"It's ok kids, I'll grab your ball," I said as I waded into Lake Michigan. They looked heartbroken when the wind swept the beach ball away. I couldn't have that happen. And more importantly I would impress some of the guys and more importantly still I would show Julia just how kind I was. She had seen how I could fight. She knew how I looked after her. It was time to cement the relationship, make her my pet for good. I swam out and grabbed the ball by then easily 200 metres off shore. I cuffed it back between my arms as I learned in water polo.
Standing up I passed it back to one of the kids- a cute little boy I guess about 5 years old. "Thanks lady" he beamed. He was a polite boy as well as cute. I returned his smile with a pleased smirk of my own. I knew I might not look as good as my friends or most of the other girls on the beach but I could swim better. None of those stick figure bitches would be able to swim and rescue that ball. And even if they could they were all too busy working on their tans to busy themselves to help some upset kids. So many women who go to that beach are not so much selfish as stupid. They were all trying to get the guys attention, after all that is why go came there and then they just lie about hoping some guy will notice them. Dumb sluts, they never realise that they need to show themselves as a bit different. I knew better. I usually did.
I walked back to my towel and sat down beside my friends Cassie, Joan and Julia. Cassie was as always eyeing the men. Joan was oblivious to the world around her sunning herself on her towel. Julia was all smiles. I could almost feel her admiration. . And I could feel some other eyes on me. I knew I had impressed some of the guys.
I made a pretence of picking up my book. I wanted to seem occupied but really I wanted to check out the scene. I read maybe half a page and paused as if deep in thought and glanced round, my eyes hidden by my sunglasses focused on one guy on his own, looking in my direction. I guessed he was a few years older then me, maybe 28 or so .He was one of the men who had seen me rescue those kids' ball and he had flashed me a smile when I was walking back to my friends. I had seen him spooning and pashing some redhead earlier on the sand. I had no idea where she had gone. But it would be fun to see what would happen if she came back to find me lying next to her man.
Cassie nudged me. She leaned over from where she was lying soaking up the sun nodding her head towards a figure down the beach, and in the opposite direction to the man I had just been looking at. "See that guy over there? Like he's the father of some of those kids. I saw him with them before." She lifted her sunglasses, her lips curling delightedly upwards. "Like he's smiling at you." She was a trouble maker, but so much fun.
"So, what of it?" I looked where Cassie was pointing.
"Don't be a goose. Like he's looking your way. He fancies you."
I pursed my lips. "He had a woman sitting next to him."
"Maybe he did. So what? Like why is he smiling at us now when you are sitting down when we didn't get so much as a glance before? I tell you he fancies you."
"The woman's gone. Perhaps she didn't mean much to him."
Cassie said "Don't be silly. She's his wife. Like anyone can see that. "
"So what? You said he fancied me" I looked again. The guy waved and flashed a big grin. I tilted my head, returned the wave, then turned back to Cassie. "Like I said the woman's gone and besides," I smiled, "she was a skinny wimp."
I stood up as Cassie giggled "Same old Jenn then is it? Always either after the man or fighting the girl."
I playfully kicked some sand in her face and Cassie giggled as she made a mock tackle. I kicked her lightly and left Cassie, Joan and Julia sunning themselves and walked over to the guy.
"Hey there. Those your kids" jerking my thumb over my shoulder and smiling. ."Boy, they sure are cute."
"Yeah they are." He replied, his eyes running over my body. "Say, I want to thank you for retrieving their ball."
"It was a pleasure helping them. I would have hated for them to have their day spoilt if they had lost that ball. And they are so polite. You have brought them up well. They said thank you to me."
He smiled widely, all pearly teeth and dimples, "Hey you that is such a nice compliment! Thank you. It was my pleasure watching such a powerful swimmer. Most of the girls here couldn't manage a splash like that".
I smiled taking in the sight of his body. He was a little older then me, probably just past 30, average build, maybe about 5 ft 10. He had sandy hair and blue sparkling eyes. Definitely sexy. "Oh I am sure they could swim - it wasn't that far - but thanks anyways." Of course I knew he was right: most girls couldn't make that swim. But I wasn't about to tell him that. I didn't want to boast. Well not obviously.
."No don't be so modest, it doesn't become you. Take the compliment Hum you deserve it." I felt his eyes run over me from top to toe. "I take it that you played water polo."
I looked back at him raising my eyebrows. He knew I had caught him eyeing me off. He did not stop. He just smiled some more. Hoo boy, I felt a rush of sexuality at that. I smiled back at him. "Yes I did, at school."
"Not a very common school sport, but then you're not a common girl. I can see you're quite special."
"Why thank you sir" I said in my best mock southern belle tones. I couldn't help giggling a little.
"There, you see how much better it is when you take the compliment and don't be so modest. Better for you cuz you don't have to fib to yourself, better to the person who complimented you because they know you appreciated what they said." He smiled again.
This guy was so much more then being sexy he seemed genuinely nice. He was what my probation officer had called affirming- someone who built up your self-esteem without being obvious.
"Hun, I have always wanted to play water polo- so long as it was mixed."
I looked at him "And why is that?"
"I'll let you into a secret. Promise not to tell anyone" He looked at me.
"Sure I promise. But I think I can guess why a sexy man like you would like to play mixed water polo"
"Oh can you now? Let me see just how clever you are, I already know how kind you are and how good a swimmer you are." There he was this affirming stuff again. I had thought it crap when I got told it in probation --when Sharon (she made me call her by her first name) tried to teach me 'self worth'. But I could see it now. This guy was really beginning to make me feel good about myself, something that never happened.