Music can make life's good times even more memorable, at least that's what I've always felt. The right song going along with the right event or setting, adds another layer, or special feature or something. That's why many people are sometimes reminded of a certain moment in their past when they hear that certain song. Anyway, like I said, that's what I think.
Maybe that's also why I have countless playlists stored on my phone for different situations. I guess I'm a nerd about music I suppose. So, as you'd guess, I have a playlist just for hanging out at my neighborhood pool. And last week, that music was the door opener for some new experiences.
I'm Rob and I love music..., almost as much as I love sex.
Last Friday brought to a close a long, tough workweek for me. I'd been on the road with clients for three and a half days, which meant I had to cram a weeks worth of work into a day and a half. Friday at five o clock couldn't come soon enough; so much so that I called it a wrap early, around 4pm, filled a large insulated cup with wine, changed into a swimsuit, and headed to my neighborhood pool.
The pool is a big one by typical standards, with sufficient space for the moms with youngsters to gather at the shallowest end while leaving plenty of distance from the other end where the adults tend to locate and enjoy some quiet. Plenty of sun-drenched deck area around makes for an almost resort-like setting. I let myself in the gate, since there is no lifeguard, and planted myself in an available lounge chair in the unofficial grownup zone.
The place was almost empty today, save for two mothers and their kids on the steps at the other end and an attractive black woman in a chair a little ways down for me She looked to be perhaps in her mid 30's, and wore a conservative, skirt style swimsuit like one would've expected to see on a much older woman. A striped rectangular pool float was lying on the deck next to her chair. Her broad sun hat and sunglasses shielded her expression however she smiled politely and said hello as I settled in, put some music on my small portable speaker and opened a book to read.
I always make a conscious effort to keep the music volume down at the pool. After all, it's a public space and not every appreciates the same music, or any at all for that matter At one point, Scott Hirsch's No-No was playing louder than I thought it should so I turned it down a little to avoid disrupting my polite neighbor. She noticed the change, quickly looked my way and said, "You can keep it turned up. That's great pool music!"
"Well okay then!" I replied and raised the volume up a little louder than before. "Is that too much?" I asked.
"Perfect!" She answered as another, more deliberate smile appeared from beneath her hat. Our extended eye contact gave me the opportunity to notice a little more of her this time. Her swimsuit, while conservative, did have a lower cut top which elegantly showed off the deep cleavage formed between her large and seemingly natural breasts. "She is certainly attractive," I thought to myself.
Returning to my wine and book, I relaxed off some more of my long workweek. Not long later I was hot enough from the bright Texas sun to need to hop in the pool. I looked back to her and said, " It is so hot! I'm going to get wet and cool off. Do you mind if I take the speaker over by the water with me?"
"That's a great idea. It is getting hot out." She replied. "I'll join you. The music's good enough to follow anyway!" Ten quick steps and two splashes later and we were both in the chest deep water, standing together near the edge. She left her pool float behind near her chair.
"Hi, I'm Melissa. Thanks for bringing the entertainment!" She said. "It was way too quiet before you got here!"
"Nice to meet you, Melissa. I'm Rob."
Over the next hour we talked and drank; as Melissa had brought an adult beverage of her own. I learned over that time that she had moved here seven months prior and was pleased with her new city and neighborhood. She was single and had barely dated since moving to town. More importantly, she was downright charming and a great conversationalist. I felt myself becoming more and more interested in this smart and classy woman.
As she sipped the last of her drink, Melissa sighed a bit and said to me, "I have to go back to my house now, unfortunately. I have a family member stopping by; not my favorite relative, but I'm obligated to spend the time. It's been fun hanging out with you though Rob. Will you still be here later? The pool closes at 9PM this evening, right?"
I hadn't planned for an entire evening at the pool but didn't have any commitments of my own. So I feigned a moment of contemplation and then replied, "Well sure, I can be here later. What time do you think you'll be free?"
"How 'bout I try to make it back here by around eight o'clock? See you then?" Melissa was becoming more interesting every minute, and her expression couldn't disguise her hope that I would agree.