Marco Polo

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Vanessa had spent nearly every sunny day from middle school through to graduation in Mr. and Mrs. Cook’s backyard, lounging by the pool, occasionally studying—if forced—and hanging with her best friends. Now, back for the first time since they’d all scattered to their colleges, Vanessa found everything exactly as she remembered. Keith and Axel horsing around in the deep end of the pool, Jody sitting on the edge with her feet dangling in the water, pretending to ignore the boys, and Lindsey lying in the sun, bikini straps off her shoulders as she tanned.

Perfect.

Almost.

“Hey guys,” Vanessa called after closing the patio door. Keith and Axel were too distracted to hear her, but Lindsey and Jody both gave her delighted smiles.

“Van! Get over here!” Jody called, waving eagerly. Vanessa dropped her beach bag in the shade, then sat hip-to-hip next to Jody, dangling her legs in the pool as she hugged the other girl tightly.

“Bruh! We didn’t think you were coming!” Axel shouted as he emerged from the water. A second later Keith appeared beside him.

“No fucking way! I missed you guys so much!” Vanessa hadn’t expected the rush of emotions that had washed over her since she’d returned home late Wednesday night, but two good nights’ sleep in her own bed, in her own home, had her giddy. All last year she’d been underwater, holding her breath, and now she could finally breathe again. “Um, but, where’s Errol? He’s coming, right?” She tried to sound casual but at least Jody and Lindsey knew how much she’d crushed on Errol Somers during their senior year.

Silence fell over the group and fear caressed her neck. “What? What’s wrong?”

Lindsey coughed softly.

“It’s Heather, now,” came a quiet voice from behind her.

Vanessa turned her head so quickly her vision swam. There, standing on the deck, holding a beach bag nearly identical to Vanessa’s own, was a stunning girl. She had straight, shoulder-length sable hair worn loose, a pale complexion with a light dusting of freckles and a hint of sunburn across her nose and cheeks. She was wearing a gorgeous magenta two-piece swimsuit: a halter top that hugged her small-ish breasts, and a high-waisted bottom with white trim that drew the eye to the gentle swell of her hips. Vanessa had never met her before—except… except, those beautiful brown eyes. The shape of her mouth.

“Errol?” she asked faintly as her mind thrashed, already knowing she was ruining things with every word, every breath. The girl smiled, but looked at her feet and began fussing with her bag’s strap. Vanessa went cold.

“Heather,” she replied as her cheeks flushed from more than yesterday’s sunburn.

“Heather.” The name tasted like magic on Vanessa’s lips. “I’ve missed you!”

“Senior year? Shut up!” Vanessa was giggling as she sat on the edge of the pool with Heather. The two women hadn’t been out of arm’s reach since that initial—painfully awkward—reunion.

“Really! Mom and Dad were so supportive. Dad even said he always thought what I was wasn’t who I am.”

“Why didn’t I know?” As the afternoon sunlight dimmed to the late-evening purple and the only ‘illumination’ came from patio lanterns and fireflies, Vanessa had grown more bold.

Heather’s expression shifted. “I’d just started, and you were already, um, sorta… being… kinda weird anyway?”

Vanessa died a little. “Oh! Um, yeah! I was…” what? I was what? She couldn’t imagine any graceful way to finish that sentence.

Heather saved her. She laughed and trailed her fingertips along Vanessa’s forearm. “Hey, say less.”

When Vanessa met Heather’s gaze she felt dizzy again. “Yeah.”

“C’mon, let’s play ‘Marco Polo’!” Heather was already sinking into the water.

The pool lights gave everything an ethereal edge and the bottom seemed to beckon Vanessa. She glanced over at the others, sitting around a propane fire-pit, laughing and sharing drinks. She turned her attention back to Heather. Her friend of years. Her friend who she’d been crushing on the entire last year of high school. Crushing hard, which made no sense at the time—Vanessa was gay.

Her friend.

Vanessa slipped into the pool.

Heather floated toward the deep end. “Okay, Van! Last one in, so you’re ‘it’!”

Vanessa smirked and closed her eyes. “One. Two…” She took a deep breath. “Three!” she whispered, and the game was on. Heather’s giggles echoed off the water, bright and musical. “Marco!” Vanessa called, turning slowly in the chest-deep water.

“Polo!” Heather’s voice came from her left, close to the wall. Vanessa lunged, splashing, but found only water.

They danced like this for a minute, a slow, teasing chase, but Vanessa soon felt a shift. Heather’s “Polo” calls were coming quicker, her splashes less evasive. She was letting Vanessa track her.

“Marco!”

“Polo!” This time, the voice was right in front of her.

Vanessa surged forward, her hands finding smooth, wet skin—the curve of Heather’s waist—and she immediately let go. “S-sorry!” she blurted, eyes flying open. It was probably too dim for Heather to see her blush.

Heather simply wrapped both arms around Vanessa’s waist. “For what?” she murmured. “You got me. That’s the game, Van.”

“I just… I just…”

Heather’s face was so close, her breath was warm on Vanessa’s cheeks. Water droplets clung to Heather’s dark lashes. The playful light in her eyes had been replaced by something soft and searching. Silently, she closed the gap and Vanessa’s stomach dropped.

The kiss was tentative at first, a delicate press of lips, tasting of salt and sunscreen. Then Heather sighed, her mouth opening, and Vanessa met her. It was gentle and sweet and everything Vanessa had dreamed about, but better. Her hands slid up Heather’s back, feeling the knobs of her spine beneath the slick fabric of her swimsuit top.

When they parted, they were both breathless. Vanessa kept her forehead pressed to Heather’s.

“Is… is this okay?” Heather whispered.

Vanessa nodded, smiling. “More than okay. And… everything else? You’re… you’re happy?”

Heather nodded too, her nose brushing Vanessa’s. “I’m me. Truly. For the first time.”

Relief and desire flooded Vanessa in equal measure. She kissed Heather again, her tongue chasing Heather’s. When she felt Heather’s hands moving down her body, Vanessa moaned her approval. When she felt Heather squeezing her ass, Vanessa responded by pressing her hips against Heather. When Heather’s hand let go then slid around to Vanessa’s belly and began probing at the waist of her bikini bottom, Vanessa finally broke the kiss.

“Shit, I—” Heather started, but Vanessa cut her off with a finger over her lips. She glanced at the others once more, then carefully guided Heather’s fingers beneath the fabric.

Heather’s touch was hesitant at first, her fingertips brushing through tight curls and over her hood. Vanessa urged her on. A breathy groan vibrated in Vanessa’s throat as Heather’s fingers slid into her, finding her already soaked. The water was a perfect, private veil, the ripples masking every movement. Vanessa’s arms tightened around Heather’s neck, her body arching into the touch, teaching her the rhythm she craved.

She worked herself against Heather’s hand, her hips making small, desperate circles. She was so close. “Just like that,” she hissed, her forehead pressed to Heather’s shoulder. “Don’t stop.” Heather made a sound that might’ve been words, but Vanessa was focused only on the two fingers deep in her pussy and Heather’s thumb pressing hard against her clit.

It didn’t take long. The orgasm crashed over her—a quietly violent wave. Her mouth opened in an ecstatic gasp as she shuddered, her inner muscles clenching around Heather’s fingers. She clung to Heather, her body going rigid, then melting into limp, breathless bliss. She rode out the last pulses, panting weakly onto Heather’s skin, before stilling.

They stayed like that, intertwined in the cool water. The fireflies had given up before Heather lifted her head, her eyes glazed and happy. She kissed Vanessa again, slow and deep.

“Welcome home, Van,” she murmured against her lips.

Knotty

Summer on Knotty Biscotti

Marco Polo