If you didn’t know Natalie, you might think she came from a family of college cheerleaders, with her sun-kissed blonde hair and athletic body. But her toned physique wasn’t from shaking pom-poms at games—it was from her skills in archery. She was a pro, hitting targets with the precision of a seasoned competitor.
I met her during our sophomore year at college when she joined the archery team. Though the men and women competed separately, we trained together, and I fell for her the first time she hit a bullseye right in front of me. She took off her hat, letting her long, wavy hair cascade down her shoulders, and flashed a charming smile.
“You’re really good,” she said, charming me with her Australian accent.
I was still trying to figure out how someone six inches shorter than me had bested me so easily. “I know I’m good. You’re just much better.”
Natalie gave me a guilty smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“I’m Jake,” I introduced myself, extending my hand. Instead of shaking it, Natalie raised her bow and challenged me again, teasing, “Wanna try again? Maybe you’ll get lucky.”
That night, I did get lucky—not in archery, as she defeated me soundly once more, but in a different way. She invited me to her dorm to watch the famous sword fight in Scaramouche. We were so compatible that we barely paid attention to the movie.
Natalie was vibrant and full of energy, with a mind buzzing with art and ideas. We connected instantly, finishing each other’s sentences. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and for reasons beyond my understanding, she seemed just as taken with me. I had never been happier to lose a match.
By two in the morning, we were exploring a different kind of competition. As I held her close, she whispered in blissful ecstasy. Our passion was interrupted by the sudden appearance of her roommate, who stood awkwardly at the door, keys in hand, and eyes wide.
Surprisingly, this intrusion ignited something within us, turning the presence of a third party into a thrill. The next evening, Natalie led me into the girls’ shower room after practice, and soon, we had an audience. Our little performances became a staple around campus, and we even earned a mention in the school newspaper.
Natalie was the love of my life, and we were inseparable throughout college. We studied, ate, and even tackled the brutal P90X workout together. We planned to move in together after graduation.
But then, the university threw us a curveball, deciding at the last minute that two of Natalie’s transfer credits wouldn’t count toward her degree. Semantic Linguistics, apparently, wasn’t considered a real science. We were stuck. We had already signed a lease on an apartment across the country in California, where I had a job lined up to start in a few weeks.
The only option was long-distance dating for the summer—a mere eight weeks. It was far from ideal, but we thought we could manage. How hard could it be?
As it turned out, it was excruciatingly hard. Like, “throbbing, never-ending frustration” hard. I realized this on my first day at work.
The Thrill of New Temptations
Officially, I was the “Inter-Departmental Liaison,” but my duties mainly involved hauling things between two offices across town. The two owners of the company refused to work in the same building.
Despite the mundane tasks, the pay was excellent, especially for someone fresh out of college. It was a golden opportunity to learn the business, meet vendors, and understand how things operated in the real world.
I had two bosses at different sites. At Site A, Jerry was an older gentleman who took the time to introduce me to everyone. Most of the staff acknowledged me with little more than a nod. None of them stood out until I met—
“Jake, this is Danielle, my assistant. She’ll be your main contact here.”
Wow.
I tried to play it cool as the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen stood up to greet me. Her short copper hair framed a face that belonged on a magazine cover. Danielle was maybe five or six years older than me, exuding a sophisticated aura that could stop traffic.
“Nice to meet you, Jake,” she said, her smile polite but distant. Her icy-blue eyes appraised me, and I got the feeling that being nice required genuine effort on her part.
Danielle was stunning, dressed in a form-fitting pencil skirt that highlighted her long, toned legs. She was also endowed with a figure that seemed to defy physics, making her look both slender and voluptuous at the same time.
Part of me was relieved that Danielle wasn’t more welcoming. With my girlfriend away for two months, the last thing I needed was a gorgeous woman flirting with me.
Enter Lisa, my contact at Site B.
Lisa was everything Danielle wasn’t—fun-loving, approachable, and impossibly flirtatious. A 22-year-old with a Japanese-American background, Lisa shattered the stereotype of the demure Asian woman. Her style was rock and roll, her energy infectious, and her curves—well, they were impossible to ignore.
“Hi, I’m—”
“Jake, right?” she interrupted, jumping up to greet me with a hug that pressed her curves against me. “It’s great to finally meet you! Everyone here is ancient, and I was thrilled to hear the new guy was around my age!”
Great. She called me “cute.”
By the end of my first day, I knew I was in trouble. My body ached from lugging boxes, but the real pain was the unrelenting tension building inside me. Eight hours a day, I was in the company of two of the most attractive women I’d ever encountered.
And Natalie was states away for another two months. The frustration was going to be unbearable.
I consoled myself as I reached my apartment. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with Lisa and Danielle once the workday ended.
“Jake?”
Lisa’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood three doors down the hall, next to Danielle.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“We live here,” Danielle replied curtly. “We’re roommates.”
Lisa laughed, “What are the odds? We’re neighbors!”
Fantastic.
Later, I finally connected with Natalie over webcam, and she immediately noticed my frazzled state.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
“I just really wish you were here,” I confessed. Her smile was my anchor, and I reminded myself how lucky I was to have her in my life.
Then the power went out.
With no lights, computer, or charged phone, I found myself baking in my apartment’s sweltering heat. Luckily, the complex had a pool. I donned my boxers, deemed decent enough for a swim, and headed outside.
The pool was relatively empty given the heat. Besides me, there were two kids in floaties, their parents, an old woman dipping her feet, and a man in a speedo with a gold chain.
Floating on my back, I tried not to dwell on the water’s contents, instead letting my mind wander. It wasn’t long before thoughts of Lisa and Danielle surfaced. What would Natalie think of them when she arrived? Would she be jealous or amused?
Clang! The pool gate announced new arrivals. My heart skipped as Lisa and Danielle approached, wrapped in towels. I waved casually, trying to hide my anticipation.
“How’s the water?” Danielle asked.
“Wet,” I quipped.
“Good enough for me!” Lisa declared, dropping her towel to reveal a sleek white one-piece suit that hugged her curves.
She dove into the water, her laughter echoing as she surfaced, her hair slicked back.
“Come on, Danielle!” Lisa urged.
Danielle hesitated, testing the water with her toe, then glanced at me. Her reluctance was clear; she was considering whether our working relationship would be affected by me seeing her in a swimsuit.
I turned away, diving beneath the surface, hoping to dispel the tension I felt. When I resurfaced, Danielle had discarded her towel and entered the pool. Her two-piece suit was daring—a gold bikini top and pink bottoms that showcased her athletic figure.
Trying to keep the conversation light, I asked, “Does the power go out often?”
“It’s been happening all the time!” Lisa replied.
Danielle added, “We think it’s from everyone running their air conditioners. But there’s only one manager, and he’s not around after noon.”
Lisa caught me staring and flashed a playful smile, drifting closer. “We’ll probably see you at the pool a lot this summer.”
I needed to mention Natalie. This flirting was harmless, but it wouldn’t do to lead Lisa on.
“My girlfriend’s going to hate these outages,” I said abruptly. “We already signed a year lease.”
Lisa’s smile faltered slightly, and she drifted back. Danielle, however, seemed relieved, her demeanor shifting to genuine friendliness.
They asked about Natalie, curious about my long-distance situation, and I explained our summer apart.
“Eight weeks without seeing each other? That’s tough,” Lisa sympathized.
“Tell me about it,” I agreed.
“Do you know anyone else here?” Danielle asked.
“Not really. Haven’t figured out my social life yet,” I admitted.
The conversation flowed, and though my resolve was tested, I knew where my heart lay. Natalie was my constant, and no matter the distance or temptation, I was committed to waiting.
