Windsor's POV
When I stepped into the pool area, the swimming lesson was already underway. The guys had stripped down to their swim trunks, their bare torsos glistening under the overhead lights, while the girls wore matching tankinis in our school colors.
I caught sight of Pauline across the pool and lifted my hand in greeting. She returned my wave with a bright smile that made my chest warm.
Mr. Colton barely acknowledged my late arrival, simply nodding toward the bleachers where a stack of papers waited. His silent message was clear enough.
I settled onto the metal seats and began my task, though my eyes kept drifting to the action in the water. The rhythmic splash of bodies cutting through chlorinated water created a hypnotic soundtrack. To my surprise, grading these assignments felt less like punishment and more like a welcome distraction.
I was nearly through the final batch when Mr. Colton's voice boomed across the pool deck.
