The Loves of a Summer Lifeguard 01

Twenty-year-old Brooke drove furiously from her college back East to her home in the heartland of the United States. She made it home in time to apply for a job as a lifeguard at Edgewood Swim Club, but her poor Camry was now in the shop for maintenance. So, early on an unusually warm Saturday morning in mid-April, Brooke tucked her long red hair into a pony tail, grabbed her new black suit and a large towel, and walked to the Swim Club to apply for the job. She had trudged to the Swim Club many times growing up and the route was familiar to her, taking her through a heavily wooded park and public golf course located next to the Club. While she walked, she smiled thinking about her boyfriend back at college, Dennis. Dennis was a tall, thin grad student, studying fish genetics. He was perfecting ways to make certain species of fish reproduce only males for three generations — long enough to slow down the population, but not enough to cause extinction. He looked a little like a fish, himself — narrow-faced, large eyed, large lips. But Brooke loved him. She promised she would be see him again before final exams this semester (provided the Camry can be repaired), and hoped she could convince him to be a little more demonstrative in his affection for her.

She saw the Swim Club parking lot through the trees, filled with working vehicles from other job applicants. Her eye was drawn to a black Indian Scout motorcycle. It was a good sign. Its owner was last year’s head lifeguard, Tyler, who also coached the swim team on which Brooke did so well last year. If Tyler turned out to be the head lifeguard, Brooke felt confident she could land the job.

Then from the corner of her eye, she saw a couple partially hidden in the trees. The dark-haired woman had a beautiful figure, on full display in a small black bikini. Her hair was lustrous, wavy, and thick, stretching out past her shoulders. She had a small musical note tattoo on her left shoulder blade. Brooke didn’t recognize her from the pool; she was probably new. Brooke did recognize the blonde man with shades and zinc oxide on his nose. His name was Rowan and he had been a lifeguard for at least four years at the club. He thought he should have been the chief lifeguard last year, when Tyler got the job. Brooke was disappointed to see him still around.

Rowan and the dark-haired woman kissed and pawed each other. The woman pulled his trunks off, kneeling before him. Rowan pulled up her bikini top as she knelt. Her breasts were large and firm, her nipples salmon pink and pointed. Rowan’s dick bobbed in front of her face, while she looked up at him, a sly smile on her lips. Her tongue darted out, and she began to paint the tip of his penis with her saliva. Brooke was shocked at her brazenness, and fascinated, too. She herself had never been so bold with Dennis, although she had wondered what he might taste like. She felt warm tingling between her legs.

Rowan stood with his feet apart, his fists on his hips and his head back, thrusting his dick out for the woman’s enjoyment. She grabbed it with one hand and placed it in her mouth, so that her cheek bulged from its girth. It made her laugh in a choking fashion, until she centered it, and began to suck, up and down its length. Occasionally, she opened her mouth, the cock quivering on her tongue, watching Rowan for reaction. He grabbed the back of her thick hair and forced her deeper onto his shaft until she gagged, coughed and spit. Her hands found his ass, pulling him even deeper into her. He then forced her head onto his throbbing penis without letting her release until she had coaxed a heavy load of his cum out of his balls. The woman swallowed, and breathed heavily. As he came, he arched his back even further, pulling her head as close as possible to the full length of his shaft. Brooke shuddered at the thought of Dennis using her so roughly. Maybe giving him a blow job might not be as fun as it appeared in her fantasies.

“Whoa, there, baby,” Rowan said. “You’ve already sucked me dry. Leave some for later.”

She kept the flaccid dick in her mouth, rolling it around her tongue, until it slipped out. Rowan hitched up his trunks while she wiped her mouth with the back of her forearm. Then she tucked her boobs back into her bikini and stood up and kissed him on the cheek when Rowan turned his lips away from her.

As Rowan turned his head, he saw Brooke, who couldn’t help her embarrassing blush as his long teeth showed in a wolfish smile. She put her head down and walked toward the parking lot leading to the Swim Club.

“You’re not going to say anything are you, Red?” Rowan taunted. “If you want to discuss it privately later, I’m ready. My friend will be ready, too. Won’t you, sweetheart?”

The dark-haired woman’s smile told her she might be up to a three-way discussion of what Brooke had witnessed. She pulled her hair back and tied it loosely. Her black single note tattoo was clearly exposed.

Brooke walked quickly into the Swim Club, her head down, but she heard Rowan laughing behind her. She had never liked the arrogant young man, but he had always left her alone. She hoped that would continue, but she worried.

The Edgewood Swim Club advertised for six new lifeguards for the summer. The L-shaped pool stretched fifty meters at the short leg, and one hundred meters at the long end. Part of the short end was a twelve-foot deep well accommodating three diving boards, the tallest a three-meter board, the other two one-meter boards, all with pebbled surface and sprightly bounce. The entire pool was surrounded by a concrete deck that looked bone white in bright sunlight. Strewn around the deck, low wooden triangles in pastels of yellow, pink, green, and blue provided a place to lie down and tan. Long beach towels full of Caribbean colors or cartoon characters would be found flapping against the chain link fence that surrounded the deck, drying in the cool summer breezes and competing sun. Next door, the city had built an flashy, expansive splash park, with meandering rivers, water slides, wave-motion machines, oversized buckets to dump gallons of water, and a wading area. It was the old L-shaped pool that drew the most patrons though, and on hot summer days, a festival of neon-colored bikinis and swim shorts helped form steamy memories that would last a lifetime. Flame-haired, generously freckled, apple-cheeked, green-eyed Brooke returned from college early just to try out for a position and was determined to get a job there. Sixty hopeful lifeguard applicants, most of whom grew up sweating and swimming around the Edgewood Pool, answered the advertisement although only six new people were needed.

The previous year’s lifeguards who returned this year, conducted the tryouts for the six spots. Brooke knew most of them from her time on the swim team where she was a record-holder in the breast stroke, and a decent diver. She had a shock when she tried on last season’s Speedo, suddenly too tight on her frame that had gained the notorious freshman fifteen pounds. The black lycra one-piece she bought in a hurry would hold her in, mostly, and perhaps hide those extra bulges. Once in the water, who would notice?

Blond haired, winter-tanned, twenty-three-year-old Rowan had been lifeguard for four summers, but never chosen for head lifeguard. He had a goofy, long-toothed grin that was more salacious than inviting. His nose seemed permanently covered with white zinc oxide, and a silver whistle on a blue and gold cord draped around his neck. He shouted orders to the applicants, moving them quickly through the swimming tests. The results were observed and noted by the head lifeguard, Tyler, who had been named to the position over Rowan just last year and retained his job this summer. The dark-haired woman with the rose tattoo on her shoulder stood near Tyler, holding papers and clipboards, handing them to Tyler as he needed them. A lock of Tyler’s black hair that looked like a raven’s wing fell over his forehead. He had broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and a narrow waist above slender hips. To Brooke, he looked like a triangle atop a clothespin. His obsidian eyes were hidden by dark glasses, but he saw everything. The dark-haired woman glared at Brooke whenever she bothered to look at her at all. Rowan’s attention was not as encompassing. He never strayed far from ogling the women applying for the job, and he frequently pulled particularly curvy ones over for a quick personal chat. They appreciated the attention and rewarded him with a coy wiggle of their bouncy behinds or a seductive repositioning of the edges of their suits. They drove Rowan wild. Brooke had not been called over by Rowan, for which she was grateful.

Brooke remembered the seventy-year-old manager of the Edgewood Swim Club, Archie Locke, an irascible curmudgeon who reminded her of a grouchy ostrich. He would approve Tyler’s recommendations because Archie just wanted the pool to operate with no hitches. Tyler had been the man to keep things running smoothly last season, and Archie counted on him to do the same this year. Archie had a weakness for his afternoon siestas, and needed Tyler’s expertise and management skills to keep the place running smoothly. Brooke easily saw why Archie trusted Tyler, but not why he trusted Rowan. Rowan traded too clumsily on the fact he was the chief judge’s son, which cut no mustard with Archie.

At the end of the day, Tyler gathered all sixty applicants together near the deep end of the pool. Rowan stood beside him, his eyes scouring the bodies of the women applicants. He tried to sneak a peek a Tyler’s list, but Tyler covered it with his clipboard.

“Thank you all for coming out today,” Tyler said. “You all did well, and I’m sorry that I have only six spots to fill. From this point, I will make my recommendations to the manager, and if he approves, offers of summer employment will go out to six of you.”

“I will let everyone know by the end of this week,” Tyler continued. “I will be using your email addresses so be sure what you’ve given me is correct. Pool opens May 15. I hope to see you all here sometime this summer, if not as an employee, then as a patron.”

Brooke was happy with her performance after she demonstrated her ability to swim while keeping a drowning victim above the water. She saw tall, dark Tyler shoot her a quick wink. That would have be entirely inappropriate, so she must have imagined it. If she did see it, so did the dark-haired woman, who darted hard looks at Brooke through squinty eyes.

After changing into her street clothes, Brooke sat on a fence rail running the length of the parking lot, catching her breath before heading on her walk home. While she waited, she watched her competitors leave, waving to several she remembered from the swim team, including Tyler’s cousin, Rue. Rue was tall, thin, with auburn hair and a dancer’s body. She wanted to make it as a performer, more than as a lifeguard, but needed the job for the summer. Before long, all the cars had emptied from the parking lot. Brooke picked up her towel and her black wet suit, and trekked across the lot’s tarmac.

“Brooke! Brooke, wait up.”

Brooke turned around at the sound of Tyler’s voice. He had his arm around the dark-haired, tattooed woman, who had changed into a pair of black shorts, sandals, and a rose-colored blouse tied in the front and showing lots of skin at her waist and in front. It was clear that her large breasts were not supported or constrained by anything but the flimsy rose material. She slinked more than walked next to Tyler, but her eyes were locked on Brooke. Her lipstick had been reapplied in a shade of blood red. Every few steps, she turned her head to look up at Tyler.

“Brooke, I haven’t seen you since you left for college last year. Still studying biology?” Tyler asked.

“Yep. I love it, though it’s not easy. Finals coming up before the end of the month. I’m pretty confident about all my classes, except organic bio.”

“You’ll get all As. I’ve heard you’re brilliant.”

Brooke shook her head, but blushed. Tyler turned to the woman next to him.

“Cat, this is Brooke, one of the better swimmers from these parts. She set some swim records that will stand for a few seasons. Brooke, I want you to meet my fiancée, Cat. She’s a singer.”

Brooke tried to hide her surprise at the news that Tyler had a fiancée, and that the woman was the same slut Brooke had seen sucking Rowan off that morning. Cat, the dark-haired woman, offered her hand part-way to Brooke, with a half-hearted smile. Brooke reached in to grab her hand, and gave it one shake, that’s all. Then she dropped it like it might be diseased.

“Where’s your car, Brooke?” Tyler asked.

“In the shop. I can walk. Home’s not that far.”

“Oh, no, you must be exhausted from your ordeal today.” Tyler turned to Cat, “Darling, you don’t mind if I give Brooke a quick ride home. I’ll be back in a minute. Look! There’s Rowan. He’ll keep you company until I get back.”

“Did I hear someone mention my name?” Rowan asked, sidling up to Cat. Rowan gave Tyler a slap on the back, then gave Cat a hug and an innocent peck on the cheek.

“You’ll keep me company while Tyler leaves me for another woman, won’t you, Rowan?” Cat said in a silky, sly way. Her voice sounded roughened by too many cigarettes, unusual for a singer.

Brooke saw Rowan drinking in Cat’s scanty outfit while she twisted side to side in a teasing manner. Rowan showed his wolf teeth when he smiled at her. Brooke suddenly felt sorry for the naive Tyler. He seemed oblivious to the electricity that was sparking between those two.

“No,” she said. “You should stay with your fiancé, Ty. I need the exercise.”

“I’ll say,” laughed Rowan. “What did they feed you at that school?” He puffed up his cheeks and waddled around. Cat covered her laugh with her hand. Only Tyler didn’t laugh.

“Cut it out, Rowan. Come on, Brooke. Climb on.”

Tyler clambered onto his black Scout Indian. He turned the key, and made the engine roar while exhaust poured out the silver exhaust pipes to the rear.

“Climb on!”

“I don’t have a helmet,” she shouted back.

“You don’t need one. I’m a safe driver. Trust me.”

The five-hundred-fifty pound bike shuddered under the power of the engine. Tyler scooted forward to allow Brooke some space. She swung her leg over, and sat as far back on the seat as possible, despite the discomfort.

“Oh, no,” Tyler shouted. “Scoot closer.”

He pulled her arms so that they encircled his chest, crushing the towel and suit she held into him. Brooke’s crotch slid until it was flush against Tyler’s ass, and both her legs lay alongside his thighs. Her breasts were squeezed against his back. What flesh wasn’t flattened began to quiver. The throbbing engine could be felt right though the seat, and she imagined she was sitting on a five-hundred-fifty pound vibrator.

Cat moved closer to give Tyler a soulful kiss. In response he gunned the engine again. She moved in again for another kiss, but he turned his head away to check on Brooke on last time. As he did, Cat lifted her slim, tan, crooked leg to the side of the bike. She straightened her knee out powerfully, tipping the bike. Brooke let go of Tyler, her hands dropping the towel and suit while she fought to regain her balance. Tyler’s reaction was to turn the handle bars away from the direction of the fall. Brooke was able to jump off, backwards.

Tyler was not able to keep the bike upright. It fell, trapping his right leg below it. He screamed.

Cat crouched next to him, cradling his head, stroking his raven hair. He perspired from the pain. Rowan was on his phone, dialing 911.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” she said.

“It’s not your fault, Cat. It’s not your fault.”

Then Tyler passed out.

Brooke blamed herself for Tyler’s accident. She was the extra weight on the back that made it impossible for Tyler to maintain control of his bike. She wanted to apologize to Tyler personally, but couldn’t. Tyler needed surgery to repair the damage that had been done to the bones of his right foot and ankle. His cast covered his entire foot and most of his right leg. He was sedated for the first two days before being sent home. By that time, Brooke’s Camry was fixed, and she needed to head back to college.

She cried most of the way back. She couldn’t get the image out of her memory of Tyler trapped beneath his bike, passing out from pain, cradled by Cat. She drove slowly, stopping overnight in Nashville, before continuing on to college. Once there, she went directly to her dorm. She had only one more week of classes, then her finals. She sat on her bed, her knees gathered to her chest, her red-hair falling forward. She shut off her phone and avoided her email.

“Brooke,” her roommate Dolly said. “Snap out of it. Dennis has been stalking me, trying to find out what’s going on. You remember Dennis, the love of your life? He’s looks like a big fish to me, but to each her own. Give him a call. Or go see him.”

Brooke just shook her head.

“Do you want to talk? What happened? Did you get the lifeguard job? What did they make you do? Girl, talk to me!”

Brooke’s roommate gave up and left her in the room. Toward dinner time, Brooke got up, took a shower, and pulled on a t-shirt and shorts. She tied her thick hair back in a ponytail, traced on some waterproof mascara, and a little smidge of pale orange lipstick. It wouldn’t drive anyone crazy, but it would be perfect for Dennis.

She glanced through the email on her phone. An email from Edgewood Swim Club caught her attention. News about Tyler? She punched it open.

The email offered her a position as lifeguard for this summer at Edgewood. She smiled, and jumped up and down, while she tried to read the rest of the message. It was mostly legalese and told her how to accept and by what date. She calmed down when she failed to see any mention of Tyler or his condition. She told herself this was a good sign, though.

Her spirits lightened, she ran to the combination lab and aquarium where Dennis spent much of his time. The building was long, low, and guarded by large metal doors. She often wondered what experiments had been conducted there before it was converted to its present use. Inside, a blue light suffused the area, as though the entire interior was underwater. Straight ahead, she saw the first of a series of large tanks, where exotic species of fish darted among aerators bubbling, rounded pebbles, long plants. In some of the tanks, there were the silly plastic toys found in dentist office aquariums — treasure chests, sunken ships, and mermaids. When the lab rats saw Brooke, they pointed her toward her boyfriend, Dennis, some shaking their head at the waste of a great woman loving a scientist who loved fish.

When Brooke finally found Dennis, she thought he was submerged in the tank. He wore goggles that fit over his large round glasses, a white lab coat, and blue latex gloves. He waved slowly to her, much like the fronds waving in the tank. But it was an optical illusion. He was behind the tank, counting the fish. He looked at his clipboard, at the fish, at the clipboard again, then threw it to the floor, before climbing down his ladder.

“I’m sorry I made you lose count,” Brooke said.

Dennis pulled off his gloves with a snap and positioned the goggles on top of his head. Brooke lifted her face so he could kiss her lips and closed her eyes, waiting. He was about a foot or more taller than Brooke, and bent down to kiss the top of her head.

“It’s good to see you, too,” Brooke said.

“I’ve been trying to reach you. I’ve got great news.”

Brooke’s shoulders slumped. She would rather have a hug than an announcement from Dennis. But she knew he was so invested in his research and the pursuit of his Ph.D., that she naturally came in a little behind those goals.

“What great news, babe?” she asked.

“I can get you on as a summer intern here in the lab. Isn’t that great? You could be counting the same fish I’m counting. We could compare notes. It’ll look great on your transcript.”

“Dennis, you remember, don’t you, that I’ve applied for a job for the summer. One that pays real money. How much does this internship pay, anyway?”

“Pay? We can’t afford to pay interns. Plus, you can’t imagine how many applicants we have for this position. I was lucky to be able to get them to offer the internship to you. Come on. What do you say?”

“Can I think about it, Dennis?”

“Well, not for very long. This is a big opportunity. We’re working on exciting genetic coding of some of the species. We’re making them only produce male offspring for three generations. Imagine that! Long enough to thin out the overpopulation where they are unwanted without killing them, but not enough to make them extinct. It gives me chills just thinking about it. Doesn’t it give you chills?”

Brooke forced a smile.

“Yeah, chills.”

Bubbles from the aerator popped on the surface of the tanks. Brooke felt swallowed up in the steady hum of the motors driving the equipment in the tank. The air was redolent with fish. She couldn’t see the ceiling of the lab, because the lights were so dim. She couldn’t imagine spending a summer locked up in this dark, smelly dungeon. But how to tell Dennis?

“Could we talk?” she said again.

“Sure. Any time. Could we do it later?”

“Dennis, I have a job back home this summer. I won’t be able to take the internship. I appreciate the offer, I really, really do, but I need to get back home.”

“But what about our summer?” Dennis said. “You’re the bait that keeps me striking. You’re the most beautiful lure I could imagine. Can you really stay out of the pond an entire summer?”

“I’m not leaving yet. I still have final exams. But then, yes. I’m going back to earn some money. I don’t have a grant like you do, or teaching assistant positions. We’ll be together this week, though. Okay?”

“This is kind of a bad week. Spawning season has been induced. That’s the reason for the counts right now. But don’t worry. I’ll make time for you. Can you text me some times when you’re free, and I’ll choose as many of those times as I can to be with you?”

Brooke agreed, finally got a quick hug from Dennis before he scurried back to his clipboard. She trudged back to her dorm room, where her roommate Dolly was studying. Dolly had brought her some nachos from the cafeteria.

“You have to eat something,” Dolly said. “Oh, and your study group called. They wondered if you’d be available to study at the lake before finals.”

Brooke thanked her, then sat on the bed again, her knees drawn up to her chest.

“All right, come on, girl. It can’t be that bad. You’ve got to get straight if you want to ace those finals. Did you see Dennis? How are you love birds?”

Dolly brought a small smile to Brooke’s face. She thanked her again for the nachos and ate a few, thinking she knew why she’d gained a few pounds this school year.

“Now tell Dolly what’s the matter. Get it off your mind, and we can both go back to studying.”

“Well,” Brooke began, “Dennis is so wrapped up in his studies that he hardly notices whether I’m here or gone. I’m crazy for the tall, skinny chump, but all he sees are fish. He wanted me to stay here for an unpaid internship. I told him I have the job as a lifeguard back home.”

“You do?” Dolly clapped her hands. “That’s what you wanted, right. Congrats, girl. No wonder you turned down that internship. I mean, there is love, and taking steps to pad your academic record, and then there is money. Right now, I can see why you choose the money.”

Brooke also had Tyler’s condition in mind. She needed to know what happened to him, and that he was alright. Once the summer was over, she was sure she would be able to return to college and to Dennis with no other distractions from back home.

“Uh, say, Brooke. I was thinking. Do you mind if I talk to Dennis about that fish job? I could use the padding on my resumé.”

“Have you seen what a pit that lab is? Are you sure you could stand being shut up there all summer?”

Dolly shrugged her shoulders.

“That lab is doing ground-breaking work. Genetics and species husbandry to humanely control population. Dennis will probably win the Nobel prize.”

“Yeah, but have you smelled that lab?”

Dolly and Brooke both starting laughing, and didn’t stop until Brooke rolled off the side of her bed.

As one of the six new lifeguards, Brooke was assigned to show up a week before the opening of the pool for HR training and to help with maintenance work. The HR material seemed only common sense, but just to be sure there were no misunderstandings, the most basic interactions with the public, the patrons, and with other employees, were covered. At least everyone would be starting from a mutual understanding of boundaries.

Maintenance work around the pool was also necessary. It was not just to make everything look nice, but also to assure the safety of the area. The pool bottom was vacuumed again, the lounging boards were repainted, flags were strung along tall posts and the tops of the chain link fence, and safety equipment was checked and rechecked.

It made for a great way to meet all the other lifeguards. Brooke was surprised to learn that all six new lifeguards this year were female, until the new head lifeguard was announced. Rowan had finally gotten his wish. The place was his now, and he strutted like a king around his domain, or a barker at a carousel.

She hadn’t seen Tyler around, and whenever she asked about him, she was told he was recuperating. Because of his injury and the cast he was wearing, he had to give up his position as head lifeguard, opening the way for smiling, preening Rowan. It was a tough break, but life is like that, she thought.

The day before the pool opened, which turned out to be an unseasonably cold day, the new guards would be receiving their official guard swimsuits, visors, sunglasses, and their silver whistles in a closed ceremony at the pool. But before they did, Rowan wanted the new guards to inflate around a hundred beach balls. They had to inflate them by blowing into them, which proved to be a more exhausting task than she had expected. It took most of the afternoon, but the result was a colorful, bouncy, cheerful bunch of plastic globes. Some floated on the pool surface, others tumbled slowly across the bone-white deck. The loud speaker for the place played appropriately up-beat music, including the old standbys, 99 Luftballons, and Up, Up, and Away. By the end, the guards were tired, chilled by the cool weather, but happy and expecting their new uniforms.

Rowan blew his whistle to get their attention. Then he held boxes of the stuff to be distributed.

“But first,” he said. “Everybody into the showers. You don’t want to wear new suits on sweaty bodies, do you?”

Brooke looked around. None of the other new lifeguards were perspiring either, but the showers would help her warm up today. Inside the blue cement block shower room, steam arose. It was a single large room, with only the rising steam separating the women one from the other. The hiss of the water and the slaps of lathered soap on thighs and torsos continued until the girls got the giggles. Brooke saw that the girls were all very pretty, and very curvaceous, with the exception of herself and one thin, wiry girl with auburn hair, who also wasn’t giggling. It was Rue, who when she was not lifeguarding, was trying to land as a dancer with a stage company. Her body was slim, but each movement she made caused muscles to ripple beneath her veneer of skin.

The experienced women lifeguards crowded the shower entrance to the ladies’ locker room. They wore their lifeguard swimsuit, with shiny silver whistle dangling between their breasts. They began to clap rhythmically. The newbies under the showers turned their attention to the clapping group.

Suddenly from the other shower room entrance that led to the pool, the rest of the lifeguards, all male, streamed in, cheering. Rowan, wearing a large wolfish grin, and pointing his cell phone to take pictures, forced himself to the front. The new women hires, all nude, turned away, covered themselves, and sounded an embarrassed scream. Rue, the dancer, crouched on the floor of the shower, her arms about her.

Rowan held up the suits, visors, sunglasses, and whistles for the new girls.

“Okay,” Rowan said. “I’ll call your name, and you can come up and get your new uniform.”

Brooke was no prude, and had even been skinny-dipping at college for the first time just a few weeks earlier. Dennis hadn’t been able to make it, but it had all been innocent fun in the sun. Somehow, today’s antics didn’t seem so innocent. The other girls seemed to be making the best of the matter, smiling through their embarrassment. Rue, though, still huddled on the floor.

“Brooke!” Rowan called. “Come get your whistle, Chubs.”

Brooke, hunched over, sidled to Rowan, and grabbed the whistle.

“Give me my suit. Now, Rowan,” she said.

“Not so fast, Chubs, keep your pants on. Oops, my bad. Just go back to the shower, Tubby.”

Brooke seethed at the taunting. The male guards roared with laughter, although the women’s contingent was not quite as amused. Rowan snapped a few more shots. Brooke draped the whistle around her neck, where it dangled between her freckled breasts.

“Rue!” Rowan called next. “Rue, come up here. Time to get your whistle.”

Rue stayed hunched on the floor.

Rowan splashed through the running water, and grabbed her arm. He tried to pull her to a standing position while she hid her face in embarrassment.

“You want your whistle, don’t you?” he said. He tried to loop it around her, but she shook her head.

The whistles for the other four women went more smoothly. They were comfortable with their nudity, and thought this was a prank in extremely bad taste. Still, they were young, fit, and used to being stared at. There wasn’t much difference between being nude and wearing a bikini, anyway.

Then the clapping and cat-calls suddenly stopped. The only sound was the whisper hiss of the showers. All eyes turned to the exterior entry, where Tyler stood, his shoulders hunched in anger, a raven lock of hair over one eye. There was a large white cast on his right foot with a rubberized block on his heel and he leaned on a wooden cane.

“What is this?” he demanded.

“Initiation, dude,” said Rowan. “It’s not your crew any more, so you can leave at any time, Tyler.”

“Out!” Tyler shouted to the experienced lifeguards. They hustled out until there was only the new guards left, wearing nothing but their silver whistles, and Rowan. He had the audacity to snap a few additional photos with his phone.

“Give me the camera, Rowan,” Tyler said.

“That ain’t going to happen. Private property. You aren’t strong enough to take it from me, and no cop is going to help you take it from me.”

“They will when they know you were taking lewd, lascivious, and inappropriate pictures, Rowan.”

“Ha! Everybody gave permission! It was implied maybe, but it was permission.”

“Let’s see what the police say.”

“Tell it to the judge,” Rowan said, smirking. From the look on his face, Brooke knew he was thinking of his father, the chief judge.

“I never gave my permission. Wait until he hears you were taking nude photographs of me and some other young boys.”

The color drained out of Rowan’s face. “I didn’t. I…I…I wouldn’t.”

“Maybe so, maybe not. The police would have to check to be sure. Just turn over the phone. I’ll delete the photos and then you can have the phone back.”

The six women were huddled, their backs to the two men, but looking over their shoulders. Brooke went to the far end of the room where towels had been hung, collected towels for the six women, and distributed them.

“Now, Rowan,” Tyler said. He limped closer to Rowan, although he risked getting his cast wet from the misting showers.

Rowan shook his head, but gave the phone to Tyler. It took Tyler less than a minute to clear and delete all the photos, and to check that nothing had been uploaded to the cloud. He walked past Rowan to the shower room’s pool side opening.

“My phone, dude. Give me my phone!” Rowan stretched out his arms, futilely scrambling for the phone.

Tyler hurled it into the deep end of the pool, under the three meter board. It bounced off a beach ball in the deep end, then sank with a “plop.” The pool was more than twelve feet deep beneath that board.

“What are you doing, dude?”

“Oops,” said Tyler.

The lifeguard suits were left in the shower room, and Brooke distributed them to the five other women. They all squirmed into them. They may have been uncomfortable because the suits seemed a bit too small, but less uncomfortable than being stared at because they were nude. Rue, a few inches taller and many pounds lighter than Brooke, approached Brooke and hugged her.

“Thank you,” Rue told Brooke. “Let’s find Tyler. He was the one we should thank.”

“I’m surprised he is still here,” Brooke said. “I didn’t think he was still a guard.”

“He’s not,” Rue said. “Archie, the manager, didn’t want to lose him though, so he offered him another position. Head concessioner.”

Brooke broke out laughing, because it seemed ludicrous that the best swim coach and lifeguard she knew was hawking candy bars, pop corn, and soda pop.

“He needed the job this summer. He teaches during the school year. Who else would hire a guy with a big old cast on his leg? It’s only for this summer, after all. Oh, look. There he is. Tyler!”

Tyler was sweeping the rest area in front of the concession area. He leaned on the broom waiting for Rue and Brooke to approach.

“Hi, Rue. Brooke. Are you both alright?”

“We are now,” Rue said. “Thanks for saving us from that pervert. Do you think we should report what happened to Archie Locke? It doesn’t seem right.”

Tyler shook his head. “Archie will listen sympathetically, then forget all about it. You’ll have to file suit if you really want to change things, but you’ll have to sue the entire Park District, Archie Locke, and probably dozens more, and who knows if you’ll ever really make Rowan accountable.”

“I suppose we could quit,” Rue said.

“Oh, no. I need this job,” Brooke said. “Otherwise, I have to spend the summer as an unpaid intern in a fish laboratory.”

Tyler smiled. “So, how is Dennis?”

Brooke blushed. “He’s dedicated. Unfortunately, it’s to his fish, not to me. But I’ve never met the perfect man yet. Have you, Rue?”

She laughed in response. Then, she shrugged and hugged Tyler.

“Tyler comes close, but he’s taken. I have to get going. See you tomorrow, Brooke. It’s got to be a better day than today. When are you getting your cast off, Tyler?”

Tyler shrugged. “Well, I’m making them take it off tonight. I’m ready for physical therapy.”

“What? Are you crazy?” Rue said.

“Physical therapy in the pool. I’m going to be here most of the time anyway. I might as well make things work for me.”

Rue hugged him again, and even gave Brooke a short hug. Then she ran, with the grace of a gazelle, to the parking lot.

“She’s my cousin,” Tyler said. “On my mother’s side.”

“She seems nice.” Brooke walked with him to the lot. There was no motorcycle. Instead, Tyler had a beat-up Honda even smaller than Brooke’s car.

“It’s a loaner,” he said. “The bike is not quite totaled, but it needs some serious repairs.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, right? You’ll be at the concession?”

“Well sure. But I’ll be here very early for PT. You know, if you like, you can join me. I know it’s probably unPC for me to say, but as your swim coach from last year, I can help you get back that seal-like body I remember from last summer. No offense.”

“You’re lucky you have a cast, or I’d bust you one. But I understand. You’re right. Okay. I’ll meet you tomorrow early for our first PT session. That assumes you do get that cast off, okay?”

“Oh, I’ll get it off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Brooke paused before leaving. Then she gathered up the courage to ask, “How’s Cat?”

Tyler grew silent, and his shoulders sagged a little. He pasted a small smile on his face before answering.

“She and I are taking a little break. It makes sense. I’m not much of a date right now anyway. She got some new tats on her arm that have to heal. I liked her better without them.”

Brooke wanted to hug Tyler immediately and console him. Did he know what a bitch Cat was? Did he know what a slut she was? Why did the nice guys always choose the worst girlfriends? Probably because they were the easiest to get, but that’s another story.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Ty. I hope you guys work it out.”

He shrugged again.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Brooke. Don’t be late.”

As he left, limping on the awkward cast with the rubberized block heel, Brooke couldn’t help but smile after him.

It was still cold the next morning when Tyler and Brooke met for physical therapy. His cast was off, and his leg looked awful. The stitches were healed, but still purple, and the surrounding skin was alabaster. Scars from torn skin where bones had protruded showed hot pink and corrugated. Tyler pointed to the injury when he saw Brooke staring.

“I guess I’m not perfect any more.” He shrugged his shoulders.

Brooke forced a smile onto her face.

“Are you sure you should be exposing that to the pool water? You don’t need an infection.”

“No problem. The water’s chlorinated.” Then he jumped straight up and entered the water feet first. He bobbed up sputtering and shivering. His teeth chattered.

“C-c-come on in,” he said, his arms wrapped around his chest. “The w-w-water’s f-f-fine.”

Brooke doubted that the water was fine, but she sloughed off her jacket. She wore the black suit she had tested in, since it was big enough to hide her extra pounds. She clasped her hands over her head, arced her body forward and executed a smooth dive into the water.

“Oh, my God!” she screamed. “It’s freezing!”

“Ten lengths, swimmer. Now!”

Brooke didn’t question; she started swimming. Her activity warmed her, and after the fifth length, the water felt refreshingly comfortable. Tyler stayed at the shallower end of the bottom of the pool’s L, doing his PT, batting away the colorful beach balls still floating on the water. He walked forward and back, he walked to the side. He did leg lifts, marching, and walking backward. He must have done one hundred squats in the water.

They both exercised for an hour. Brooke felt like going longer, but she could see that Tyler was tiring. Not bad effort for a first day, but time for a break.

“I need a break, Tyler,” she said.

He nodded, and edged himself onto the lip of the pool. He was panting to regain his breath. Even now, he used his seated position to kick his knees straight alternatively.

“Slow down, killer,” Brooke said. “Remember what you taught us: It’s not the activity that improves you, it’s the rest period following. I think I need a rest. Don’t you?”

Tyler smiled. He knew what she was doing — taking the heat herself to help him recuperate.

“Yeah,” he said. “We should rest.”

Brooke swam to him, and edged out of the pool next to him. She lay on her back, her arms outstretched.

“Don’t be afraid to wear your lifeguard suit tomorrow, Brooke. I won’t mind.”

“I don’t want to wear it out. It has to last the entire summer, you know.” Really, Brooke had the same problem with the suit that the other girls did. Rowan must have ordered them at least a size too small. The cut on the legs was very high, exposing the inner thigh and a good slice of each buttock. The front was scooped a little deeply. There was a constant display of cleavage, and the lifeguards had to be careful not to tip too far forward for fear of unleashing one or both breasts.

“I love it!” Rue said. “I only wish I could see the look on Dennis’s face when he sees your new suit.”

“Oh, I don’t think I could wear it around him. I’ll just use it to lay out in the sun.”

“What a waste. It appears I have my work cut out for me.”

Brooke held the lime suit up to the light and wondered if it might shrink in the wash.

“We still have plenty of sun today and tomorrow. We have to get rid of our tan lines. Agreed?” Rue threw a new bottle of sun tan lotion into their basket, and giggling at the audacity of what they had purchased, paid for the suit and the lotion.

They went back to Brooke’s house, and set out chaise lounges and towels in her back yard. She had a six foot fence that gave some privacy, although the neighbors’ houses were all two stories, so anyone looking out their bedroom windows might spy two near-nudes enjoying the sun.

Rue rubbed lotion on Brooke’s back, the back of her legs, and onto the mounds of her ass. Brooke enjoyed the feeling of Rue’s hands slathering her muscles. After thirty minutes, Brooke returned the favor. Rue untied her own top as Brooke did her back. When Brooke started on her legs and butt, she found that the lotion made Rue’s suit roll even tinier. Rue finally gave up trying to adjust it and took off her suit completely. She looked completely relaxed and comfortable with her nudity.

“You should lose your suit, too, Brooke. You’ve admitted you’ve skinny dipped before. Remember, I saw you in the shower with the whole crew, so I know you’re no prude. So, go ahead. I give you permission.”

Brooke took a deep breath, then sighed.

“What the hell. Why not?”

Brooke slipped the bra top off and settled back on the chair.

“You forgot the bottoms.”

Brooke considered while Rue waited. Then she lifted her hips and slipped off the thong bottom, too. She felt the breeze slip in and around her legs and her vagina. She opened her legs a little wider to allow the sun full access. Now, she felt free, open, and excited. She lay back and enjoyed the sensation.

“I remember you in the shower, too, Rue. You wouldn’t let anyone see you naked. But here, you’re completely at ease being au naturel. What gives? Are you a nudist or not?”

“I like being the one who decides whether anyone sees my body, okay? Rowan was not one who should be seeing me unless I want to be seen.”

“And now?” Brooke asked.

“Things change.” Rue settled back.

The women spent the afternoon baking both sides in the sun. They took breaks to get water or lemonade, but when they took the breaks, they stayed naked. Brooke liked the way she felt and the way Rue looked at her.

“I’m proud of you, Brooke. If Dennis won’t appreciate you, I know a dozen other men who will.”

“I’m not used to such attention, Rue.”

“How can you not be used to attention? Look at you. You’re gorgeous. You know, men call those things ‘fun bags’ for a pretty obvious reason. Your fun bags are just perfect.”

“You don’t understand. Once my mother passed, my father and I only had each other. If you thought he might have been overprotective before, you should have seen him after my mother died. I couldn’t date without the boy getting a real third degree from my dad. It scared all the boys away.”

“Oh, come on. You weren’t with him all the time. You were at school, and out with friends, that kind of stuff. You had to have opportunities.”

Brooke shrugged. “Maybe. But I know how much he cared for me, and how much he wanted to protect me. I couldn’t do anything to let him down. Even this year at college, I was probably the only virgin for miles around.”

“Well, that changed with Dennis. At least, I hope it changed, right?”

Brooke made an awkward face. “No, it really didn’t change. Dennis and I were like really, really good friends. But I never tried to get him to come on to me, and he always had enough respect for me not to try anything.”

“So, you’re still a virgin? Oh, my God!”

Brooke smiled sheepishly. “It’s not so bad. I’ve got something to look forward to. Right?”

Rue burst out with loud laughter. Brooke tried to shush her by waving her hands.

“Rue, if the neighbors hadn’t noticed by now that we’re sunbathing nude, your donkey’s bray had to get their attention.”

Rue pointed to one of the neighbor’s houses, where the blinds on the second floor suddenly closed.

“Pervert alert. He’s been sneaking a peek at us for about two hours.”

Brooke pulled a towel around her and checked out the window.

“That’s old Mr. Peters. He’s got to be about ninety. I never would have thought he would have any interest in gawking.”

“At that age, he’s forgotten what he’s looking at anyway.”

They both started to laugh again, then settled back into their chaise lounges. The blinds stealthily opened.

“So, how did you happen to end up skinny dipping? For you, that sounds pretty daring, Brooke.”

Brooke smiled, and shook her head.

“It didn’t seem daring. It seemed natural. The weather turned warm, and my study group wanted to go to the lake as a break from the usual library or dorm room. It was sunny, hot, humid. But it was spring, too, and the flowers were blooming, the trees were flowering, and the birds were singing love songs to each other. There were seven people in my organic chem study group, three guys and four girls. We were all friends, so that made things easier. We didn’t expect anything to happen.

“We got to the lake, and it was lovely. We studied for about three hours, until the sun started to set. Then the pink and purple clouds added even more drama to the flowers, trees, and songbirds around us. We were all pretty sweaty, and someone said, ‘Doesn’t that lake look nice?’

“I looked around. There were no other people around. It was like we were the only people in the world. There would be no one to judge us. I looked into the face of each of my friends, and they all had the same silly grin that I had. But someone had to make the first move. The three guys were a bit nerdy, I thought, and not the most aggressive types. More like lab scientists. The three coeds were all really pretty. Prettier than me, especially since I’d added a few pounds. It didn’t seem likely that any of them would start the ball rolling. So, I figured it would be up to me if we were to do it at all.”

As she listened attentively to Brooke’s story, Rue’s fingers on her left hand started to separate the folds of her own vagina, and her middle finger slipped in with no problem. She moved her hand in and out, letting her finger find the sensitive inner parts of her body.

“Don’t stop,” Rue said, “keep going.” She kept going, too.

“So, it was up to me. I kicked off my shoes, and pulled off the socks. As I wiggled my toes, everyone’s eyes were on my feet. I stood up, and the rest of them sat a little straighter.

“‘That water does look pretty inviting,’ I said. I unsnapped my jeans, and slid them off. I thought the boys were going to swallow their tongues. The coeds bumped shoulders, whispering. I hoped they were giving each other the courage to follow my lead, but they were probably just criticizing my huge freckled thighs. I turned, so everyone could see what my intention was. Then, I unbuttoned my blouse and let it slide from down my arms. I had done it. The line had been crossed. I stood there in my bra and panties for my study group’s examination.

“At that point, I thought that since I had gone this far, I couldn’t stop now. For some reason, I slid my panties off first. My red bush was a kind of protection, I thought, and my butt may be big, but it’s nice and curvy. By this time, The men stood up, and started to kick off their shoes, and shake off their pants. They pulled off their shirts, too. The last to go was their undies. Two had boxers, and one had tidy whitees. Then they stopped. I unhooked my bra slowly, because it was fun to watch their boners get hard. By the time I let the front of my bra fall away from my tits, the boys all pulled their underpants down. We stood their for a minute enjoying looking at each other — three tumescent boys with waggling cocks, and me, a freckled, smiling, naked naif. Then, all four of us shouted, grabbed hands and ran into the water.

“The water was refreshing, but a bit disappointing, because all our naughty private parts were hidden. Back on shore, the three coeds were carefully folding their clothes before tiptoeing into the water. The way they approached, so slowly and so tentatively, allowed the men a much better view of their bodies than if they had just run into the water screaming and splashing.

“Eventually, we were all in, all grinning. I swam with long easy strokes. Occasionally, I swam backstroke, to let my boobs rise above the lake level, or I swam breast stroke, so my ass could ride high. I was the best swimmer of the group, and certainly better than the girls, who tended to dog paddle. At one point, the three guys came up behind me, and I felt one hand on my tits. Not too harsh, but a little surprising. Another hand went between my legs, which were scissor kicking. The third boy just grabbed my ass.”

Rue was breathing heavily in time with the action of her hand.

“Weren’t you concerned that the three of them might, you know, decide you shouldn’t be a virgin any more?”

Brooke laughed.

“It really never entered my mind. We were having fun. I squirmed a little and turned around. I grabbed for their crotches and held one nice long dick for a bit. On another, I must have aimed a little low, because I just grabbed his balls, which apparently was not pleasant for him. Who knew? I was really new at this game. The third guy swam over to one of the other girls.

“Before long, we were all horse-playing, jumping on each others’ backs. I kept finding hands on tingling parts of my body. At one point, I found one of the girls pressing herself up against me and locking onto my lips. That drove the boys even wilder. I don’t know why. I don’t really get that girl on girl thing.”

“Don’t knock it until you really try it,” Rue said. “But, I’m with you. I don’t get why men get excited to see two girls go at it.”

“After about forty-five minutes, we all started to tire of exploring each other, and by common consensus, we left the water. The air was still warm, so we all lay on the grass, still naked, one next to the other. Even then, a hand would find a place to rest for a while, and nobody objected. It was a feeling of immense peace like I’d never experienced. I felt as though I wanted to live the rest of my life with these six other people, just swimming and playing.

“Slowly, we each started to find our clothes and put them on. I wondered if they had the same thoughts I did. I was thinking that I had a boyfriend, Dennis. I doubted that I could ever get him to come skinny-dipping, and he’d never do it with other people. I knew each of the other girls had boyfriends of their own, who were typical college men — jealous, insecure, possessive. No one would dare tell them what had happened. At least until the end of the semester and the end of the study group. The guys may or may not have had girl friends. They were always too interested in studying for me to be sure. But as we slowing got dressed, I said good bye to my new friends thick cock, long skinny dick, and curved penis, since that was the way I began to look at my friends, and thought of them that way the rest of the semester. I wondered if they had names like that for us, the coeds. If they did, would it be based on our tits, our asses, our pussies, or a combination. Someday, I might just have to ask them.”

Rue let out a long contented sigh before removing her hand. She pointed to the old man’s window again. The blinds snapped closed. Brooke laughed and didn’t feel embarrassed.

Then, Brooke heard the motor on the garage door. She turned white and grabbed her suit.

“Shit! That must be my father.”

Rue grabbed her own suit and started toward the house.

“Where is your bathroom?” she asked.

“First door on the left.”

Rue ran into the house, while Brooke struggled to put on her bra and her lime green thong. Her heart was pounding the way it did whenever she brought a male friend home to meet her father. She took a deep breath, and told herself, “I’m a grown woman now. I’m a college co-ed. I’m not just Daddy’s little girl, and he will have to deal with that.” Then she lay back, trying to be comfortable on the chaise lounge.

She heard the sliding door open, and the first few heavy steps that she recognized as her Dad’s. Still she didn’t turn around.

“What the hell?” he said by way of greeting.

“Oh, hi, Dad,” she said. He heart felt like it might burst her chest as she stood up. Her father had seen her in her team racing suits, and they were tight and left little to the imagination. But she had never appeared so unclothed in front of him, probably since he used to give her baths at two years old.

“Your ass is hanging out, Brooke. What the hell? Your ass is out there for all the world to see.” He sputtered trying to find a way to impress his shock upon her.

“Daddy, welcome to the twenty-first century. This is what women wear now. This is what I see at the pool everyday. Do you like it?” She turned around to aggravate him a little.

He turned bright red, and groped for a towel. “You will not — NOT — wear that anywhere besides this back yard. And maybe not here any more either.”

“On, Daddy.” Brooke took the towel he offered and tossed it onto her shoulder.

“If your mother ever saw this…”

Suddenly he stopped, and his mouth dropped open. Rue came out of the house. Her auburn hair had been brushed and looked a little wild. She had mascara on. Lip gloss made her lips shine. She held her mouth partly open, as if waiting for a kiss. But none of that was the most striking impression that Rue made. Instead, Rue came out wearing nothing more than the tiny bottoms that barely covered her vagina. Her ass was more exposed that Brooke’s. And there was nothing covering her breasts. They were not large, but firm little pointy things. She had a wide smile with bright white teeth. She sashayed to stand next to Brooke, and tucked a locket of hair into her mouth with her finger.

“Hello, Brooke’s Daddy,” Rue said. She seemed to enjoy the way he looked at her.

He licked his lips. He swallowed hard to find the saliva that would allow him to speak.

“Did you both have a good day?” he asked, quietly.

Rue smiled, and pivoted side to side. His eyes traced the outline of Rue’s body, and all the spaces in between.

“Will you…will you…” he began several times, but didn’t seem to be able to finish.

“I’d love to stay for dinner. Thank you for asking.” Rue stepped into his chest, lifted her lips to his blushing face, and softly kissed his lips, twice. Then she took his hand, and began to lead him back to the house.

“Maybe I can help you in the kitchen?” she said.

Brooke shook her head at the way her macho dad had been reduced to giggling. She would have to thank Rue later for distracting her Dad from criticizing her new suit. The truth was, Brooke was beginning to be comfortable in it, and she was looking forward to wearing it when she did physical therapy with Tyler. She also decided to email her study group a quick selfie, just to see how their summer was going.

Brooke hadn’t set her alarm, since she expected Rue to barge in to wake her, the way she had the day before. They were supposed to sunbathe again. It may seem silly that a lifeguard wanted to tan in the sun, but then again, most lifeguards don’t switch to wearing such tiny bikinis the way Brooke and Rue had.

But Rue didn’t barge in. The light in the room got brighter and brighter until it was the midmorning sunshine that woke Brooke up. She scratched her body, stretched her neck, and ruffled her hair before she checked the clock. It was approaching eleven o’clock in the morning! Where was Rue? She flung off her covers and went to the bathroom. At the least, she needed a shower. Then she would call Rue.

Brooke finished her morning toilet and slipped on the same short shorts she wore yesterday and the same tight blouse. As she started downstairs, she again smelled the coffee, and something else. Cinnamon rolls! Hot cinnamon rolls. There was quiet conversation, punctuated by laughter from her dad, and softer tittering from a higher voice. It was Rue. Talking with her father.

She burst into the kitchen and took a quick scan of the scene. Her dad sat at the head of the table, wearing a white, ironed short sleeve shirt, with a tie. He had creased pants, not jeans. On his wrist, he wore his Rolex, the one he kept for special occasions. He was leaning forward on the chair, his hand supporting his chin, looking into Rue’s face and eyes as they talked. Brooke half expected Rue to be wearing just the bottom half of her bikini again, the way she had greeted her father last evening. But she wore a yellow summer dress that covered her knees, but the color made her tawny body really pop. Her legs were too long to be contained, and spilled out under the table. Her shoulders were bare and the front was open a few buttons.

“Hello, you two,” Brooke said.

Her dad sat straighter, while Rue crossed her long legs and swung one ankle rhythmically.

“Can I get you any coffee, honey?” he said to Brooke. “Would you like a cinnamon roll?”

Brooke patted her tummy and said, “I don’t think so. I’ll take some cantaloupe, though.”

Brooke got herself a bowl and a fork. Her dad scooped some cantaloupe out of the serving dish into her bowl.

“Well, what do you girls have planned today?”

“If you don’t mind,” Rue whispered, “we thought we’d work on our tans one more day. Is it okay if we use your backyard again? We’ll be working at the pool for the next week.”

Brooke rolled her eyes. What was Rue doing? Of course it would be okay.

Her dad pushed himself up from the table.

“You two have fun. Please, though. Try not to violate the community standards on decency, okay? And don’t give old Mr. Peters a heart attack if he should happen to see you.”

Rue giggled. “Oh, he’s seen us.”

Brooke’s dad didn’t know what to say to that.

Brooke asked, “Will you be home for supper tonight?”

“Oh, honey, I wish I could. I have meetings until late tonight. But help yourselves to anything you want. Or just order take-out.” He turned his attention to Rue, who stood gracefully on one leg, the other foot alongside the ankle. “I hope you’ll stop by again before Brooke goes back to school. I’d like to hear more about that musical that you’re cast in this fall.”

“Aww,” said Rue. “You’re so sweet.” Then taking his face in her hands, she kissed him on both cheeks, and him once on his lips. She still didn’t let go, and he didn’t fight it. She kissed him again, a little longer this time.

“Let’s go, Rue,” said Brooke.

Rue let her hands slip slowly from his face. As she walked away, she undid the clasps of her yellow summer dress and let it slip from her body. She was naked beneath the dress, and kept walking out of the room. “I have to get my bikini, I think.”

“Are you sure you are even going to bother with a bikini today?” Brooke asked sarcastically.

Rue peeked around the door jamb, and raised her eyebrows. “You little temptress,” she said.

“I have to get going,” said Brooke’s dad, a little sweaty. “Have a good day, girls.”

Brooke heard the garage door, the engine on his pickup growl, and then the sound of his truck going down the driveway and into the street. Finally the garage door came down again.

“Okay,” Brooke said. “What are you trying to do with my father? Give him a heart attack? He’s an old man.”

“He can’t be that old,” Rue said. “I think he’s very sweet. We talked and laughed for almost two hours this morning, and probably could have talked longer if you hadn’t come downstairs.”