Cheryl and John have been friends with Laureline and Robert for quite some time. John promised to go to Ikea today with Laureline in his car. Laureline and Robert"s car is being repaired after the small collision Robert caused recently.
John picks Laureline up at half past twelve. She is as always tiptop dressed and John is a bit out of place there in his jeans, polo shirt and sneakers. It is typical of Laureline to always want to look perfectly dressed. She demands the same from her husband. She herself often wears leather clothing and that suits her super slim appearance just fine.
John remembers the short leather skirt with dark panties and high-heeled boots from last time. A silk top with a leather jacket over it and a casually hanging loose scarf complete the outfit today. Everything tastefully matched. John notices that just like last time, this outfit does something to him.
"In the old days, gentlemen still held the door open for a woman," Laureline teases as she gets in.
"Back then men still led and women were docile" teases John back.
"And more than half of the human intellect was underused" is the immediate reply.
"That"s true" responds John. "But that is changing now."
"Very slowly... much too slowly."
"Okay. You're probably right. Then let me first compliment you on your beautiful outfit. Super feminine by the way."
"Thank you" sounds simple.
When a little later they have to wait at a red traffic light, Laureline puts a hand on John"s left leg and remarks with a mocking tone that surely he would perform better under her guidance than under the guidance of a man.
"Nonsense" John responds brightly. "For a start, I don't accept leadership".
The light jumps to green and with a big hit of gas the car shoots forward.
"Tough huh, accelerating like that" teases Laureline.
"On what do you base your statement?" wants to know John.
"I mean it more generally, dear. In principle, women are better leaders; they are more suited to complicated tasks than men. Men too often focus on one thing. And are easily seduced."
"Fortunately... you're not specifically talking about me" John replies more jokingly than seriously.
"No dear... don't worry. I'm just teasing."
Again that "darling". John doesn"t know that about Laureline. He glances sideways at Laureline who is just bending over to fasten a buckle on her boot. At that moment he sees it. A key. A key on a silver chain under her top, but now visible between her small breasts. He immediately has to think of a CB. But with Laureline and Robert?
John keeps thinking about the key while shopping. It must be something else, he keeps telling himself.
Laureline is as incisive as ever and, as a result, they finish quickly at Ikea.
"Shall we have a drink at the INNSiDE Hotel before we drive back home?" suggests Laureline after they have stowed the purchased items in the car.
"Fine. Nice!" thinks John.
"How funny," replies John, meanwhile thinking about that one time when he had arranged to meet a fascinating mistress in this hotel. It had been, in his memory, a pleasant appointment. Taste of being with her. They had met once more at her home, but had then lost track of each other. He wondered how she was doing now.
Upon entering the top floor of the hotel, Laureline immediately disappears toward the restrooms. John takes a seat on one of the two benches in the back of the restaurant. Here they sit quietly, although the crowds are actually not that crowded.
While John is still busy on his phone, Laureline sits down next to him on the sofa. It confuses John for a moment. He had automatically assumed she would sit on the other couch.
They order a club sandwich for each and take a white wine with it.
"The good life," John observes and demonstratively leans back a little as the waitress walks away.
Laureline puts a hand on his thigh and thanks John for the help offered.
"And besides, I like being able to catch up now. Too little of that comes of it."
Laureline has more frequent contact with his wife Cheryl, John knows. They sometimes go to the movies or the theater together. Or to some empowerment evening Laureline always selects.
"The pleasure is mutual," John responds. "But while you and Cheryl still meet up sometimes, I hardly see Robert lately. I regret that too."
Laureline shifts, causing the leather skirt to slide up a little further.
"Now you have me, but I understand that you would have preferred to sit here with Robert."
John answers the teasing remark seriously
.
"No, not at all. On the contrary, it's fun with you. That doesn"t happen often, either."
"Exactly," smiles Laureline.
"But what I mean...earlier Robert and I used to play sports together" John continues "... and catching a movie is also rare. Your husband has become a busy boss."
"That's true" agrees Laureline. His work at the department takes up a lot of his time. And there"s also a lot to do at home".
John is curious to know what Robert does at home. It won't be a lot of chores. He knows few men more clumsy than Robert.
