revenge. Willis hates me.”
“He does not.”
“He so does. He looks at me and imagines me naked under you, wonders if you moaned for me the way you do for him, and he gets this tic in his cheek.”
Mike grinned. “Is that why his cheek tics?”
“Ask him. He’s probably thinking of ways to kill me.”
“I want you to come.”
“I’m okay, really.”
“So why haven’t you been here for so long?”
“I don’t like it when it’s busy,” Jonty said. “But I do like big…waves.” He waved flamboyantly to Mike and left the shop before Mike pushed him.
Jonty hadn’t come surfing because it wasn’t much fun without Tay. They’d always surfed together. He remembered how Brad had reacted when Jonty had told him that he was going surfing with Tay. He hadn’t been happy.You don’t need him anymore, now you’ve got me.He’d assumed Brad could surf, but it turned out he couldn’t even swim. Jonty had stupidly told himself it was nice to be liked so much, wanted so much. What an idiot he’d been.
Once he’d collected his board from the storage shed, he slotted it under his arm. Fast-moving clouds scudded across a bright blue sky, the sand bouncing light back into the air. It was a good day to be out on the water. Not so heart-warming when it was grey overhead, even if the waves were big. But with the sun shining down, there wasn’t much he’d rather be doing, anywhere he’d rather be. Though he missed Tay so much.
Jonty felt the heat of the rays on his face as he walked down to the water. He loved the sun, biggest source of the Earth’s energy, thirteen billion times brighter than Sirius, and the provider of his fading tan. He adored lying in it, and felt its touch on his face and body almost like a sexual caress, even though he knew he shouldn’t sunbathe because of the risks. Tay kept telling him that, but Tay had always sunbathed with him. Jonty liked a lot of things he shouldn’t. Including Mr Impossible.
The smile slipped from his face. This futile, irritating attraction was starting to annoy him. He was even annoyed that he partly enjoyed it annoying him. Did that make sense?Fuck it.He was playing with fire. Scorched fingers were inevitable. He had to leave Mr Difficult alone.
The temperature was above average for September, but the chilly wind was whipping the sand at a slight angle across the beach, streaming it into ankle-biting channels. As he drew closer to the waves, he registered they were even larger than he’d thought.
He could see several surfers out there, but this was a long stretch of beach so there was plenty of room. There was a kiteboarder jumping further out, making big air. Jonty hoped the rider was experienced, because these weren’t the right conditions for that particular sport. Too easy to get blown out to sea. But for surfing, this onshore wind was brilliant, causing the waves to break more slowly and cleanly. Perfect rides to be had if he got his timing right.
Jonty stopped to tether his ankle to his board, then picked it up and waded out, his toes curling into the sand at the first wash of cold sea. He could have worn boots, but he preferred to ride barefoot. Same with gloves. He really hated those. He sucked in a breath as the first wave hit him, felt a flush of freezing water slide down his suit and shivered.
Once he was in deep enough, he climbed onto the board and paddled. The waves were maybe six or seven feet, much bigger than usual, and when a narrow line of lacy froth indicated one was about to break, he grabbed the board’s rails, and duck dived under the surface. When he was deep and parallel to the bottom, he checked the wave was passing overhead, then angled the board up again.
Jonty surfaced, gasping, blinked water from his eyes and kept paddling and diving until he was out beyond the break point, then turned his board towards the shore and sat on it. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw the swell had dropped and he now sat in a lull. He chuckled.Did you see me coming, Neptune? Decided to tease me?
The swell might have dropped, but the wind hadn’t, and the kiteboarder was flying. It seemed as though he knew what he was doing, not going too high, making controlled turns and twists. Jonty had never tried it, partly because he couldn’t afford the equipment. The kites could be as much as a thousand pounds. Not only was Jonty’s surfboard second hand, so was his wetsuit.
Tay sat on his board alongside him. He’d always been the better surfer, not that Jonty had cared. He’d loved being out on the water with Tay, especially on those few hot summer days when they could just wear trunks. Jonty loved watching him surf, the beautiful curve of his body, the way he moved as if he and board were one. Tay was as sleek and agile as a seal. Jonty got turned on watching the water stream down his body, dreamed of licking it off, dreamed of the day Tay would decide he wasn’t straight after all. Jonty sighed and licked his lips, his tongue tingling at the salty tang.
Weirdo.
I never told you that.
I knew the way you felt about me.
