Free Just For Now (A Flirting With Trouble Novel) by Annie Kelly Page A

don’t say anything to Charlie for fear that things won’t work out. In fact, I force myself not to even do online research until she’s left for the afternoon with promises to be back here right after school tomorrow. Once she’s left for the day, I feel like my work can actually begin.
    It’s dark when I finally manage to look up from my work and take stock of my surroundings.
    “Shit—what time is it?” I say aloud to no one. The rest of the staff is long gone, and I stretch my arms over my head before glancing at the wall clock. Almost seven. Jesus. Since when do I stick around work this long?
    There was a time when I’d go out with the girls on a Thursday night—a time when I’d be the first one at the bar at happy hour and the last person to leave, and rarely leave alone. Now, honestly, I’m not even sure I like going to the bar anymore. Most of the time, it comes in second to binge-watching
Orange Is the New Black
and eating cereal right out of the box.
    Cyn and Carson were my wing-women. Then Cyn met Smith and started her teaching job. Then Carson and Wyatt fell crazy in love. And then I . . . I started staying at work two hours later than necessary. I did the thing people do when they’re lonely and alone. I’ve completely immersed myself in my work.
    I don’t know if I’m sad or impressed.
    My parents say I’m wasting my time here, but nights like tonight? As I shut down my computer, with hours of research under my belt, I wish they could see me. See my commitment. Yes, I was born with silver spoons all over the damn place, but I never drank the Kool-Aid. I never relied on the money my parents threw around—not since I realized the strings that were attached to every dollar they spent.
    I glance down at my phone.
    No texts. No messages. No Facebook notifications. I don’t even have a pet that needs me to feed it back at home.
    And something about that statement—about going back to that empty apartment? I just can’t face it today. Not yet.
    I walk through the dark office and into the small staff bathroom. There’s a bin of bathing suits we’ve got for teaching lessons. I find one in my size and change into it. It’s a tight red one-piece, a little more restrictive on the tits than I’d like, considering they’re practically spilling out of the scoop-neck top.
    The burden of a great rack—what can I say?
    I remove my shoes and pad down the hall, turning on a couple lights as I go. The pool is treated with chemicals on Friday nights, so I know I’m good to swim, even if it’s technically been locked up for the night. The way I figure it, access to an indoor pool is a bonus of the job that I very rarely ever take advantage of.
    I make it to the main pool doors and I realize that no one’s locked them. I walk over to the women’s locker room entrance and realize they’re still open, too. I roll my eyes. I don’t know who was on duty tonight, but someone definitely dropped the ball.
    I’m halfway through the locker room, cursing at the anonymous non-closer, when I hear something. I stop in my tracks and listen.
    It’s water.
    I take a few steps forward, then stop again.
    A splash.
    Fuck. Someone’s swimming.
    I feel my stomach drop to my knees. We’ve had break-ins before—usually people looking for the nonexistent cash they think might actually be at a youth center. But there’s clearly someone here tonight, and that someone is swimming.
    I creep around the sinks to the exit, leaning up against the cold cinder block wall and breathing as slowly and as quietly as I can manage. I can hear my heart beating in my ears and I consider heading back to my office to grab my phone. Instead, I manage to get enough balls to glance around the corner and out at the main pool area.
    At first, I don’t see anyone. I squint through the shadows and notice some rippling in the water. Then a dark head emerges from beneath. I still can’t make out features yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s a