Chapter 26 Surfs Up
Surfs up
It’s finally my turn to sit in the hairdressers chair. Sarah’s comb is brushing softly through my hair, as she stands behind me.
“How’s that length feeling, enough off?” She smiles at me through the mirror.
“Looks great, it really needed a trim. I even thought about chopping it all off after the break up. But alas, I love long hair.” I run my fingers through the front, feeling the newly sharp edges, and how much healthier it feels.
“I’ve actually been doing it myself since working here.
Every time I asked for my hair to be done by the others, they said no.
” I shrug. “I gave up asking eventually. But now you’re here, I can finally get a proper haircut. ”
“I think they’d reject me too.” She admits.
“I haven’t been here long enough to judge too much yet, but boy, do those women act like they’ve got something stuck up their arses.
” She laughs. “I’ve worked in other salons with women like them though, so I’ve just learned to ignore them. It’s easier that way.”
“I know.” I huff. “The people pleaser in me hated not making friends with them, but it was honestly a pointless endeavour.”
“Well, now you got me here and I definitely like you Honey.”
Her words make me feel all warm and gooey inside. I love compliments, I’m just awkward at responding to them sometimes. Which is weird because I’m not actually a shy person.
“Thanks Sarah. That means a lot. Besides work, how are you adjusting to Coevey?”
“It’s great! I love how quiet it is. Everything’s so close by. Georgia’s already made some new friends too.” She gives my hair one last brush before taking the cape off.
“I’m so glad to hear that. It’s weird at first, going from a city to something this small, but it grows on you.
I don’t think I ever want to move back to Brisbane,” I admit.
Maybe if I was close with Mum’s parents, then I would want to.
They still live there. But Mum chose not to speak to them after their fallout, over her pregnancy with me at seventeen.
When I was older, Dad told me about them.
He said they never supported her having a baby so young, and she told them that if they couldn’t support her choice, then they didn’t deserve to be in our lives.
So I never had anything to do with them, and it’s not like they really tried after she passed away either. I haven’t seen them since her funeral.
Sarah’s voice brings me back from my thoughts.
“I know I will definitely not be going back to Brisbane.” She grabs the broom and starts to sweep my hair. “What are you up to this weekend?”
“I’m meeting the roommates at the beach after this actually. They both surf and I am yet to see them in action.”
“That’s cool! Do you surf too?”
We head out to the back room, packing up our stuff for the end of the day.
“I used to. I haven’t in a while. I sold my board. I’m happy to just sit on the beach and read my book though.”
“Ohh, what’re you reading?”
“I have this new fantasy one I’m keen to start on, it’s got fated mates in it.”
“Love it. I want to start reading again. You’ll have to send me some recs. Anyways, I better head off. Georgia just texted asking if her friend can come over, so I better go sort that out.”
We grab our handbags and start locking everything up.
“Have fun with that.” I laugh.
“And you have fun watching those roommates of yours surf. Oh, to be young again.” She giggles. I hope she makes time for herself. She is still young, she deserves fun and love.
I give her a hug, “see you next week Sarah.”
“You too Honey.”
I pull up at the parking lot at the main beach, not far from the surf club. Tyler texted a photo of the spot he’d be surfing at this arvo. No word from Lucas yet.
Grabbing my beach bag off the passenger seat, I head to the public toilets to change into my red bikini. I might actually have a swim after all, it’s hot enough, that’s for sure.
Once my bikini is tied up, I make my way towards the spot Tyler said to meet on the sand and look out to the water.
The wind is blowing against my skin and the waves crash on the beach, a sound I could never get sick of.
There are only about a dozen surfers out right now.
I can’t see Lucas, but Tyler is definitely there.
I park up my things and sit down on my towel, making myself comfortable. I open my kindle and start to read.
My phone buzzes next to my leg.
Lucas: On my way now, got held up.
I don’t bother replying, I just keep reading between glances of Tyler cutting smoothly through the waves.
It’s not much later when I hear sand crunching near me, and a shadow falls across my body.
Lucas is here.
“You look comfortable.” He says as his eyes gaze over my body. Heat rises to my cheeks. He’s standing above me, shirtless, wearing just his board shorts and holding a pale blue surfboard.
“I am, as a matter of fact. Glad you could make it.” I pull my knees up.
“Work is to blame, as usual. I’m keen to get in that water.”
“Tyler is—” I point to the area I saw Tyler surfing last, “right there.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I nod, and look back to my book.
After a while Tyler comes strutting back up to the beach and plonks his board next to me. I look up at him. “You done, or just taking a break?”
He grabs his towel from the beach and starts drying himself. “I think I’m done. You wanna have a surf?”
“Um. I don’t have a board…”
“You can borrow mine. I’m going home anyways. Lucas can take it home on his Ute when you’re both done.”
“Oh… you sure?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.”
“Well then, guess I’m going to have a surf. Thanks Tyler.” I stand up and he passes me his board.
“It’ll be a little big for you, reckon you’ll be right?”
“Yeah, my dad taught me to surf on heaps of different sizes, so I should be fine.” I smile proudly. I can’t believe I’m going to surf today. I’m shaky with excitement.
“Cool. Enjoy Cammie. See you at home later.”
“See ya.”
He stalks off towards the carpark and I head towards the water, my feet flicking up sand as I walk.
I reach the edge, where the bubbles of water meet the wet sand. I take a deep breath, smelling the salty spray around me. I dip my toes into the cool water and walk in, feeling the goosebumps rise on my skin as my body temperature adjusts.
Once I get in deep enough, I climb on the board and start paddling out, powering through the white wash until I’m out past the break.
I swim up close to Lucas, and when he notices me, his grin spreads wide. I feel it all the way to my toes.
“Look at you,” he teases with a wink.
I look down at my thighs straggling the board.
“Don’t look too much. It’s been a while, so I might flop.” I laugh.
“Don’t worry about it. Just take it easy,” Lucas says, scanning the waves rolling in. His voice is calm and steady, like he really believes I can do this. “You should take this wave.”
“Thanks,” I say, heart thudding in my chest as I start paddling hard. The swell rises behind me, building like the pressure in my lungs. My arms start to ache, but I keep going.
The board catches. I pull myself up, shaky and uneven, my balance is wobbly, but I do it. Somehow, I’m up. I’m riding the wave.
The rush hits me all at once. Pure joy. I can’t help it, I laugh out loud, shouting into the wind as I ride it all the way to the shore. The wave crashes behind me and I hop off in the shallows, grinning like an idiot.
Lucas glides in behind me, carving smoothly through the water like he’s part of it. He jogs over, board tucked under one arm, smile wide.
“You did great! How did that feel?”
I’m breathless, but buzzing. “It feels like I wanna do it again.”
We paddle back out, side by side. My arms and abs are already feeling sore, but I can’t stop smiling.
The water glistens in the afternoon sun, turning everything golden.
We laugh between waves, cheering each other on, sharing small looks that make my stomach flutter. I don’t even notice the time passing.
By the time we head in, my fingers are wrinkled and my arms feel weak. I glance over at Lucas, who is still dripping.
Far out, he looks like a greek god. I’m praying I don’t look like a drowned rat next to him.
“I think I’ve turned into a raisin,” I laugh, holding up my pruney hands.
He chuckles, brushing water from his face.
“Well if you’re a raisin, then raisins might be my new favourite food.
” He winks at me, I swoon internally and laugh at loud.
That was so cheesy, so how did that low key turn me on?
“Speaking of food. There’s a fish and chips place across the road. You in?”
“I’m so hungry I could eat an entire Bunnings sausage sizzle stand.”
“That’s a bold choice, but I’d prefer some Red Emperor or Calamari.”
“You’re right, that probably tastes better too.” I grin. “I’m in. I’m just going to have a quick shower first.”
We grab our boards, carrying them under our arms as we pad barefoot back toward the cars to put them away.
Then we walk over to the outdoor showers near the footpath.
The concrete still warm beneath our feet.
I drop my towel on the stone seat and step under the spray, the cool water rinsing salt from my skin.
Lucas takes the one beside me. He tilts his head back, running his fingers through his hair as the water streams down over his shoulders and chest.
I try not to stare. Try, being the key word.
There’s something oddly intimate about standing here, showering beside him, even with people milling around in the distance. We’re not touching. We’re not saying anything. But something crackles in the silence between us.
I sneak a glance his way and catch him looking at me too. He raises an eyebrow and smirks, water dripping from his jaw.
“Refreshing, huh?” he says, like we’re both pretending this is nothing.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “Nothing beats an outdoor shower.”
We finish our showers and I wrap a towel around myself and pull up my denim shorts. Lucas pulls a shirt on over his still wet chest, letting moisture gather against the fabric. He looks over at me and smiles, and I feel it settle deep in my chest.
We start to walk over to the shops across the road. The sand sticks to our wet feet, and the late afternoon breeze dances across my skin. I feel peaceful in that—post swim in the ocean kind of way.
He glances over at me as we walk. “You’re glowing.”
“It’s probably just sunburn,” I say, though I have a feeling he means more than that.
He laughs. “Nah, it’s because you’re beautiful Cam.”
My heart flips, but I don’t respond.
We step into the little takeaway shack. It smells like salt, vinegar and hot oil. It makes my stomach growl in response. The menu is stuck to the wall in faded plastic, and the old bell on the counter rings when we order.
Half an hour later we’re sitting on the grassy hill overlooking the beach, our dinner in a paper bag between us. The sky is soft pinks and purples, with streaks of orange bleeding into the horizon. The ocean looks calmer. The day is slowing down.
This feels like a date. But it’s not a date.
We’re just friends. I should know, I made that decision. Why did I make that decision again?
I have to keep stopping myself from holding his hand. The feeling of wanting to be close to him just won’t go away.
Lucas peels the bag open and hands me a piece of battered fish. I take it gratefully. “This smells insanely good.”
He takes a big bite out of his piece. “It tastes even better,” he confirms.
We eat in silence for a bit, hands brushing occasionally as we reach for the same chip. I lean back on my elbows and look out at the sea.
“I forgot how good surfing makes you feel. Like everything else fades away, and it’s just you and the waves.”
He nods, still chewing. “That’s what I love about it. It’s simple. Everything else gets quiet.”
I glance over at him, feeling the buzz of the day lingering in my chest. I already want to do it again. “I’m going to have to buy myself a board.”
“I have a handful of different boards in the shed,” he says softly. “You’re welcome to borrow them whenever you want.”
I look at him. “Thanks Lucas.”
I’m really starting to understand that Lucas is a very giving person, and I definitely don’t hate it.
But I already decided while I was out on the water, that I will buy my own.
After a long, quiet moment, he looks over and catches my eyes. “Think you’re going to be sore tomorrow?”
“Oh, absolutely. But it’ll be the good kind of sore.” I smile. “Today was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
He holds my gaze. “Me too.”
The breeze picks up a little and I pull my knees closer to myself, wrapping my arms around them. Our empty wrappers flutter slightly in the wind. I’m full, sun-tired, and completely content.
Lucas glances at me. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
I nod, standing up and brushing the grass off my ass. “That’d be nice.”
We walk side by side, along the footpath. The lights from the shopfronts across the street flicker on as the sun dips below the horizon, casting long golden shadows across the pavement. I can feel the warmth of him next to me.
As we reach my car, he hesitates, looking down at me. “Thanks for joining me today. It was fun.”
“It really was.”
He smiles, quiet for a second. Then his hand brushes my lower back, light and easy. Just a touch. “You looked really good out there.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, but I don’t look away. “So did you.”
He chuckles softly, and that sound makes something tug in my chest.
“Race you home?” I tease, nudging his arm.
He laughs. “Oh, you’re on.”
We both climb into our cars and take off.
He pulls into the driveway just ahead of me and shoots me a smug grin in the rearview mirror. I shake my head, laughing as I gather my things and head inside.
We both pause in the hallway to my room.
“Goodnight, Angel,” he says, voice a little softer now. “This arvo was… really fun.”
“It was. Goodnight, Luc.”
For a moment, it feels like we might say more. But we don’t. We just stand there, smiling at each other, that quiet energy humming between us.
I close my door behind me and lean against it, heart full.