27. Lucky
Lucky
“I think the names are adorable. Mateo came in early, so I thought I better drop by to see if the new sign was up, over.” He heard Antonio’s blinker clicking in the background.
“Alright, alright, I’ll meet you at the lookout spot.” He didn’t bother with an over as he holstered the radio. Lucky stood, brushing sand from his knees and cracking his back with a groan. Wiggling the wooden posts to make sure they would stay; Lucky signed his name on the wood with a marker.
A lazy stroll down the beach allowed him to sink his toes into the surf before making his way up to the brand-new lookout they designed for the beach.
A semi-circle of logs formed a barrier fence where cars could pull off and look at the preserve, pending the sign they eagerly awaited.
But today was installation day. Even down by the water, he could see that the sign was up, a blue tarp covering it.
Antonio’s white Jeep sat alone in the natural lot created by a bald patch beside the road. His own bike was tied to the wooden fence with its small wagon of supplies. Lucky took pride in sticking to a ‘no clearing allowed’ approach. He refused to disrupt the flora and fauna of Tesoro.
“How many nests did you find, Turtle 1?” Antonio greeted him with a cheeky grin.
Lucky reached up to push Antonio’s sunglasses up into the alpha’s hair, “Three!” He could see his joy reflected in the man’s eyes.
Six months after they gained control of the beach, Lucky’s newly expanded camera system picked up overnight action. A handful of Paradise Leatherbacks were seen shuffling up the beach. And this morning, he found proof of their nests for the first time.
“Everything happens when the time is right.” Antonio pressed a kiss to his forehead, smiling softening until it made Lucky’s heart ache with the sweetness.
“It does feel like that, doesn’t it?” Lucky hummed, “I found you right when I needed you the most…”
“We found each other.” Antonio wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding him close. The sweet scent of oranges and magnolia blossoms filled his nose. He loved breathing Antonio in, feeling the warmth and weight of his scent fill the hug.
“Alright, alright, show me this sign before I forget why we’re here.” Lucky smiled, pulling back a little.
He felt Antonio sigh, squeezing his bare shoulder before releasing him. Antonio stepped up to the covered sign. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Lucky didn’t know what was such a big deal. His father and partner spent weeks whispering about it without letting him join the discussion. Anticipation bubbled in his gut.
Wrapping both hands in the tarp, Antonio ripped it off to reveal a wooden board driven deep into the earth. Two beautiful turtles were carved into the front on either side of elegantly scrawled text that read: Welcome to the Maria Victoria and Lucky Wilde Turtle Preserve.
“You…” Lucky shook his head, pressing a hand to his mouth as tears burned in his eyes.
“Teague said I could name the preserve since it was technically my donation. I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute.” He could hear the nerves in Antonio’s voice. Somehow, this incredible man thought Lucky wouldn’t approve.
Lucky choked on a sob.
Everything his mother dreamed of, everything he worked towards... Antonio had given him the strength to keep fighting even when it seemed impossible, had been the deciding factor in their overwhelming victory, and now turned it into a touching tribute to his mother…
He threw himself into Antonio’s arms. His hat fell off, fluttering to the ground in a forgotten heap as he kissed Antonio deeply.
“I love you.” He breathed the words against the alpha’s lips.
Antonio answered by cupping the back of his head and deepening the kiss.
They moved fast at the beginning, like a crashing wave.
With every day that passed, they became more like the tide.
Ebbing and flowing together, fast or slow but always unstoppable.
Sometimes they pulled apart, low tide dragging out as they met their responsibilities without question.
Other times they were hightide, sweeping up the beach as they fell into each other’s arms and tangled in bed at the end of a long day.
When they broke apart, foreheads pressed together, Lucky rubbed his thumb along Antonio’s cheek and decided anywhere could be home. All he needed was this man.
“Come on, let me show you the nests.” He tucked himself under Antonio’s arm, curling his fingers in the back of that iconic SAR t-shirt.
Antonio’s smile was infinitely fond as he grabbed Lucky’s hat, placing it on the omega’s head as he guided him back down the beach.
The sun was warm overhead as the sparkling water washed over their feet.
Antonio asked leading questions about the turtle nests and listened with a fond smile as Lucky answered with endless rambling.
Just like that first date, only this time there was nothing to interrupt their time.
Lucky was right, sunny days and bright blue oceans were the building blocks of life. Especially if you shared them with someone special. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The End