1. Off my game

ONE

OFF MY GAME

SHEP

“Shep…Shep!” A voice startles me in my chair and I realize I must have dozed off for a few seconds. I straighten up and clear my throat before looking down, seeing one of my co-workers, Max, standing next to my lifeguard stand.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I scan the pool area and thankfully nobody is in the water. Luckily, the rec center is pretty dead around this time of the day. But still, it’s not like me to fall asleep on the job. It’s also not like me to have night after night of tossing and turning, but here we are.

“Just wanted to let you know Tom is coming around today, so maybe you should get a Red Bull or something so you’re not caught slacking on the job.” A small smirk appears on Max’s face before fading away then his tone becomes more serious. “What’s going on? You haven’t been on your game lately.”

As I go to respond, the answer to his question walks out of the locker room and onto the pool deck. He follows my gaze before laughing. “Well, never mind the Red Bull. That right there is enough to keep you awake.” He walks off, snickering, and I feel a burning in my chest. He isn’t wrong, but it bothers me that my interest isn’t the only one that’s been piqued since Harlow Sutherland started practicing at our pool.

In my defense, I’ve never seen a body as perfect as Harlow’s in that jet black race suit she wears to swim laps in. It also doesn’t help that she has golden blonde hair and sparkling emerald eyes that you can see even from a distance. Okay sure, maybe I’m biased because I have a thing for female athletes, but she really is the most gorgeous girl on campus.

I watch as she gets ready to start her practice. She’s been swimming here for three weeks now, yet every time she comes in, I still have to prevent myself from tracking her every movement to soak up her appearance.

Tom, the building manager, told all of us at the end of August that she'd be swimming here. She’s rehabbing her shoulder and we were instructed to reserve a lane for her, Monday through Friday, 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

Rumor has it, she was drunk and fell. One of my buddies who lifeguards at the rec and the athletic center told me her coach basically exiled her here since so many people saw her at the party when it happened. The guy’s probably trying to save face but kind of seems like a dick move. Especially for someone like Harlow.

I did my research after Tom made the announcement. I know her race times. She’s crazy talented and one of the fastest on our college’s team. She carries the team in the 200 Medley Relay as their third leg and butterfly swimmer. I was mesmerized as I watched footage of her previous races. The way she propels herself out of the water during her races shows incredible strength. So yeah I understand why the swim coach is pissed that she’s hurt but still, he couldn’t show her a little grace?

Somehow, all of my lifeguard shifts overlap with her practice schedule and now I feel like I know her better than anyone which is maybe why I wish someone would’ve shown her some kindness with all this. I have to see her struggle trying to swim again. I have to watch her get frustrated when she can’t fully push herself out of the pool. Hell, I even caught her crying once during some of her physical therapy stretches. I’ve probably witnessed a more vulnerable side of her than most people in her life. Okay, well I don’t know about that, but there’s definitely something about seeing this worn down version of her that feels oddly intimate.

Especially because she’s one of the black sheep on campus, always keeping to herself. Maybe that’s what makes her so interesting. She’s caught my eye on campus a few times over the last couple years and again when we had a lecture together once or twice. Not many people know too much about her, other than her role as a student athlete and Beckett’s sometimes girlfriend. He’s one of my fraternity brothers, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out what she sees in that guy. But outside of all that, I really can’t say too much about her.

So maybe it’s a little bold of me to feel like I get her, but there’s a connection there I just can’t explain. Something drawing me to her.

“Can I help you?” a voice catches me off guard.

“Oh, shit. No, sorry,” I reply quickly, shifting my weight in my lifeguarding chair before looking down only to be met with a burning stare from none other than Harlow herself.

“Well, you’ve been staring at me the entire time I’ve been here. It’s kinda fucking creepy.”

Leave it to me to zone out while staring at her during her practice. Not even realizing she’s out of the pool and walking right up to my stand.

I’m definitely off my game.