Swimwear Shopping

“You don’t own a swimsuit?” Hops asked for the third time, utterly incredulous.

Afina shook her head (again) and licked blueberry juice off her fingers. “I’ve never been swimming before.” It had just... never come up as an option. She wasn’t particularly drawn to the water. All that flailing around and kicking to stay afloat. Seemed like far more effort than what it was worth. 

“Oh,” Amorotte sighed, placing a hand against her cheek. “She’s just going to drown, isn’t she?”

Hops frowned. “No, she’ll be fine! It’ll be fun! We just... won’t take her out very deep.” She cast her gaze back to Afina’s bare-bones closest that really did not contain a single piece of swimwear. “But first we need to sort this out...”

“We could just stay home?” Afina suggested hopefully. “I have so many blueberries and-”

“No!” Hops stamped a foot. “It’s my day off! I’m not wasting it inside when it’s the perfect day for the beach!” She crossed her arms and huffed. She’s arrived at Afina’s door full of hopes and dreams, dressed in a cute pink one-piece and a purple sarong. 

Amorette had already been there, regaling Afina with tales of love and lust, every spicy encounter from the last week. She’d been immediately on board for a beach day and had produced a bikini top from her bag, claiming she was always prepared in case of a hot tub party. 

“We could find a nudist beach?” Amorette suggested. “That way we don’t have to worry about it.”

“No way!” Hops protested immediately, as Afina scrunched up her nose. “She can’t just not have a swimsuit forever! We have to go buy one. Come on, up!”

With a groan, Afina did as she was bid, slowly rolling from her pile of comfortable pillows. Outside the world seemed far too bright and warm but she wasn’t going to disappoint her friends and hey, maybe the beach would be fun! She liked baths, so it couldn’t be that much difference!

Twenty minutes later they had made their way to the closest swimwear shop and were browsing through endless racks, full of so many different types that Afina was already tired and wanted to go home by the time the sales clerk had finished explaining what a monokini was. 

“Do you see anything you like?” Hops asked.

“What about this?” Amorette proudly displayed a bright yellow mesh bikini top. “Yellow would work well on you! You can’t wear blue and green all the time.” 

“I’ve only ever seen you in pink and red,” Hops countered. “And you come to the bar at least four times a week.”

“Oh touché.” 

Afina left them to banter and roamed into the next aisle, idly flicking through each piece, searching for something that felt just right. She didn’t mind showing off a bit of skin, she did that daily. But for her first beach visit, she wanted to feel prepared. It felt kinda... sporty. 

Her hand landed on a pair of blue board shorts covered in a green leaf pattern. Cute.

After searching a bit more, she found a cute tie-front bikini top and bottom with a cute ribbon at the front, just the right shade of blue. All together it was a match made in heaven and she proudly announced her find, holding them aloft for Amorette and Hops to see. 

“These ones!”

“Oh, how lovely!” Hops cried.

“Kind of boring, I guess but it suits you.” Amorette said and then caught Hops glare and quickly added, “not that you’re boring, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Afina only laughed. “I know, you don’t need to explain. Plus I am kind of boring. Unless you really like blueberries.” 

“Well, good thing we both really like blueberries,” Hops said, taking the swimwear from Afina’s grasp and marching it up to the sales desk. “Come on, let’s hurry! I want to be at the beach yesterday!” 

They paid and hurried on their way.

Not long later Afina had her first taste of the beach, standing proudly in her new beach gear, squinting against the glare, eyeing off the blue expanse of water. The hot sand beneath her feet and the merry cries of the beach goers already enjoying their day.

Hops and Amorette were busy setting up the towels and beach umbrella. 

“What do you think?” Hops asked.

“Hmm,” Afina hummed.  She hadn’t gotten in the water yet but there was a cooler breeze rolling off the water and the cheerful vibe was infectious. The buns she could see splashing in the waves were clearly having an awesome time and someone was building a cool looking sandcastle nearby. Someone else was just laying in the sun earning a tan and that seemed enjoyable too. “Yeah, I love it.” 

With a grin, she stepped forward, ready to have the best beach day ever.