birds // hs

3. Bite Marks

The next morning was worse than the last. My entire body was sore so I could barely move, which made showering and getting dressed very interesting. When I finally got into the smoldering early morning sun, my muscles were screaming for a break. And on top of all this, I was working a double today. With Harry. For nearly eight hours.

"Morning, sunshine," he grinned as I reached him in his usual spot by the water. "How is the soreness? Any better?"

"Not a single bit," I rolled my eyes.

"So I forgot to tell you that Liza is working with us today."

I made a face and he laughed. "Don't be sour, Rach. She needed some extra hours and I thought it would be good for you two to bond."

"Bond?" I asked with a disbelieving groan. "With Liza?"

"Try, just for the hell of it."

"I don't like her."

"And she doesn't like you. Wow, look at that- something you have in common!"

I flicked his side. "Shut up."

"By the way, she has like a really weird protective thing over me so don't be uncomfortable. Most people are uncomfortable."

"Her existence makes me uncomfortable."

He raised his eyebrows and handed me a clipboard with multiple pages attached, all filled with names of items like chairs, first aid kits, whistles, canoes, and so on.

"Today, Miss Sassy pants, you have the honor of doing inventory. Yay," he gave a pathetic attempt at excitement, "Don't be too thrilled."

"Try not to," I muttered, my eyes already aching as I skimmed the papers. "Is this punishment for...what we did?"

He frowned. "Why would I punish you for that?"

"I-I'm not sure."

"Everyone does inventory, sunshine. It's just your turn, that's all."

"Okay." I looked down at my sandy toes and felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Now I knew he was thinking about yesterday and I was the one that brought it up, and for nothing.

"Come on, I'll show you where to start."

________________

"Jesus Christ," I groaned, flopping onto the couch in the tiny lifeguard building. Oddly enough, this was the couch where Harry was asleep when I first met him. Weird.

One of the other guards, Alexandra, looked up at me from her magazine and smiled. "Working a double?"

"Yes," I whined. "And it's the hottest fucking day in the history of the world."

"Would some gossip help at all?"

I opened one eye and laughed. "Sure."

"Well, rumor has it that Harry, you know the smoking hot head guard, has two sets of bite marks. One of his hand and the worst one on his shoulder. Someone told me it was from Liza." I swallowed hard. "I don't know, she's shady as hell but if she got to tap that, I commend her. Got more nerve than me, that's for sure."

"They're sure it was her? I mean, they've been friends for like ever, right?"

"I don't know, it's gossip anyway. And you better get going, you'll be late for the evening shift."

I looked at the clock and smiled at her again before I hurried out, smacking right against Harry's wet chest as he tried to come in the door.

"Ow, shit," I cursed, clutching at my sore hips. "What the hell are you doing?"