Tommy Bahama was generally out of my price range, but the front of the store had a huge fifty-percent-off sale that caught my eye, so I wandered in. There wasn’t a kid’s section, but I was able to pick Brendan up a pair of Hawaiian-looking swim trunks in a men’s extra small that looked like it would fit. On my way to the register, I passed a rack with colorful bikinis all priced at under twenty dollars. What the hell? Remembering what Simon had said, I decided to try one on just for fun. It had been a good ten years since my stomach had seen daylight, but trying one on wouldn’t hurt.
I was amazed that it actually looked pretty good. I wasn’t eighteen years old and stick thin anymore, but Simon was right—I could totally rock this suit. My curves didn’t look half bad in a bright, floral-colored two-piece—and it coordinated with Brendan’s. If only I had the nerve to wear it out in public. As if on schedule, my phone buzzed from inside my purse. Before changing, I dug it out. Seeing Simon’s name on the screen had my heart pounding in my chest.Simon: Get yourself a new suit while you’re out.What? How could he have possibly known I was out buying a bathing suit?Bridget: How the heck do you know I’m out shopping?Simon: Brendan texted me to show me the worms he was buying and said you were out getting him swim trunks because his didn’t fit.I hadn’t known Brendan even knew Simon’s number.Bridget: Does he text you often?Simon: Mostly it’s just pictures of what you guys are doing.Wow. I had no idea.Bridget: Well then I’m glad he’s not here right now to take a picture.Simon: Why? What are you doing?Bridget: I’m standing in the fitting room at Tommy Bahama. My plan was to pop into Target and pick up Brendan a suit but instead I’m in Galleria Mall trying on a bikini. My stomach is whiter than milk.The dots started to bounce around and then stopped. Then started again.Simon: Send me a pic.There was no way I was sending him a picture. My selfie skills were pretty weak, and while I didn’t look horrible, it wasn’t Simon worthy. Before I could respond back, Simon texted again.Simon: Stop thinking about it, luv. Send me a shot. I won’t let anyone else see it.Against my better judgment, I snapped a pic in the mirror. It wasn’t half bad. Another text from Simon came in.Simon: I know you just took one. Now stop analyzing it and send it to me.I giggled in the dressing room. It dawned on me that it was the first time I’d laughed since I’d arrived in Florida yesterday. But I still wasn’t sending him the picture. Although…
I reached into the cup of the bikini top and lifted my boobs so that they were perked up. Then I raised the sides of the bottoms so that it gave the appearance of longer legs. Smiling, I put one hand on my hip and posed for a selfie in the mirror.
Well I’ll be. No wonder all the teens did this hand on the hip thing. I looked ten pounds lighter. And the boob fluff up I’d done made my naturally full breasts look perky as hell.
Simon texted again.Simon: How about if I send you a selfie first? Will that help?I chewed my fingernail.Bridget: Maybe…Less than a minute later, my phone pinged indicating a photo had arrived. Of course, he’d done it. I started to crack up when I opened the picture. Simon was at work, but must’ve stepped into the supply closet. He was wearing blue scrubs and had a big goofy smile on his face.Bridget: Ummm. Cute. But if you expect a bikini shot, you’re going to have to put up more skin than that, Hogue.Again, a minute later, my phone pinged. Simon was still standing in the supply closet but was lifting his shirt so that I could see his abs and had let his scrubs fall to his knees. His tight boxers showcased his thick thighs and the V north of the good stuff. I also knew firsthand that the big bulge he was sporting was not the result of a good camera angle or any fluffing.
I stood in the dressing room for a few minutes and debated sending him my selfie in return. Eventually, my phone pinged again.Simon: You owe me BIG now.Bridget: Why?Simon: Nurse Hamilton walked in on me. Apparently, I hadn’t locked the door like I thought I did. I think she thought I was masturbating.I covered my mouth laughing. Nurse Hamilton was probably close to seventy. She was also extremely proper. I supposed I couldn’t hold out on him after that. Calling up the picture I’d taken on my phone…I let my finger hover over the button for a good three minutes. Then I held my breath and pressed send.