36. Red leather shorts

THIRTY-SIX

RED LEATHER SHORTS

HARLOW

The next few days fly by and, before I know it, my first meet of the season is one day away. Pierce and I have been putting in extra time, trying to ensure that I’m comfortable racing. Marymount University is a top competitor for us, but I’m more excited than anything. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping up on the block and waiting for the buzzer to sound.

I’m not going to be swimming butterfly, which does make me sad, but Pierce wants to make sure I’m at one hundred percent. I know the stroke puts more strain on my shoulder and we don’t want to rush anything. Either way, I’m happy to swim freestyle if it means I get to compete.

While Coach Bradford still seems reserved, I think most of that is his own guilt from how quick he was to assume the worst regarding my injury.

The amount of people who’ve asked me why I didn’t come forward sooner about what happened with Beckett is comical. In the beginning, it was frustrating, but now I just wave them off and redirect the conversation.

Shockingly, the person who’s been the most upset is Pierce. He keeps going on about how he thought, with the amount of time we’ve spent together, I’d have told him. No one seems to understand that there was far more at stake for me than just dropping that bomb.

And the fight at formal? Well, that blurred into the rest of the gossip on campus.

Among getting ready for the meet tomorrow, Lennon is breathing down my neck about finishing our costumes for the Halloween party on Friday. As usual, she has an elaborate plan while all I want is to wear a black dress or something with some animal ears. Call it a night.

Speaking of, Lennon saunters into my room with a bundle of fabric in her arms.

“What is that ?” I peer over my book at her.

“ This is your costume! If you’d just put down that damn book for more than a few minutes and let me show you what I’ve been working on,” she scoffs before throwing down the materials. Not letting me respond, she continues, “I know you’ve got this new freedom and you’re able to relax now that he-who-shall-not-be-named is out of the picture, but why am I not getting all your attention now?”

I set my book down, letting my head fall back in a fit of giggles. “Lennon, you’ve hardly been home! Are we going to talk about where you’ve been?”

“Studying,” she retorts. “I’ve been studying.”

“Sure…you know you can tell me if you and Wes are seeing each other, right?” I raise an eyebrow and stare her down.

“There’s nothing to tell. We happened to spend some time together after the whole formal incident, but I’m not dating him or anything. And now that you’ve almost changed the subject, let me put you in the hot seat. What’s going on with you and Shep?” She jumps on the bed next to me.

“Nothing. You know I ran into him and that’s it. I haven’t talked to him since, but I was thinking…”

“Yes?” Lennon beams at me eagerly.

“I might text him that I’m racing tomorrow and see if he wants to come.” I pull my bottom lip into my mouth.

“I think that’s a great idea! W—” She stops herself, snapping her mouth shut.

I turn my head and widen my eyes. “Hm?”

She scowls then looks away. “I’m sure Shep will know people there, that’s all.”

“Uh huh. Not Wes is coming to watch you and Shep can go with him?”

She waves a hand in my face then reaches down at the end of the bed for the things she brought in with her.

It takes me a few seconds to register what she’s holding and my shoulders slump when it clicks. “Lennon, I’m not wearing lingerie to the Halloween party. You must be out of your mind.”

“It’s not lingerie when it’s a Halloween costume! C’mon, everyone knows that!” Lennon holds up the corset to herself. “See? It’s not slutty if it’s for Halloweeeeeen!” Her voice rises up into a shrill pitch.

“Right, but what exactly are we supposed to be? The corset and spandex leather shorts aren’t really giving off any vibes other than?—”

“Shh! Enough. I’m not done yet! I just need you to try it on so I can get the vision. Here,” she tosses me the clothes then stands up and starts walking towards my door. “I’ll be in my room when you’re changed. Indulge me.”

Once she leaves, I walk into my bathroom and hold up the white corset to my body. I look at my reflection in the mirror and I’ve got no idea what Lennon is planning, but she’s never done me wrong in the past.

Shimmying into the red leather shorts, I pull the corset over my head and tighten it. Holy shit .

My ass is essentially hanging out and what cleavage I do have is spilling out over the top of the white lace. I stand in front of the mirror for a few more seconds, when an odd feeling starts to coil up in my stomach. The thought of Shep seeing me in this pops into my mind and there’s a jolt of excitement that shocks me.

I’ve been resigned to wanting to cover myself up. Hiding internal and external hurt with my wardrobe. However, with the recent change of events, it’s like I’ve shed off that invisible layer of shame and guilt.

I decide to give Lennon the rouse she wants, so I let my hair down and ruffle it over my shoulders. I smack my lips together a few times and pinch my cheeks for an instant flush. Satisfied with my appearance, I strut into her room and throw my arms up into the air.

“Ta-da!” I shimmy my chest in her direction.

Lennon whips around and squeals. “You look amazing! This is going to be so good! Shep’s going to lose his mind!” She taps her fingers tips together like she’s concocting an evil plan.

“Care to explain?” I put my hands on my hips. “Like what exactly is this costume? Are we matching?”

“We are,” she points to a similar outfit lying over the chair in her room. “Don’t worry, I just wanted to make sure everything fit you. I’ll have the rest ready by Friday.”

She walks over and pushes her hands up under my boobs. “This is good,” she smirks.

“Lennon,” I swat at her. “Did you even consider that maybe I don’t want to use Halloween as an excuse to dress up like a sex pot for Shep?”

“Hm,” she pushes her pointer finger into her temple, then throws her hand dismissively in the air. “Nope! Didn’t cross my mind.”

I frown at her. “You’re meddling, Lenny.”

“Ugh! Just let me have some fun, okay? I obviously dropped the ball big time with?—”

“Don’t. Don’t do that. You had no idea, okay? So you can’t put that on yourself.” I reach out and grab her by the shoulders. A twinge of guilt washes over me as I realize it’s likely that Lennon’s efforts are being fueled by her own. “You know what? You’re right. I do want Shep to see me in this and I’m excited to see the rest of the costume.”

Her eyes well up and I draw her into me. Hugging her, the wall of my own stubbornness crumbles a little more. Robin suggested something I could say to Lennon to affirm our friendship and this moment feels like the time.

I step back and place my hands around her face. “Lennon, you were as good of a friend as you could be with the amount of information I gave you. You aren’t a mind reader and there was no way for you to know what was going on. Bec— he played his part well. Every one of his roles was believable, so much so that I even fell for the show he put on in the beginning of our relationship. It’s not on you. Okay?”

She nods her head and then swipes the tears off her cheeks. “Okay.”

I kiss her forehead and then ask her for some more hints about these costumes. She won’t give me any details but we do come up with another plan.

Operation: Invite Shep Over After the Swim Meet.

Which involves Lennon trying to convince me to send Shep a picture of myself in this costume, and at first I immediately shut down that disaster of an idea. But Lennon has a way of twisting my arm with her overzealous attitude.

“It’ll be fun! Harlow, do it!” She claps her hands, mischievously.

Taking my phone, she snaps a picture of me pouting at the camera.

“Lenny, I’m not?—”

“Shut UP! That’s perfect. Holy shit, you look so good. Look at yourself!” She squeals and shows me the screen.

I snatch back my phone and stare at the girl in the photo. I don’t know why but I feel like I keep seeing myself for the first time. I study the picture and it may seem a little out of character for me to flirt with Shep, but it’s never been out of my character to mess with him and give him a hard time—which is exactly what this photo will do.