That night, I fall asleep still wearing the pussy shirt—my arms wound tight around Mason, his back warm against my chest. My bed feels smaller but fuller, exactly the way it should be.
***
Today is Mason’s first day at his new job as a part-time pool lifeguard. He keeps insisting the gig is just temporary. He wants to land an internship with a local campaign to get his foot in the door for politics. I believe in him, and I know he’s destined for great things, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t secretly thrilled to see him in a lifeguard uniform again.
Since the heater in his truck is shot, I offered to pick him up after his shift. Partly because I’m an amazing boyfriend—but mostly because I don’t want his adorable butt freezing off in this weather.
It’s a short drive across campus to the gym. Despite being a student here, I’ve never set foot inside before. The idea of stripping down in front of strangers in locker rooms always kept me away. My grip on the steering wheel tightens when the red-brick building looms ahead through the curtain of flurries.
After parking, I trudge through the snow and push through the glass doors. The blast of warm, humid air greets me immediately, thick with the sharp bite of cleaning chemicals. My glasses fog, forcing me to tug them off and wipe them against my sleeve as I follow the echo of splashing water down the tiled hallway.
I step through the double doors that lead to the pool. It’s empty—no swimmers, no noise, just the still blue water rippling softly beneath the overhead lights. The tall ceilings produce an echo that amplifies the buzz of the filtration system.
Mason is easy to spot, moving along the deck in his lifeguard uniform, collecting stray towels and tossing them into hampers. His red T-shirt clings to his chest, the whistle around his neck swaying with each step. The gym closes in five minutes, and he’s clearly wrapping up.
He looks up when I walk in, and that wide, boyish smile spreads across his face.
“Hey, baby,” he calls.
“Hey.” I walk closer, the soles of my sneakers squeaking against the wet tile. “How was your first day?”
He shrugs. “Slow, since it’s still winter break. I’m sure once everyone’s back on campus next week, it’ll get hectic.”
I hum, watching his muscles flex as he wipes down a chair. My lips twitch into a grin. “Missed seeing you in this uniform.”
He laughs, bending to scoop up another towel. “It’s literally just trunks and a shirt.”
“Yeah, well,” I shrug, deliberately letting my eyes linger on him, “you make it look good.”
His cheeks flush faintly pink—whether from the heat of the pool or me, I’m not sure—and he tosses the towel into the bin. “You’re ridiculous,” he mumbles, shaking his head. “I’m almost finished here.”
“Take your time,” I insist, plopping down on one of the poolside chairs. I recline, folding my arms under my head as my gaze follows him. “I’ll just sit here and enjoy the view.”
He snorts before quietly puttering around to mop the tile floors. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of snow and wind whirling outside, whistling against the gym windows. I’m grateful it’s warm in here. I hate winter.
“Hunter,” Mason his voice calls loudly from across the room. “Wanna go swimming?”
I blink at him. “What?”
“My boss said I can use the pool after-hours, if I want,” he says with a shrug.
I pause. “I don’t have my swim trunks”
His mouth curves as he grabs a canvas tote from the lifeguard chair. “Good thing I brought them for you.”
I sit up sharply. “Wait—youplannedthis?”
“Maybe.” The sly smile tugging at his lips gives him away.
I laugh softly, but a knot grows in my chest.
I haven’t gone swimming since that day at the lake last summer, when Mason coaxed me out into the water and refused to let me sink. Back in Claremont Shores, he taught me to trust the way my body could float, how to breathe through the fear.
Now he’s watching me with that familiar spark in his hazel eyes—the one that makes it hard to say no to him.
“Okay,” I sigh, snatching my swim trunks from his hand. “But I’m only agreeing to this because I love you.”
“Best boyfriend ever,” he teases, pecking my lips.
