The Permission Slip

***** Part One. Linda's Story.

Gorgeous. That was the sum total of my thoughts as I watched him.

Not my husband -- no, this wasn't one of those moments. Or maybe it was. But either way, it wasn't Archie out there on the diving board; it was Barbara's husband. Ken.

He stood tall and gleaming, the late afternoon sun turning every drop of water on his body into tiny diamonds. That ridiculously small swimsuit clung to him like it was painted on -- just enough to keep the peace, but not enough to keep my imagination from working overtime. Tight butt, sculpted chest, casual confidence... and that smile, like he had no idea what he was doing to me -- or worse, like he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Jesus," I muttered under my breath, lifting my beer for another sip.

Next to me, Barbara chuckled. "He does look good this summer, doesn't he?"

I blinked, caught. "What?"

She didn't look at me. Her sunglasses were on, her hat dipped low, but there was no mistaking the smirk on her lips. "Ken. I've been making him swim laps every morning. No carbs. Just protein and pool time."

"Mm-hmm," I said, feigning neutrality. "Well, it's working."

"Archie's looking good too," she added, with what might have been sincerity -- or playful mischief.

I glanced at my own husband, who was leaning back in a lounge chair with his legs stretched out, his beer cradled on his stomach, watching the diving board with an amused grin. He caught me looking and raised his eyebrows.

"You okay over there?" he called out.

"Just admiring Barbara's landscaping," I said, raising my beer.

Barbara let out a laugh. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Before I could respond, Ken moved. A single smooth motion -- arms up, toes curled over the edge, and then a clean dive into the pool. Water erupted in a sparkling arc. When he resurfaced, his wet hair slicked back, he looked directly at us.

"Ten out of ten," Barbara called.

I didn't say a word. I couldn't. My mouth might've actually been open.

"I think she agrees," Barbara added with a sly grin.

Archie chuckled. "Well, at least we know where your head's at today."

"Right between his shoulder blades," I muttered, but too softly for anyone to hear. I hoped.

Ken swam lazily to the edge, pulled himself out, and shook the water from his hair like some sun-drenched god in a swimsuit commercial. He reached for a towel and looked at us. At me. And I swear -- I swear -- he winked.

I sat up, crossing my legs like I wasn't suddenly flushed and out of breath.

Barbara leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "Careful, darling. You keep looking at him like that, and I'll have to start charging you admission."

The words were soft, low enough that only I could hear. Barbara didn't even turn her head -- she just sipped her beer, her sunglasses still aimed at the pool where Ken and Archie were laughing about something we couldn't hear.

I glanced at her, a little startled. She was grinning. I laughed, trying to play it off. "I'm just watching the show."

Barbara tilted her head slightly, still smiling. "Mm-hmm. It's a good show, I'll give you that."

Ken had just climbed out of the pool again, water running down his back in smooth, rivulet trails. The man could've sold cologne with that body. Or ruined marriages.

"Just remember whose is whose," Barbara added lightly.

I turned to look at her. Her mouth was curved in a smile, but there was something behind her tone -- something sly, maybe a little dangerous. "Oh, I wouldn't dare," I said, raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't?" she asked, feigning surprise. "That's disappointing."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

She finally turned to face me, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head. Her eyes were sparkling, playful but sharp. "I'm just saying... a little looking never hurt anyone. But if you're going to watch, you could at least be honest about it."

I held her gaze for a beat longer than I probably should have. "Fine. I was watching. Who wouldn't?"

Barbara grinned wider. "Exactly. He does have that effect."

Across the pool, Ken waved in our direction. Barbara gave him a lazy two-finger salute.

"I swear, he knows," I muttered.

"Oh, honey," Barbara said, lowering her voice to a near-whisper. "He always knows. That's half the fun."

Archie was on his feet now, walking toward the diving board.

Barbara leaned in a bit closer. "You can watch mine. I'll watch yours. Deal?" Her words landed like a secret handshake.

I laughed -- maybe a little too nervously. "You're terrible."

"And you're curious." She winked and leaned back, drink in hand.

Later in the afternoon, just as the sun began to mellow into a golden warmth, Ken reappeared with a camera slung around his neck -- the real kind, too, not just a phone.

"Look who's gone full photographer on us," Barbara said, lifting her sunglasses as he approached.

"Thought I'd capture the moment," Ken replied with a grin. "You two look too good to waste it."

I laughed, tugging my towel around my waist. "Oh please. We're just a couple of sunburns waiting to happen."

"Exactly," he said, raising the camera and clicking before I had a chance to protest. "That one's going in the scrapbook."

Archie wandered over, drawn by the sound of the shutter. "What are you up to now, Ken?"

"Making memories," Ken replied.

Barbara sat up on her lounger, brushing her hair back. "Let me see." She padded over to stand beside the guys, peering at the small display on the back of the camera. Ken flipped through a few shots.

"Oh wow," she murmured. "That's actually a great one. Look at the way the light hit your leg," she added, pointing toward the screen. "You look like a damn magazine ad."

I sat up, pretending not to care, but curiosity pulled at me. A minute later, I stood and wandered over to join them.

Ken glanced up. "Perfect timing. Let's take some more." Before I could say no, he was already ushering Barbara and me together. "Stand right there. Sun's perfect now."

Barbara moved easily beside me, her skin warm against mine. Ken raised the camera again.

"Alright, smile. Or smirk. Whatever feels natural."

Click.

Then: "OK, get a little closer together."

Barbara didn't hesitate. She slid her arm around my shoulder like we'd done it a hundred times before, easy and familiar. I mirrored the gesture, resting my hand on her lower back. She felt soft and solid, her fingers curling just a bit over my shoulder like she meant it.

Click.

"That's a nice one," Ken said, looking at the screen. "You two photograph well together."

Barbara tilted her head toward me. "We do, don't we?"

"You're making me nervous," I said with a laugh.

"Oh relax," she murmured. "Just enjoy it."

Ken kept clicking -- angles, light, little adjustments. At some point, Archie said something about us looking like swimsuit models, and we all laughed.

Then Ken said, "Try facing each other a bit more. Yeah, just like that. Maybe lean in a little."

I looked at Barbara. Her eyes sparkled.

"You game?" she asked softly.

I hesitated -- but not long. "Sure. Why not?"

We leaned in, close enough that I could feel her breath. The laughter faded behind the camera.

Click.

"Closer again?" Archie called out, his voice laced with a mischievous grin.

He stood behind Ken now, arms folded, watching us like he'd just ordered dessert and was waiting for the first bite.

Barbara turned her head toward him, raising an eyebrow. "What's this? Looking for a little lez scene, Archie?"

I blinked -- caught off guard. The words landed with a mix of shock and thrill. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Barbara just laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Relax," she whispered to me, eyes twinkling. Then she pulled me closer suddenly, her arm tightening around my shoulder. I stumbled a half-step forward to catch my balance, my body pressed against hers now.

Ken's camera clicked again.

"Perfect," he said, not looking up.

Barbara giggled. "See? The boys are having fun."

"I'm not sure which one of us they're actually watching," I murmured under my breath, cheeks flushed but smiling anyway.

"Oh, they're watching both," she replied with a wink.

"You two want a private room?" Archie quipped.

Ken didn't even flinch, just kept snapping shots. "You're the one who said closer," he reminded.

Barbara shifted slightly, her hand brushing lower along my back. "Careful," she said without looking away from me. "Say 'closer' again and I'll kiss her."

Archie laughed, but I felt the air around us shift, just a little tighter. Ken froze for half a second, then lifted the camera again.

Barbara held the moment, letting the tension stretch deliciously between all of us. Then she leaned her head against mine -- just lightly -- and smiled for the camera.

Click.

I turned my head, caught her smirking at me. "You're enjoying this way too much," I whispered.

"Oh, honey," she murmured, "I haven't even started."

"Okay, how about a kiss?" Ken asked, his voice too casual to be innocent.

Barbara turned to him, arching an eyebrow. "What's next? You want us to drop our tops too?" She said it with that signature grin of hers -- half tease, half dare.

"Great idea!" It came out in unison. Archie and Ken.

Barbara and I both stared at them. For a split second, the only sound was the soft rustling of water in the pool. Then Barbara burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you two are ridiculous," she said, shaking her head. But then she looked at me -- really looked. Her eyes sparkled, but there was something calculating behind them too.

And that's when it hit me: she might actually be considering it.

My breath caught.

I glanced around. The backyard was private, wrapped in a tall fence, the kind lined with climbing ivy and far too high for neighbors to peek over. The world beyond felt miles away. It was just the four of us, a warm summer sun, and too many open beers.

"Don't tempt her," I said nervously, but my voice came out softer than I expected. Uncertain. Curious.

Barbara turned to face me and leaned in, conspiratorial. "Are you tempted?" she whispered.

I tried to laugh it off. "I mean... maybe a little buzzed."

Barbara grinned. "Buzzed is when the fun starts."

"Still waiting on that kiss," Ken chimed in, camera ready at eye level again.

"You're relentless," Barbara replied, but she didn't sound annoyed. Instead, she turned back to me and raised an eyebrow. "Shall we give them their little fantasy?"

I blinked. "What, the kiss or the tops?"

She laughed again -- rich and warm -- and stepped just a little closer. "We'll start with the kiss. Tops... we'll see how well-behaved they are."

I could hear Archie chuckling behind Ken, muttering something like "I'm not betting on myself."

I hesitated. But Barbara was already there, fingers gently brushing my cheek as she leaned in, slow and deliberate, giving me time to pull away. I didn't. Her lips met mine -- not deep, not long, but enough. Soft, sure, and very intentional.

Click.

Ken got the shot. Of course he did. When she pulled back, Barbara winked at me and turned toward the boys. "That's your one. For now."

Archie whistled. Ken just grinned, lowering the camera. "You two are going to break the internet."

"Only if we let you post them," I said, still breathless.

Barbara handed me another beer. "Don't worry," she said. "The fun's just getting started."

But I didn't do things like that. I wasn't the type. And neither was Barbara... was she? I turned toward her, searching for the same second-guessing I felt inside.

But Barbara wasn't hesitating. Her fingers were behind her back, calmly working the clasp of her bikini top. My breath caught.

"Barbara...?" I said, barely above a whisper.

She met my gaze, a playful glint in her eyes. "What? The boys wanted a show." With a smooth motion, the straps slipped from her shoulders, and her top came off.

And there they were -- her breasts, high-set, round, impossibly perky, and closer together than I remembered from when we used to change for yoga class. Somehow, now, they looked... bolder. Confident.

My mouth was dry.

Behind us, there was the unmistakable click-click-click of Ken's camera.

"Jesus, Barb," Archie muttered, clearly stunned, though not complaining. "You're really doing it."

Barbara turned slightly, presenting a better angle. "You both said it was a great idea," she said with a shrug. "Just living up to expectations."

Ken was in full photographer mode now. "Don't move -- light's perfect."

"You gonna thank me later?" Barbara teased, planting one hand on her hip.

"I might thank you right now," Ken said, grinning like a kid on Christmas.

I stood there frozen, somewhere between scandalized and intrigued, trying to reconcile what I was seeing with the friend I thought I knew.

Barbara glanced at me, catching my look. "Oh come on," she said, her voice low and warm. "Don't pretend you've never wondered what it would be like to break a rule or two."

"I -- " I started, but nothing came out.

"You don't have to," she said gently. "But if you want to..."

Her words trailed off, and her eyes drifted meaningfully to the knot of my own bikini top.

I looked down, then up again. My heart thudded in my chest. The fence still loomed tall. No neighbors. No kids. Just Barbara, bare-chested and beautiful, the camera clicking, our husbands watching with stunned fascination, and a buzz in the air that wasn't just from the beer.

And I wondered -- for the first real time -- what might happen if I stopped pretending I wasn't tempted.

"Let's give 'em a show they won't forget," Barbara murmured, her voice low, velvet-smooth, just for me.

I turned to her, heart pounding, unsure whether to laugh or freeze. But I grinned anyway -- because that's what I was supposed to do, right? Keep it playful. Keep it light. So I struck a pose next to her, one hand on my hip, the other brushing back my hair.

The camera snapped again.

Outwardly, I was all smiles and mischief. But inside? My stomach was doing somersaults. My skin buzzed. This was too much. I wasn't this kind of woman. Was I?

Barbara leaned closer, her bare shoulder grazing mine, skin warm from the sun. "Want me to undo it?" she asked, her voice even softer this time, barely audible over the sound of the water and the distant birdsong.

I blinked. "Undo what?"

She gave me a slow, knowing smile, eyes flicking down to the knot at the center of my bikini top.

My breath caught. "You mean -- "

Barbara nodded. "Only if you want to," she said, fingers already poised just inches from the bow. "No pressure. But... they're eating this up."

I could feel the eyes on us. Ken, with his camera half-lowered now, barely blinking. Archie, standing beside him, mouth slightly open, beer forgotten in his hand.

I looked down at my top, then at her -- so relaxed, so bold, as if shedding her top had freed something inside her. "I don't know," I whispered, my voice trembling despite the smile still frozen on my face.

Barbara's hand moved gently to my lower back. "I'll stop if you say no," she said, eyes locked on mine. "But... you're beautiful. And maybe it's time you let them see it."

A rush of heat bloomed in my cheeks. I couldn't tell if it was embarrassment or excitement -- or both.

"Maybe just a little," I said softly, my pulse fluttering.

She leaned in, brushing her lips close to my ear. "Say when."

I hesitated. Then, after a breath, nodded.

Her fingers moved with practiced grace. One slow tug, and the knot gave way. My top loosened, clung for a second, then slipped. I caught it before it fell entirely -- just barely.

The camera clicked. Again. Again.

I turned instinctively, one arm crossing my chest, laughing despite myself. "Oh my god," I whispered. "I can't believe I just let you do that."

Barbara grinned. "You'll believe it when you see the photos."

From behind the camera, Ken exhaled audibly. "That... was incredible."

Archie looked stunned. "You two are killing me."

Barbara raised her arm in a mock victory pose. "We aim to please."

She glanced at me again -- playful, encouraging, proud.

And for the first time that afternoon, I wasn't just nervous anymore. I was alive. I still had my arm across my chest, my bikini top balled in my other hand, but I felt every pair of eyes on me like sunlight -- warm, focused, unrelenting.

Barbara leaned in again, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, "You're gorgeous. Don't hide it." Her voice curled around something inside me. I shivered.

I glanced at the guys -- Archie and Ken were frozen in place, their smiles strained by awe, arousal, maybe a hint of disbelief. Like they weren't sure if they were still in their own backyard or dreaming.

Barbara stepped in front of me slightly, her body shielding mine. "Want to do it together?" she whispered. "Drop them at the same time?"

I laughed nervously. "You already dropped yours."

She winked. "Then I'll pick mine up just so I can drop it again."

Her teasing tone made me giggle, but it didn't stop the ache building low in my belly. This was turning into something else -- something unspoken, a slow seduction in daylight.

She took my hand, gently pried my top from it, and tossed it to the grass behind us. Then she reached for hers and draped it over my shoulder like a sash.

"Now we match," she said.

The camera clicked again.

"Holy hell," Archie breathed.

"You two are... unreal," Ken added, his voice thick with amazement.

Barbara turned to them, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Think they're ready for Act Two?"

Archie chuckled, but the sound was hoarse. "If that was Act One, I might not survive a sequel."

Barbara gave me a glance full of mischief. "We're just warming up."

Then she stepped behind me, her hands resting lightly on my hips. Her fingers brushed my skin -- bare, goosebumped. My breath hitched.

"Let's give them a pose they'll never forget," she murmured, then guided me gently, angling my body just so -- shoulder turned, back slightly arched. Her palms were steady, sure, electric.

I glanced back at her, half-laughing, half-dazed. "Are you secretly a director or something?"

"Just a woman who knows how to leave a lasting impression," she whispered, and slid one hand up, slowly, to rest just beneath my breasts.

Ken's camera clicked furiously now, and I could hear Archie shift -- either stepping closer or just adjusting himself. Maybe both.

Barbara's breath was at my neck now. "You okay?" she asked softly, still holding me.

"Yes," I said, surprised that it was true.

"Good," she whispered. "Because I don't want to stop yet."

Neither did I.

"Okay, it's our turn," Barbara announced suddenly, her tone sharp with playful command as she snatched the camera from Ken's hands. She brought it up to her eye and snapped a quick shot of Archie, who blinked at the flash.

"Hey!" he protested, shielding his face with mock outrage.

Barbara just grinned. "Candid's the only way to catch you being cute."

Then she turned to both men, motioning them together. "Alright boys, now stand next to each other. I want symmetry. Balance. Masculine energy."

Archie narrowed his eyes. "Uh, not in your lifetime."

Ken chuckled. "Yeah, I think we're good staying in our separate corners."

"We're not looking for hugs and kisses," Barbara said, rolling her eyes. "Just one picture. You two, side by side. Fully clothed. Relax."

I was already giggling. "You made us strip half-naked and pose like centerfolds, and you're hesitating over standing next to each other?"

Barbara gave them both a look. "Exactly. You're not being asked to press your chests together and gaze into each other's eyes. Just... stand. Still. I promise it won't cost you your man cards."