Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
In which Ocean shows me the road that’s his namesake and I fall in love with Australia.
With tomorrow marking the end of the seven-day wait for the audit results, Ocean didn’t have to work hard to convince me to take one last day off. It was Sunday, after all.
I texted Oliver that I would be offline for most of the day, and he sent me a whole stream of GIFs that communicated his shock, followed by THREE DAYS IN A ROW? DO I NEED TO CALL A DOCTOR ? He was so funny.
Ocean had arranged for my private car service to drive us along a scenic ocean road—aptly named Great Ocean Road—that offered spectacular views over the ocean, rock formations, and more. And he said we might see koalas. My body was still sore from the surfing lesson, so I was glad to not have to exert myself much. We left earlier than I had expected—it was eight on the dot when we stepped outside—but we’d need the whole day, according to Ocean.
“Good morning, Mr. Sullivan,” our driver greeted us. He looked awfully familiar, and it took me a second to place him. “You wouldn’t be related to Mike Gerber by any chance, would you?”
He flashed me a grin. “Yes, sir. He’s my brother. I’m Danny Gerber, sir.”
I extended my hand, and after a moment of surprise, he took it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Danny. Thanks for driving us today. I know it’s gonna be a long day for you.”
He shrugged. “Beats having to drive a van full of tourists or, worse, a school trip.”
I had to give him that. Ocean introduced himself to Danny as well, and then Danny opened the door for us to get in.
I was genuinely excited when I slid onto the plush leather seat of the sleek black Mercedes. Ocean settled beside me, immediately reaching for my hand. “I can’t wait to share this with you, baby boy. It’s my favorite spot in all of Australia.”
Nope, I still hadn’t gotten used to him calling me that. “I’m looking forward to it.”
As the car pulled away from the curb, I gazed out the window, drinking in Melbourne’s vibrant cityscape. Gradually, towering skyscrapers gave way to a very different landscape. The fields were brown, sunburned, with only the occasional green vegetable plot in between.
“It’s not as green as I had expected,” I said.
“Not in the summer, no. It looks very different in spring and fall.”
That made sense. Ocean and I only exchanged occasional comments, but I loved the way he played with my fingers, that constant reminder that he was right there. He’d told me it would be a bit of a drive to get to the start of our scenic ride, but I didn’t mind at all. He’d brought a basket full of delicious snacks and a cooler with food and drinks. The man thought of everything.
The road made a turn, and the transition was dramatic. Before us stretched the coastline, imposing limestone cliffs dropping away to where massive waves crashed against their base. The ocean stretched endlessly toward the horizon, a deep blue that shifted and changed as clouds passed overhead. It was raw, untamed beauty that made me feel incredibly small.
Soon, we were cruising along the winding road, the ocean a constant companion on our left. Ocean pointed out features as we drove—hidden beaches, rock formations, even a spot where he’d once seen a whale breaching.
We stopped at a little café where we used the restroom and bought some drinks and snacks. Not that we needed them, but I felt guilty only using the facilities.
“This spot is known to have koalas,” Ocean said, tugging on my hand and leading me to a small sandy road instead of back to the car. Danny was right on our heels, smiling. “They’re harder to spot than you would think, but I see a group of people standing under that eucalyptus tree there, pointing, so my guess is they found some.”
He was right.
I squinted, following his gaze, and suddenly, I saw them—three koalas, their round bodies wedged comfortably into the crooks of the trees. A grin spread across my face as I watched one lazily munch on leaves, its eyes half-closed in contentment. “Oh my god!”
Ocean grinned at my obvious excitement. “They’re usually more active at sunset. Must be our lucky day.”
As if on cue, one of the koalas shifted, revealing its face. It blinked at us lazily before reaching for another leaf.
“I can’t believe I’m actually seeing wild koalas. Though I have to say, they’re much less cute than the stuffed versions.”
Ocean’s laugh was warm against my ear. “Yeah, they can be pretty scraggly looking, and they smell too. But they’re survivors, you know? They found their niche and they own it. Kind of admirable, really.”
“Want me to take a picture of you?” Danny asked, and Ocean immediately accepted the offer. We posed right below the koalas with what I was sure were silly grins, but it felt too magical not to smile.
“You know,” Danny said as we returned to the car, “koalas are actually facing some serious challenges right now.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? They seem pretty comfortable up there.”
Danny nodded, his expression growing more serious. “Yeah, but habitat loss is a big issue. Bushfires, land clearing for development, and increasing tourism all take a toll on their population, but their biggest problem is chlamydia.”
I nearly choked on my own breath. “They have chlamydia?”
“They do, in staggering numbers, unfortunately, and it makes the females infertile. The government has started a vaccination program that they hope will be successful.”
Danny told us a bit more, and I listened with interest. I’d never thought I would be fascinated by koalas, but here we were.
“You’re about to see why they call this one of the most beautiful drives in the world,” Ocean said as we turned onto a coastal road. “The waves down there? They’ve carved out these incredible formations over millions of years. Nature’s got patience we can only dream about.”
Danny pulled into a parking spot for a viewing point, and I was out of the car before he’d even shut off the engine. The wind whipped around my face, salty air hitting my tongue, and my smile was so wide I must’ve looked like an idiot. But I didn’t care. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the vista.
The coastline stretched before us, a masterpiece of nature’s finest work. Craggy cliffs plunged into turquoise waters that faded to deep azure at the horizon. The sun glinted off the waves, turning the sea into a glittering expanse of diamonds.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, drinking in the sight.
Click. I turned to find Ocean’s phone aimed at me, a mischievous grin on his face. “Got you.”
He showed me the candid shot. In it, my face was soft with wonder, a vulnerability I rarely allowed myself to show. It was by far the most beautiful picture anyone had taken of me in years. On impulse, I leaned in and kissed him.
“Thank you. For everything.”
He cupped my cheek and pressed a soft kiss on my lips. “You are so welcome, baby boy. Now, let’s get a proper picture together.”
Before I could object, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close, holding his phone out with his other hand. “Smile!”
I did, surprising myself with how genuine it felt. Ocean’s warmth against my side, the breathtaking view, the salty sea air—it all combined to create a moment of pure, uncomplicated joy.
We took a few more shots, Ocean insisting on silly faces for one—“Come on, Cash, stick your tongue out!”—and a serious pose for another—“Give me your best mean look, baby boy.” By the end, we were both laughing, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so carefree.
As we climbed back into the car, Danny turned to us. “Enjoying the sights, gents?”
“It’s incredible,” I replied honestly. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Danny nodded approvingly. “Did you know this road began as a means of employing soldiers who’d returned home from World War I?”
I leaned forward, intrigued. “Really?”
“It started in 1919, and construction took thirteen years as builders were mostly using crude equipment like picks, shovels, and carts. Dynamite was available, but it was used sparingly as detonations still triggered PTSD in some of the just-returned soldiers, though they didn’t use that term back then, of course.”
As Danny told us more, then launched into an explanation of the area’s geological past, Ocean’s hand slipped into mine. I leaned sideways against him, putting my head on his shoulder.
I’d never known I possessed the capacity to be this happy.
We ate lunch at an overlook, munching on brie and crackers while we couldn’t take our eyes off the vista before us.
Apollo Bay was a cute little town nestled against the coastline like a child curled against its mother. Its weathered buildings were painted cheerful colors that reminded me of sea glass. As we wandered through the streets, Ocean’s enthusiasm was contagious.
“Let’s check this one out.” He tugged me toward a weathered blue storefront with Coastal Treasures painted in swooping white letters across the window. The enthusiasm radiating off him made it impossible to resist, even though shopping for knick-knacks wasn’t usually my thing.
Inside, the scent of sandalwood and sea salt wrapped around us. Ocean moved through the cramped space like water finding its path, touching everything—shells strung into wind chimes that tinkled softly, smooth pieces of driftwood carved into dolphins and whales, jars of golden honey with labels boasting local wildflowers.
“Oh, this is gorgeous.” He lifted a massive piece of wall art, a surfboard decorated with an intricate ocean scene. “The local guy who makes these uses reclaimed boards. Each one tells its own story like the waves carved it themselves.”
I smiled at his reverence for it all. “You really love this stuff, don’t you?”
“It’s not about the stuff. It’s about the soul of this place. Every shop and person here is connected to the sea somehow. You can feel it, right? The way everything flows together?”
Funnily enough, I did, and I also felt how connected he was to all of it.
Despite wanting to see all the shops, Ocean did keep track of the time. After an hour, he said we had to keep going, so we headed back to the car, where Danny was patiently waiting for us. As we continued our scenic drive, we stopped multiple times to admire and take pictures, including more selfies of the two of us. The sun was starting her descent, and I never wanted this day to end.