Chapter 2-1
669 Words
Chapter 2
Finn huffed at his reflection. The blue shirt he wore hugged his chest, and the fabric around the buttons creased with the overstretch.
He trimmed his beard, styled his ash-blond hair, and sprayed enough aftershave to make him cough, but couldn’t shift the unease sloshing in his gut.
Finn wasn’t self-conscious over his looks. He kept himself in good shape, had to for his job. He was muscular, his thighs were toned to run on sand, and his arms were powerful to haul weight and swim against strong currents. His appearance was complemented by men and women and posing for photographs was part of the job.
What made Finn nervous and dread the night out was the men he had seen Brody with. None of them looked like him.
Finn was a blond, Brody liked brunettes. He was tall and muscular, Brody liked small and slim. He kept his hair short, Brody liked long wavy locks. Brody liked other surfers who looked like surfers, Finn didn’t slot into that category either.
Finn closed his eyes, sagged forward and prayed Trent was right, and he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself. He started at the knock to his door, then released a slow sigh. As soon as he let Trent inside, he tutted and shook his head.
“Your muscles are practically leaping out.”
Trent strolled down the hallway. His shirt was the same green shade of his eyes, and his black shoes shined like mirrors. He had styled his goatee and bunched his dreadlocks together. He looked calm, and collected, where Finn fidgeted, and looked ready to burst at the seams.
“I haven’t bought a shirt in years.” Finn muttered, then he twisted his hips. “Or trousers.”
His lifeguard uniform, whether working at the beach or the pool, consisted of a stretchy T-shirt, and some loose board shorts. It was comfortable, and when he got home after work, he didn’t change.
When he went to the gym he wore more stretchy T-shirts, and loose-fitting joggers. He hadn’t worn shirts and trousers for years, and they felt restricting, and itchy against his skin.
Finn didn’t know whether it was nerves making him nauseas or the tight waist of his trousers pushing into his gut.
Trent sighed, and unbuttoned the top three buttons of Finn’s shirt. “There, it doesn’t look like you’re hiding melons now.”
“It’s a bit…showy?”
Trent shrugged. “If I had muscles as good as yours I’d be walking around naked.”
Finn snorted and shook his head. “Whatever.”
Trent wrinkled his nose. “What you trying to do? Knock the brat out.”
Finn sniffed, but he had been around the strong scent too long to notice it. “It bad?”
“Yeah, go wash it off.”
Finn moved back into the bathroom, wetted a towel, then scrubbed at his neck.
Trent whistled in the doorway, then smirked. “Are you that nervous?”
“I haven’t been out in years.”
“Not much has changed. Drink, club, and if you’re lucky you pull.”
Finn dropped the towel on the floor and stared at his reflection. “You sure about this?”
“Once you’ve had your fun with Brody, you’ll actually notice other guys again.”
“What other guys?”
Trent rolled his eyes. “The ones that try and chat you up at the beach.”
“No one chats me up.”
Trent raised his eyebrows. “The guy yesterday with the dog asking about your workout routine and the gym you go to.”
“He was just…chatting.”
“He was checking you out, and not being subtle about it, but you were transfixed by Brody surfing.”
“My job is too watch the sea, make sure everyone is safe. Brody just happened to be in it.”
Trent growled, and muttered under his breath.
Finn pushed off from the sink and turned towards him. “What if we go out and Brody’s not interested?”
“The same way you struggle not to gawp at him, he struggles not to gawp at you. It’s amazing you don’t catch each other doing it. I am positive he’s into you, if only for one night.”
Finn frowned, and dropped his gaze to the floor. One night with Brody, surely it was better than no nights, but as he stared at the floor, an odd emptiness expanded in his chest at such a thought.
“Look, if he’s not interested, you look for someone else. Let’s just have a fun night yeah?”
“Yeah.” Finn said, dragging his gaze higher.
Trent checked his watch, then nodded. “Let’s get the party started.”
- Writer
