This is a follow-up to "Erin House Sits and Gets a Visitor"
It's a long story, so please keep that in mind before you start this one.
It had been many months since Justin (a ex boyfriend from ages ago) had visited with me while I house sat for my son. We had rekindled an old spark, and in turn, it had breathed new life into my marriage. I don't know if this was due to me being able to talk to Justin as a friend, or whether it was his desire for me that made me feel more alive. Perhaps it was also due to Justin wanting to impregnate me, although I'd taken the morning-after pill to ensure that didn't happen.
My husband knew nothing of what had happened. In fact, he didn't even know that I had met up with Justin at all. We had sex more often than we had before, usually initiated by me. Despite being close to 50, I was friskier than I had been in a long time, often having flashbacks to those few days I spent having sex with Justin. I think my husband assumed that it was due to us spending time apart and missing one another, but I knew the real reason.
I felt invigorated, working out at the gym again, eating more carefully, keeping more active. My body was, in my opinion, already very good for a woman of my age but this new breath of life had me now working even harder on myself and based on the comments I received from both my husband and other men, I was getting results. I dyed my hair back to it's original strawberry red, and although my weight had stayed at 130 lbs, my shape had changed. My bum was perkier, as were my breasts, and I had a newfound confidence.
Justin sent me the odd email and text, always innocent, likely for fear that my husband might read the messages, but there were underlying hints that I picked up on, or read into. An example of one was "Hey Erin, I hope you're well. Been far too long since our awesome visit!" A fairly innocent message to most as Justin did come to visit us at our home every couple of years, but I knew the real message, that he missed me and wanted to see me again. This is why the email I received a few weeks ago was so important.
The email was regarding a course coming up, one that I had wanted to take for many years. I teach on the side and am always eager to keep current and improve my knowledge base. The course was in the same town that Justin lived in and I immediately saw this as an opportunity for me to visit with him again. I waited until my hubby was out of the house, then I rang Justin. He answered immediately and based on the background noise, I realized he was at work. "Hey Stranger," I started, "there's a course that I want to take in your town, starting next month.." I paused, but before I could continue, Justin replied.
"Good. You can stay here in my new place. I can't wait to see you again! What's the date?"
I replied, telling Justin the days that I would be there. I also asked about his "new place" as I thought he had just moved into the place that I visited him for the last few days of my last trip.
"I bought an apartment and I'm renting out the house I bought before." He filled me in. "I really can't wait to see you. I think about our last visit all the time."
"So do I", I replied, feeling my face blush as images of our last encounters flashed through my head. We finished our conversation and then I hung up, a big lump in my throat as I thought about how to tell my hubby about where I was going. I figured the best avenue was to be honest, or at least mostly honest.
When hubby returned home, I told him about the course and the cost. His only concern was the cost of accommodations. I agreed, acting as though I was deep in thought when he spoke up again, suggesting "What about Justin? He lives in that area still, doesn't he?"
I acted as though I was thinking about it for a minute, then replied, "I think he still does. I can ring him and check if you'd be okay with me staying there?"
Hubby nodded without hesitation, "Of course! He's a friend and if he's okay with you staying there, it'll save us a ton of money on a hotel." I was thrilled that this was playing out better than I could have hoped. I told hubby that I would ring Justin to make sure it would be okay for me to stay at his house while taking the course, already knowing that Justin would have it no other way.
The day before the course, I packed my things and said good-bye to my husband, driving away to meet up with Justin again. I felt guilty for deceiving my husband, although I also knew that I had no intention of ever leaving him. I just needed the feelings of exhilaration and desire that Justin gave me also from time-to-time.
The drive is a long one, and between driving and a ferry ride, it was almost 12 hours of travelling before I pulled up to the address, Justin's apartment building. I gathered my bags and headed to the door and buzzing the number he'd given me, "602". A voice that I barely heard came over the intercom and I replied, "It's me" which was followed immediately by the buzzing sound of the electric lock being remotely operated.