Page 19 of The Flirty Vet

"Wilby." He rolls over and swims over to me. "I was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of fifteen. Most days, my brain doesn't brain right. I'm either in a state of panic about something, or I have a foreboding background sense that something bad isaboutto happen. For the first time in god knows how long, I don't feel any of that. Can I please,please, have this one peaceful moment?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure. Of course. Sorry."

That's one way to shut me up.

"Thank you. Just lie on your back, look up at the sky, and be quiet, okay? I'm sure I'll be back to my usual neurotic self in a few minutes."

I nod, then roll over onto my back and stare up at the cloudless blue sky like I've been instructed. We float in silence for a few minutes. And then, because I can't help myself…

"For the record, I don't think you're neurotic."

"Thanks, Wilby."

"Cranky and a little bit uptight, but not neurotic."

"Shut up, Wilby."

"I'm shutting up as I speak."

I glance over at Col. His face is lit up by the sun, and he's got his eyes closed, but there's a small smile playing on his lips.

I let out a satisfied hum, a quiet one so I don't piss him off.

I keep bobbing in the water as my mind revisits something he said at the bar last night.

I've been pushed, sometimes to the limit, but I've never been knocked over… Yet.

Coupled with his recent revelation about being diagnosed with anxiety, it makes me wonder what sort of curveballs life's thrown at him. I wish I knew more about mental health stuff, but it's not something that gets talked about a lot where I'm from. People in the country just get on with things, no matter what life throws at them, which even I know isn't healthy in the long run.

"What are you thinking about?" Col's voice drifts over to me.

"That when I'm lying like this, my bulge looks really big. Look." I thrust my hips higher so he can see.

He cranes his neck and snorts. "Do you ever not think about your dick?"

"Sometimes I think about food."

His eyes sparkle. "Ilovefood. What should I try while I'm in Australia?"

"Aussie sausage. It's the best. Goes well with a creamy side of—" A wall of icy water splashes me in the face. "What the fuck?"

"Oops. Sorry. Did I get you?"

"Oh, you want a water fight, do ya?"

"I don't, I don't." He puts his hands in the air. "I surrender."

The water has pulled us closer to one another. "In that case, we're gonna need to discuss the terms of your surrender."

"In that case, I've changed my mind."

I make a move as if I'm about to return the favour and splash him in the face, and he gives up with a laugh. "Okay, okay. Name your terms."

"I only have one request, actually." I paddle over to close the remaining space between us, stopping when I'm an arm's length away. "But it's strictly non-negotiable."

"Does it involve your Aussie sausage?"

I laugh. "Can you please stop thinking about my dick. I'm starting to think you're obsessed."