Date with the Lifeguard

Donovan stepped through the pool entrance, heart pounding. It had been almost six months since he last came here. He scanned the familiar surroundings, searching for her.

"Susan?" he called out, hoping she'd be there.

"Susan?" Donovan called out, trying to spot her amongst the crowd. He finally saw a massive figure descending the lifeguard stand.

"Donovan! Long time no see," Susan boomed, her voice deeper, but unmistakably hers. She was enormous, towering over everyone with muscles that made the strongest men look frail.

"Hey, Susan," Donovan stammered, taking in her new form. "Uh, how's it going?"

"Surviving the madness," she replied with a smirk. "You finally decided to show up, huh?"

"Yeah, took some time to, uh, adjust to everything that's happened," Donovan said, chuckling awkwardly.

Susan placed her hands on her hips, her biceps swelling. "Well, some things are better than ever, wouldn't you say?" she teased, flexing slightly.

Donovan couldn't stop his gaze. "Y-yeah, you look incredible."

"Yeah? Thanks," Susan replied, rolling her eyes slightly. "You here to swim or just gawk?"

"Swim," Donovan blurted out, embarrassed. "I mean, gawk— no, definitely just swim."

"Good," Susan said, smirking. "Don't want to make it weird, right?"

Donovan nodded nervously. He put down his stuff and prepared to dive in. Before he did, he turned back to her.

"Actually, Susan, I was wondering if – if you might want to grab a coffee after your shift?" The words came out in a rush, his face turning red.

Susan raised an eyebrow. "Coffee, huh? That’s bold, Donovan. Real bold."

Donovan felt his stomach drop. "Sorry, I shouldn’t have—"

"Relax," Susan interjected, her tone softer but still a bit harsh. "I can handle coffee. Sure, why not? My shift ends in an hour."

"Really? That’s great!" Donovan’s face lit up, relief washing over him.

"Yeah, sure," Susan continued, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "It's not like I have a ton of better things to do."

Donovan mumbled a thank you and jumped into the pool, feeling both exhilarated and terrified.

An hour later, Susan's shift ended, and they walked to a nearby coffee shop. Donovan desperately tried to act casual, but Susan's imposing presence made it difficult.

"So, what's life like… now?" Donovan asked, sipping his coffee.

Susan shrugged, her massive shoulders rising. "Different. Pros and cons, you know?"

"Like what?" Donovan pressed, genuinely curious.

"Well, it's easier to carry guys around," Susan said nonchalantly. "And trust me, that's a blast at parties." She chuckled.

Donovan laughed nervously. "I can imagine."

"But this damn uniform…" Susan tugged at her undersized swimsuit. "It’s a nightmare. Rides up in all the wrong places."

"Yeah, that sounds rough," Donovan sympathized.

Susan rolled her eyes. "You have no idea. And don’t get me started on door frames. They've all become my worst enemy."

Donovan smiled awkwardly. "Must be a, uh, daily struggle.">

"Daily pain in the ass, more like it," Susan retorted. "But hey, gotta put up with some things, right?"

"Yeah," Donovan agreed, his voice soft. "Hey, I really appreciate you coming out for coffee with me."

Susan sighed, a bit softer now. "Look, Donovan, you're a nice guy. Just... don't get your hopes up, alright?"

Donovan nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. "Yeah, I get it. Thanks for being honest."

"Alright," Susan said, standing up, her shadow looming over him. "I gotta go. Don’t drown next time you're at the pool, okay?"

"I'll try not to," Donovan said, smiling up at her.

As she walked away, he realized this might not have been the fairytale he'd dreamed of, but it was a start, and he was okay with that.

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