Life After We Pt. 07

Nancy laughed at something the man said, and as she did she glanced in Mike's direction. She saw Mike, and for a moment their eyes locked.

Nancy looked flustered. She whispered something to the man. He whispered something back and gave her something. Nancy put it in her purse. Then they got up. They kissed briefly, then Nancy walked over to Mike while the young man left the bar.

Nancy sat next to Mike at the bar. She crossed her leg and Mike caught a flash of lacy stocking top before she fixed her dress. "Well Mike Andrews, I keep running into you," she said. She caught the bartender's attention and ordered a glass of white wine. Mike ordered a scotch, sensing he needed something stronger than beer.

"Who's your friend?" Mike asked.

"I think you know," Nancy said taking a sip of her wine. "What are you doing here?"

Mike decided to be honest. "Trying to get over my ex-wife," he said talking a gulp of the scotch.

Nancy gave a humorless laugh. "Maybe we should have that talk," she said.

"Isn't your friend waiting for you?"

"He'll still be there, believe me," Nancy said confidently. She had a key card of the man's room in her purse.

"Okay, so tell me your story," Mike said taking another gulp of scotch.

"Ladies first huh?" Nancy said with a grin. "Alright. My story's simple. I'm 50 years old and I've been married 25 years. I love Mac but I need more than he can give me. I've been seeing other men for almost 10 years. Mac travels a lot for work, he's away this week."

"Does he know?" Mike asked.

"Mac? God no," Nancy said with an incredulous laugh. "He thinks I'm the devoted wife. I AM devoted to him. I love him. I just need more. About 10 years ago he started having problems getting an erection. Viagra doesn't work, the doctor says it's in his head. That's when my affairs started. We still have sex. But Mac can't get hard anymore. It's funny, even though he can't get hard he can still cum." Nancy laughed, but it was a sad laugh. "He likes cumming on my toes."

"So who's your friend?"

"His name's Bob, I met him online," Nancy explain. She motioned around the bar. "This is a good hotel to meet. Travelers from other states, no one knows me. Except the bartenders but I tip well, they won't say anything." She gave another humorless laugh. "That's my story, tell me yours."

"Jen and I split up," Mike said with a shrug. "I guess she needed more too."

"But you said she didn't cheat on you," Nancy reminded him.

"We played games," Mike said with another shrug. "That's what we called it, our game. She hooked up with other men. I liked ..." Mike hesitated, it was hard to say. But they were both sharing personal secrets. "I liked watching her with other men."

Nancy nodded, taking this all in. "You shared her with other men?" she asked.

"More than that," Mike admitted. "Jen had relationships with other men."

"Romantic relationships?" Nancy asked, looking incredulously at him.

"Yeah," Mike said.

"So that's why you broke up?" Nancy asked gently. "Jen fell in love with another man?"

"No, I don't think she ever fell in love," Mike said. Struggling to explain, he said "Jen used to say she felt love for her boyfriends, but didn't love them. Does that make sense?"

Nancy nodded. It made perfect sense to her. Often in the throes of fucking she felt in love with her lover, but afterwards she knew her heart belonged to only Mac. "I understand," she said softly.

"Jen loved the romance as much as the sex," Mike continued, encouraged by Nancy's empathy. "She loved all the new relationship energy. I got jealous, mad, hurt when she got infatuated. But it got me hot too. I mean, seeing Jen hold her boyfriend's hand got me hotter than watching them fuck. Honestly, I was the one doing the pushing into this lifestyle. She went along with it but if I hadn't pushed -."

"If you hadn't pushed maybe she would've ended up like me, cheating on my husband," Nancy said.

"Maybe," Mike said, thinking of the times Jen had "arguably" cheated on him. He looked sheepishly at Nancy. "You must think I'm such a pervert."

"Well, definitely interesting, and surprising," Nancy said with a laugh. "But a pervert?" She thought about it. "I don't know. Maybe your way is better. At least you're both involved." After a moment she gently asked "So why did you break up?"

"I wish I could take things back," Mike lamented. "I mean, once you're in this lifestyle, it's hard to set rules. And is it really a rule, or just more cuckold fantasy?" Mike went red realizing he'd said the C word.

"It's okay Mike, labels don't mean anything," Nancy said soothingly, squeezing his hand. She asked "Jen broke one of your rules?"

"We only really had one rule," Mike said. "She wasn't allowed to fall in love with her boyfriend."

"But ... you said she didn't fall in love," Nancy said confused.

The bartender appeared and they ordered another round. After he refilled their glasses Nancy said "Jen didn't fall in love?"

"You know I was in jail, no contact with anyone," Mike said. "I got fucked up. She got fucked up."

"That's why you broke up?" Nancy said incredulously. "Over ... what? Because you couldn't talk?"

Mike didn't answer. Nancy studied him. It was written all over his face. Voicing the obvious, she said "You still love her don't you?" When Mike still didn't answer, she said "Mike why don't you tell her?"

"She wants a divorce. And she's with someone else. His name's Clint." After a moment he continued. "When we played the game, sometimes her lovers tried to get her to leave me."

Nancy got it immediately. "So if you tell Jen how you feel, it'd be like you trying to take her away from her boyfriend."

"It's more than that," Mike said. "It's like, we're addicted to each other, in a bad way. The game, it's not healthy. We end up doing things, hurting each other, hurting other people."

"It sounds hot to me," Nancy said with a laugh. "I wish Mac was like you. I -."

"Anna's not my baby," Mike interjected. "Jen's lover got her pregnant."

"Oh," Nancy said softly. She asked gently "Was that part of your game?"

"No. Maybe. I don't know," Mike said. "It's like I said. Boundaries get blurred once you start this lifestyle."

"Yeah, okay," Nancy said, not really understanding.

"You see what I mean?" Mike said. "If we get back together, we play the game again. Maybe there's another Anna. Is that fair to a baby?"

"I don't know Mike," Nancy said. "I'm a school teacher, I've seen a lot of unconventional families. Believe me. At the end of the day, all that matters is whether the child is loved."

"Yeah, I guess," Mike said unsure. Their glasses were empty. "Don't you have to get up to Bob?"

"Yeah," Nancy said, although talking to Mike she'd forgotten all about her lover. She put on new lipstick and then got up, straightening her dress.

"Hey Nancy?" Mike said.

"Yes?" Nancy said stopping and turning back to Mike.

"I get you have needs," Mike said softly, careful to keep any judgment from his voice. "But don't risk losing Mac. It's not worth it."

Nancy nodded warily, suddenly feeling completely sober. She turned and walked out of the bar.

"Sleep well?" Jen asked when Mike arrived the next morning. She was smiling at Mike.

Mike was still thoughtful from his conversation with Nancy. He saw she was still wearing Clint's ring on her left hand. He blurted out "So are you two engaged?"

Jen frowned at his abrupt question. "No," she said.

"Then why do you wear his ring on your wedding ring finger?" Mike snapped.

Jen didn't like his accusing tone. Also, after the shit Clint had given her, she was feeling guilty about her decision to let Mike sleep over. She said "He's my boyfriend?" She said it with a "hello?!" tone of voice.

Mike gave Jen a "whatever" shrug and walked over to Anna. The baby was like a neutral corner and their bickering ceased.

Anna reached for Mike excitedly. Mike sat down with her and played blocks.

Jen couldn't help smiling as she watched Mike work on Anna's ABCs and numbers. Anna WAS sorta putting the letters and numbers in order. Maybe she WAS learning.

As they played on the floor Jen looked at Mike. He was still thinner than he used to be.

She had a few minutes before she had to go to work so she checked her email. She smiled at one of them and took a long time scrutinizing the email.

"What's up?" Mike asked.

"Remember Belinda, my maid of honor?" Jen said.

"Yeah," Mike said thinking back. "I never understood why Allie wasn't your maid of honor."

"Back in college, Belinda and Allie were my best friends," Jen explained. "The maid of honor has obligations and Belinda's way more responsible. Believe me, Allie didn't mind." As Jen said this she was still studying the pages of Belinda's email.

"So what's so interesting?"

"Belinda's a jewelry designer and she's about to launch a new line through Tiffany's. Want to see?"

Mike got up and looked at Jen's computer. He saw lots of rings, bracelets and necklaces. Mostly rings though, engagement and wedding rings. "They're beautiful," he said politely, but in truth he wasn't really interested.

Jen could tell he was faking it and laughed. "I guess it's a girl thing," she said smiling.

"I guess so," Mike said sheepishly.

Jen gave him an appraising look and affectionately squeezed his arm. "Are you eating right? You're still thin."

"I don't know, I guess I'm eating okay," Mike said with a shrug. He used to be into cooking, especially grilling meats and vegetables, and used to have a big appetite. Not so much anymore, not since being released from jail.

"You should exercise," Jen suggested. "It'll put on some muscle and get your metabolism and appetite going. Why don't you meet me at my gym tonight? I'll get Maggie to babysit."

"Okay," Mike agreed, not knowing what he was getting himself into.

Later that evening in the locker room, Jen changed from her work clothes to her dancewear. She put on one of her normal outfits, a Danskin bra top that crisscrossed in the back, and leggings.

What she did next wasn't normal. She brushed her long blonde hair to a luster, leaving it down (usually she worked out in a ponytail). She put in a pretty pink headband. Then she put on makeup, finishing by brushing on lip gloss that made her lips look shiny and wet.

When she left the locker room Mike was already there at the check-in desk. "Sorry, wait long?" she asked.

"Just a few minutes," Mike said, staring at Jen. He couldn't take his eyes off her. This is how she worked out? She looked gorgeous!

Jen handed the guy at the check-in desk some money. "Danny, this is Mike, he's my guest," she said.

"You should've let me pay," Mike said. "I've got money."

"I know you do," she assured him. She laughed saying "It's my treat, okay? Come on, the class is starting." Jen pulled him into one of the dance rooms. "This is a yoga class," she whispered to him as the class was already underway. "It looks like dance, but you'll be surprised by the workout." She touched his chest. "It really works on your core."

Mike wasn't the most coordinated and he had a hard time keeping up with the instructor and the other students. But Jen patiently help him through the moves and pretty soon he was getting it.

By the end of the class his face and shirt were drenched with sweat. "God you're right that's a tough workout," Mike gasped.

"You know we're just getting started, right?" Jen said with a laugh. She took him over to the weights. She spotted him while he worked on his chest and shoulders, helping him pick out the right weights and giving him tips on form.

They switched, with Mike spotting Jen. Unlike Mike, Jen did less weight and more reps as she wanted to stay toned and petite, not build muscle.

Jen showed Mike how to sit on a big ball to do sit ups, and how to do table tops and planks. They worked on their abs side-by-side, and by the end both of them were sweating and gasping.

Jen noticed Mike limping. "Have you been doing your stretching?" she asked.

"I guess not regularly," Mike admitted with a shrug.

"Oh god, come on," Jen said exasperated. She put down a mat and told him to lay down. Sitting on her haunches next to him, she rubbed her fingers up and down his bad leg. First she worked on his calf, then the muscles around his knee, then his thigh. "You have to do your stretches," Jen chastised him. "Otherwise your leg will lock up."

Mike swallowed hard as Jen ran her fingers up and down his leg. He concentrated, willing himself not to get hard. That would be too embarrassing in this crowded gym. But it was a losing battle. As he felt his erection begin to grow he pulled away and sat up. "Thanks, I'm good," he blurted out.

Afterwards Mike said "How about a drink? I'll buy since you paid my admission."

"Okay," Jen said with a laugh.

They went to a bar close to the gym. They were both still in their workout clothes (having worn coats on top), although Jen brushed her hair and touched up her makeup. She also put on a thin stretchy pullover so she didn't show so much skin.

They sat at the bar and ordered drinks. They both ordered Anchor Steams.

"You give a wicked massage," Mike said swinging his bad leg as if testing it.

"It feels better?"

"No it hurts more," Mike said with a laugh.

Jen laughed too. "Your muscles were tight, I got the blood moving, it'll feel better tomorrow," she promised.

"Thanks," Mike said smiling at her. "Is that the kind of massage you gave to Joe?"

"Um, not really," she said uncomfortably, willing herself not to blush. "His treatment was mixed, some Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic from India, some Buddhist healing techniques, stuff like that." She hoped by keeping it vague and technical Mike would lose interest.

"Oh okay," Mike said, giving her another long look. Jen had her legs crossed and he squeezed her knee. "Anyway, thanks again for taking care of him. I know you were a real comfort to him."

"Of course Mike," she said.

"I mean it, I really appreciate it," he said. He got up and hugged Jen, rubbing her back. When he sat back down he squeezed her knee again. This time he left his hand there. They were siting close together and it was like he was just resting his hand there. She let him keep his hand there.

Mike tapped her knee with his index finger. "I have to say, you look really good in this," he said. He laughed to make his compliment sound more platonic than sexual.

"You always liked me in dancewear," Jen said with a smile back. "The first time you saw me, coming out of my dance class in leotard and tights." She giggled.

"No, I first saw you in the record store," Mike corrected her.

"I know," Jen said with a laugh. "By the time you saw me at my dance class you were stalking me."

Mike grinned, not able to deny it.

"I stalked you too, you know," Jen admitted.

"You did? When?" Mike asked surprised. She'd never told him this.

"After the sorority party," Jen said. She gave him a crooked grin. "You don't think I checked you out? All the professors knew you, after you won the Barnes award."

"Not like being an All-American like Colin," Mike said with a shrug.

"No Mike it's better," she said rolling her eyes. "There're tons of All-Americans every year. There's only one freaking Barnes winner. You shouldn't be so modest all the time."

Mike shrugged. "That's what Jasmine says."

"Well, maybe you should listen to her," Jen said curtly. She turned in her chair, the movement causing Mike's hand to fall off her knee.

"Sorry," he said.

"About what?" she said uncaringly.

"Nothing, forget it," Mike said.

Jen gave Mike a "whatever" shrug and sipped her beer.

They both finished their beers, but neither made a move to go. "Another one?" Mike asked.

"Sure," Jen said. Mike ordered another round from the bartender.

"So tell me this," Mike said in a lighthearted tone. He was smiling good-naturedly at Jen. He tapped her wedding ring finger, where she was wearing Clint's ring. "Why do girls wear a ring here if they're not married or engaged?"

"God you're obsessed with this!" Jen said with a laugh. Answering his question she said "I wear it on this finger because it makes Clint happy."

"Do you always do things to make Clint happy?" Mike said challengingly.

"Oh my god, you're asking me that?" Jen said with an incredulously laugh. "Do you know all the things I did to make YOU happy? A lot. A lot."

"You liked it," Mike said with a laugh.

Anger flared inside Jen. "Not exactly what I dreamed about growing up," she said with a glare at Mike.

Mike nodded, knowing she was right. Their game certainly wasn't conventional. Especially the way it ended, with Jen pregnant with another man's baby. That was the reality, no matter whose fault it was. "Sorry," he said.

They were silent for a long time, drinking their beers. The bartender came around when their bottles were empty. Mike expected Jen to ask for the check in order to leave, but instead she said "Can I have a Cosmo?"

Surprised, Mike ordered a Highland Park scotch. When the drinks arrived Jen said with a laugh, "I need something stronger if we're gonna talk about these things."

Mike nodded and laughed back. They clinked glasses. He subtly put his hand back on her knee, and she let him.

"So what else do you want to talk about?" Jen said with another laugh. She was tipsy and slurred her words somewhat.

There were a lot of things Mike wanted to talk about, wanted to know. But a lot of it was sensitive and at that moment he didn't want more tension.

So he grinned and said "I deleted the pictures."

Jen grinned back. "Did you peek?" she asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She knew he had so even before he answered she asked "What'd you think?"

"Joey's definitely your type," Mike said teasingly. Not only had he seen the pictures, he'd watched them fuck from the hallway outside Jen's bedroom.

Jen knew he was talking about Joey's impressive manhood. "God I'm not that much of a size queen," she said giggling. After a moment, she admitted "Okay I am."

Mike grinned at her. He moved his hand a little up her leg and began caressing her.

Jen noticed of course but pretended not to. She took a long swig of her Cosmo. She was definitely tipsy now. She held up the martini glass like a holy goblet. "This is truth serum," she said slurring her words. "Ask me what you want, I have to tell the truth."

"Okay," Mike said with a laugh. "So, does Clint play around a lot?" he asked, referring to their open relationship.

"Does he fuck around?" Jen clarified. "I don't know. Yes." She shrugged. "We don't talk about it."

"Do you fuck around?" Mike asked.

"Not as much as Clint," Jen said with a laugh. "Don't look at me like that, I'm not as big a slut as I used to be."

"Does it bother you?"

Jen shrugged. "It works for us," she said simply.

The waiter came around again. Mike ordered 2 ice waters. "You should drink this, you don't want a hangover tomorrow," he said pushing the water glass to her. They both took a big drink of water.

"Next question," Jen said, now holding up the water glass as the truth serum.

Mike grinned. "Anyone on your horizon?" he asked again referring to her open relationship with Clint.

"Oh, you'd love to know that, wouldn't you?" she said with a flirty laugh. She uncrossed her legs and they were parted slightly. Mike moved his hand up her inner thigh a couple inches passed her knee and caressed her there.

"Come on, tell me," Mike said moving his fingers even higher up her thigh.

"You know, you're really bad," Jen said, her breathing getting heavier. She looked at him, tilting her head inquisitively. "Did you put my birth control pills on my dresser?"

Jen's smile and playful tone of voice told Mike she wasn't going to bust him for looking through her lingerie drawer. Still he was embarrassed at being caught. "You need to be more careful," he told her, willing his cheeks not to redden.