“Alright,” he says. “If I can find them, I’ll come. Thanks.”
“Great!” I reply, then realise how crazy enthusiastic I sound.
It only makes him chuckle more. “Let’s see if you think it’s so great when you see me in swim shorts. You might change your mind.”
I grin, because there is no way I won’t enjoy seeing Gerwyn in swim shorts. He’ll look fab.
“Nah,” I say. “I’m not going to change my mind on that. No way.”
And neither will Janie…
I don’t add that sentiment as we head upstairs, the evening drawing to a close. I’m so excited for her that I’m grinning from ear to ear as I reach my bedroom door and say goodnight to Gerwyn. I ping her right away with a he’s coming message and she replies straight back with a string full of smileys. I’m still buzzing happy at the thought of their swimming pool ‘date’ when I finish up showering and climb into bed.
It’s only as I’m trying to sleep that the nerves hit me again – praying to God that Claire doesn’t come back into the office, because I just couldn’t face her.
Not yet, anyway.
Gerwyn
I feel like a clumsy teenager as I arrive in Rye Street.
People are bustling in the main reception area when I step inside and I feel weirdly awkward. Out of my depth, which is bizarre and apt, given that I’m in a damn swimming pool.
I have my bag under my arm, hanging back from the main group hustle when the three women arrive at the entrance. Janie is giggling with a girl who looks a few years older than her, a sweet looking redhead with a happy laugh. Penny… yes, Penny.
Janie has her blonde hair loose and long, and looks sweet to match, but my eyes are drawn straight to Cass.
Her hair is up in a twist, and her dark burgundy jacket is striking over her white blouse, a very corporate looking contrast after seeing her in baggy PJs and fluffy socks yesterday. The way the girls look so stunning makes me feel all the more awkward, since I’ll be in too tight swimming shorts in just a few minutes. I must’ve been a fair bit skinnier when I bought them. I had to tug them up pretty hard last night when I dragged them from the bottom of the wardrobe and checked them out for size.
“Hey!” Janie says and jumps in for an enthusiastic hug.
I don’t tense up but pull away pretty sharp to hold out a hand to her friend.
“Gerwyn, pleased to meet you.”
“Penny,” she says and gives me a dainty handshake.
Cass is quiet, but smiling.
“Good day?” she asks and I nod.
“Yeah, thanks. How about yours? How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” she replies, and I hope she really means it.
The hustle of aerobics class clears and we check in for our session. The changing room is unisex, so I dive into a cubicle and curse myself as I switch over to swimwear, grateful that they are casual shorts I’m pulling up and not Olympic style Lycra. I’m desperate to get into the water and out of view, so I dash from the cubicle and load my stuff in one of the lockers, all done and ready to dive in when I turn around to find Cass standing right beside me. She’s in a black swimsuit that fits her perfectly, and she looks absolutely gorgeous. Her hair is still twisted up neatly on her head and her neck looks beautifully bare without a glistening display of jewels around it.
She looks me up and down with a smile, and I’m even more uncomfortable with my physique under such direct scrutiny. Maybe I should’ve listened to Ant and hit the gym every morning at five a.m., but hey ho. Cass seems genuine when she keeps on smiling. She nods her head in approval and gives me a thumbs-up.
“Those swim trunks really suit you.”
I laugh and put a hand on my hip like a bumbling idiot. “Shall I give you a twirl or a catwalk saunter?”
She laughs along with me. “Your choice. You’d look cool doing either.”
We’re still laughing together when Penny and Janie join us, both of them looking amazing along with Cass. Penny and Cass’s eyes move to the pool as the attendant opens the gate to let us through, but Janie’s are still on me.
I gesture all three women down the pool ladder ahead of me, but it’s Janie who hangs back the longest. She’s right by me when I lower myself into the water, straight in with questions about my week.
Only it’s not my week I want to be talking about, and not with her.
Cass winks at me in an enjoy yourself kind of way then speeds off to swim a length with Penny. I feel like an utter dumbass for not really weighing up what would be going on here. This isn’t just about me joining a swimming session with Cass and some friends, this is about me and Janie.