Sometimes plans can have unexpected consequences.
Hannah paced around Bethany's apartment, fuming. "That scumbag."
`"It sounds like he was. You're better off without him."
Hannah plopped down on the sofa beside her friend and drained her wine glass, staring across the room, at nothing. "I don't even want to go home. Everything I look at reminds me of him."
Bethany draped an arm over Hannah's shoulders. "You can stay here tonight. We'll order in. You know, I can relate. I kicked Darryl to the curb last night, too."
"You did? Why?"
"I don't know. It was just time. We got stale. He didn't think so, so I wound up being a bit more forceful than I intended. We argued. The more we argued the more convinced I was that it was time for him to go. He finally stormed out and slammed the door behind him. For some reason I felt an overriding sense of relief. The relationship was going nowhere. Sex was okay, but never any fireworks. It was actually kind of boring. It was always all about him."
"You never told me any of this."
"Well, you were always gushing about Sam. I guess that's what made me realize there had to be more than I had. But what went wrong with Sam?"
"We went to a party and had too much to drink the other night and he took some pictures of me naked and posted them for everyone to see. I'm surprised you didn't see them. I was mortified. I swear I could have killed him with my bare hands when I found out. I didn't waste any more time on him. Now he'll probably spread them around even more."
"We definitely need to put on our jammies and drink some more wine - but after our food is delivered."
Hannah laughed. "You know just what to say."
They ate and talked about growing up together and moving to the big city to follow their dreams, or in Hannah's case, her boyfriend. As close as they had been growing up they had gone to different colleges and hadn't seen each other as much as they would have liked once they arrived in New York. They both lived on the west side, but Bethany lived in a tony neighborhood on the lower west side and Hannah in second floor a walk-up more toward the upper west side.
A couple of bottles of wine later they prepared for bed. Hannah headed for the sofa, but Bethany said "Look, I know I've only got the one bed, but I think we need to feel someone beside us tonight. Don't sleep alone. I'm used to having Darryl around and it feels kind of empty in here without him."
Hannah laughed "Me too", and slid in beside Bethany. After the lights were turned out, Bethany noted the tears on Hannah's face by the light filtering in through the curtains.
"Everything's going to turn out fine, Hannah. I know it. We'll pick up the pieces and move on. Hey, we took a risk to move to New York, right? This will be kind of like that - starting over. You've still got your photography work and I've got my financial job after all."
She leaned over and kissed Hannah, stroking her face.
"You've always been a good friend, Bethany."
Bethany trailed a finger down to Hannah's chest. "I think I've had too much to drink, but I've got to say I've always admired your boobs."
"That's funny. I thought you had the nicest ones in high school. Now we've been to college and all, but I still like yours." She rubbed a finger over a nipple through the fabric, making it harden. "I loved the way your nips poked out in the cold. I just wanted to touch them like this."
"God, Hannah. Darryl never touched me like that. He was always so...gropy and squeezy. Then he'd stick his hand between my legs and rub me for like two seconds before..."
"Yeah. I know what you mean. I've had boyfriends like that. I thought Sam took at least a little interest in me as more than a pair of tits and a pussy for his own gratification."
"That was Darryl, for sure. Hannah? Would you touch me like that again?"
Hannah gently rubbed the other nipple and Bethany responded with gentle fondling of Hannah. They softly kissed and then pulled apart.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hannah. I didn't mean to..."
"I know. We shouldn't be doing that, but ...well...I liked it."
"So did I. We'd better stop before we do something we'll regret.'
"Good night, Bethany."
Their lips brushed once more. "Good night, Hannah."
The next morning nothing was said about their encounter, but Bethany invited Hannah to stay as long as she felt she needed to, and Hannah agreed to stay one more night, going home briefly to get a change of clothes so she could head right out to work in the morning.
They walked around Central Park during the afternoon and decided to eat at a popular Mexican restaurant near Lincoln Center. Walking back to the subway Hannah thought she caught a glimpse of Sam ducking into a bar they used to frequent together.
In bed they caressed as they had the night before, but hands explored further, until they both were breathless. Bethany lifted Hannah's nightgown and pulled it off. She savored the breasts she had so long admired and explored the toned body stretched out beside her. Hannah unbuttoned Bethany's pajama shirt and slid it off her shoulders, dipping her head to feast on the nipples she had already hardened with her fingertips. Bethany's pajama bottoms came off and the two embraced.
They caressed. They kissed over smooth, soft skin. They played in the soft, moist folds until they both whimpered. As if they had one mind they thrust one leg between the other's thighs and rubbed mons to mons until they both shuddered.
Afterwards they lay beside each other, caressing.
"That, Hannah, is what was missing with Darryl. I know now that ditching him was the absolutely right thing to do. There are better men out there. Men who can make me feel like just now. Thank you, Hannah."
"You're thanking me? I should be thanking you. Wow."
"You know what, Hannah? You have an amazing body. Not just your boobs. I don't think there's much fat on you at all."
"I go to the gym and work out several times a week. I take some self defense classes, too. Where I live it pays to be prepared. Did I ever tell you I was mugged once?"
"Oh my gosh!"
"By the time the police got there I had the jerk writhing face down on the pavement with my knee on his neck and his knife in my hand. The guy tried to take my camera. Nobody messes with my camera. It's my livelihood. I would have given him my purse, but not my camera."
"I'm glad I work in a nice, safe office. It's fun to play around with other people's money."
"From the looks of your apartment you must be good at it."
"I do okay."
"It looks like you do more than okay. If I had any money to invest I'd trust you with it."
"I guess we're both good at what we do. I've seen some of your photos. I was going to buy one to hang over my sofa, but someone beat me to it."
"Which one?"
