On the prowl

Chloe didn’t tell Sean what she was planning. In part because she wanted it to be a surprise but mostly because if she failed she didn’t want to be embarrassed if it went wrong.

Chloe looked at the entrance to the Gym as she went towards the pool. She hadn’t been to the gym recently and the last few times she had been with Magnus. She realised that a good workout with the right outfit could be a great way to meet someone but right now she had her mind on one guy in particular.

Being on the prowl was kind of exciting. She knew that she couldn’t expect him to come on to her so she was prepared to make the moves. She wasn’t sure if she would go all the way this time but she was going to lay down some groundwork.

As she changed she wished she could get away with a skimpier bikini but she did actually want to work out and not just splash around looking pretty. She thought that a sporty young man might appreciate a more athletic aesthetic anyway.

She headed to the poolside. Bingo, she was in luck. The same handsome young man who had checked her out previously was sitting on the raised seat beside the pool. She walked past where he was sitting and said a casual “Hi” and smiled at him. He seemed surprised that she had spoken to him but he managed to get in a “Hi” of his own before she had gone too far. She tried not to be too gratuitous as she worked out but she caught him looking away as she turned her head towards him. That was a good sign. If he was interested in her then half the battle was already won.

She did her workout. Occasionally she would sneak a peek at him to be sure she wanted to pursue him. He wasn’t especially tall but she was fairly short so that didn’t matter to her. He had short, dark hair that was clearly quite curly. His body, what she could see of it, seemed fit. He had lovely toned legs and his shoulders were broad on his youthful build. She pushed herself to swim again and pull her eyes away from him. She was getting excited by thoughts of running her fingers through those dark curls and gripping those broad shoulders.

She focussed so hard on her workout that when she next lifted her head to have a peek at him, he was gone, replaced by a plain but sporty looking girl. She was a bit frustrated as she climbed out of the pool but she hadn’t planned on doing anything today anyway. She had just hoped that she might get another chance to say something. Perhaps next time he would remember her.

She slipped into her yoga pants and tight white t-shirt grabbed her jacket and her bag and left the changing cubicle. She grabbed her purse from the locker on the bottom row and as she stood up she turned and found her missing lifeguard, floor mop in hand, eyes darting back from where they had been planted on her behind. She yelped in surprise.

“Sorry,” said the young man, his voice deep but soft “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Chloe was quick to recover from the surprise “Were you looking at my butt?”

“What? No.” said the boy unconvincingly.

Chloe smiled. “Pitty. It would only be fair. I’ve been checking you out for my whole swim.” She was torn between cringing and the pure thrill of being so blunt.

“I’m sor… What did you say?”

“Girls can check out guys too, you know. You’re cute so I kept having a little peek. It only seems fair you get to do the same.”

The lifeguard looked like he had malfunctioned. “You liked me looking at your butt?”

Chloe could see his name tag now. She moved closer to him. “That’s right Wesley.”

“Wes” he corrected.

“Wes,” she confirmed. “Say, Wes?” she asked, now very close to him. She reached out to straighten the collar of his leisure centre polo shirt. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Er,” he said, almost like he didn’t understand the question, then quickly added, “No, no I don’t.”

“Would you like to take me out some time?” she asked with a coy look.

“Yea, I’d like that a lot,” he replied with a big smile.

“Yay,” said Chloe, bouncing on her heels. She rummaged in her purse and pulled out her phone. She opened a new contact and handed it to him. “I’m Chloe by the way,” she said as she watched him enter his number.

“Hi Chloe, I’m Wes,” he said clumsily as he handed her back the phone.

She gently poked his name badge “I know Wes.” She called the number and his pocket buzzed. “There. You have my number now too.”

Wes looked incredibly happy. “So, er, when do you want to go out?”

Chloe smiled at him and shrugged, “I need to check my diary.” she started making towards the exit but she walked backwards, looking at him as she spoke. “Text me, okay?”

“Yea, yea. Okay, bye Chloe.”

“Bye Wes” she called and she turned to walk out with a little extra sway in her step, hoping he was watching her leave.