Skinny Dipping by Alicia M Kaye

try to go there. Not that he’s remotely interested.” Sophie felt her cheeks begin to heat.
    “He seems really nice, being worried about your future safety and everything.”
    “I don’t know if he’s worried about me. Someone he loved died in the water, so I think he’s trying to save the world from drowning. ”
    “He’s a client of yours and now, you’re a client of his. How the tables have turned,” Carol said raising her eyebrow at Sophie. “How will you handle that?”
    Sophie frowned. “Handle what? Matthew telling me his advertising ideas….”
    “Matthew telling you what to do in the water?”
    “Oh but he won’t. He said all I had to do was get in the water to start with. Then we’ll see.”
    Carol howled. “I knew it. You’re a complete control freak.”
    “I’m not.”
    Carol raised her eyebrows. “You’re going to have to let him do his thing so you don’t drown. Take his advice. Let him help you. I know me coming here with you, is a big deal for you, Miss Independent.”
    Sophie scowled. “I’m a capable woman. I can do most things on my own and I don’t need help – most of the time.” She swivelled abruptly, picking up a scarf and draping it around her neck, trying to hide her expression as she did so.
    Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a woman with orange wrinkled skin, fake tan, holding a glittering piece of lycra. A swimsuit. Sophie squealed in delight and ran over to the rack. The woman flattened a floral print full piece swimsuit against her body.
    The rack was bursting with clearance summer items, sarongs, towels and bikinis. Sophie eyed a bikini and picked it up. She touched the flimsy material and shuddered. She might as well wear her underwear in the pool. She would be practically naked in a bikini. But bikini’s were fashionable, and Sophie liked to make an impact with clothing.
    She looked down at her short legs, hoping they were in proportion. Everyone would notice her knobbly knees. They would stick out just below her jiggly thighs, although now with her super knowledge of squats and thigh lifts, she could at least get into shape. She ran her hands through her hair, what a nightmare, Matthew Silver seeing her creamy white thighs that hadn’t seen light in years. She would probably blind people with the whiteness of her body. Embarrassing. No one she worked with got to see that.
    “Now since you’re a dancer and you know everything about leotards and skimpy things. I need your help. I need to make my legs look longer.”
    “Let’s think this through logically.”
    “Should I get something high cut?”
    “It’s a swimming lesson not a hot bod contest. Maybe something practical, that you’ll feel comfortable in? Have you got a wax yet?”
    Sophie felt her cheeks go hot as the other shopper’s head darted up and her eyes settled on both of them. “Of course.” No. Carol didn’t need to know about the state of her pubes that was for sure. Some things just didn’t need to be said or spoken about. Besides, there was no real reason to get a wax since the split with Derek. Although, she mentally decided she better get a Brazilian, didn’t need any hair sticking out in the wrong places and she shouldn’t give up on the possibility of getting back together with Derek. He wouldn’t be overly excited if she looked like an orang-utan down there.
    “Should I get a spray tan, too? Would that help my wobbly bits look better?” she said and faced the rack of swimsuits. “Maybe something padded will look good? Black’s slimming.”
    Carol scowled at Sophie. “Let’s just focus.” She pulled a red swimsuit from the rack and Sophie wrinkled her nose.
    “It’s a once piece,” Sophie commented, she swore she read something on Oprah about getting different colours to emphasise the good parts of your body, she could do that with two pieces.
    “It’s a swimming lesson and it’s practical.”
    “It’s red. I’m not sure whether red goes well with my