He's been entertaining them all
Josie smiled at the others, because they looked so worried. She didn't care how upset they were, just so long as they didn't blab the secret to their husbands, or anyone else.
'Look you three, don't get carried away. Sit and think about it. Look at the positive side before you go ape,' Josie told them.
'What do you mean, the positive side?' Cheryl complained.
'I think she means,' Andrea began.
Cheryl interrupted the young woman, 'I know what she means, I just can't see there's anything positive about it.'
'She means, we got what we wanted,' Andrea quietly added.
'Exactly,' Josie pointed out.
'He got what he wanted you mean,' Cheryl complained, and heaved a sigh.
'Don't be like that. There's no need to be all snotty about it. You were happy enough to let it happen,' Josie said.
'Until I found out he was screwing my neighbours. Is that what you mean by being happy about it?' Cheryl asked.
'Difficult to be positive about that, I agree,' Maxine said.
'You've got to hold onto the good memories in life,' Andrea quietly said.
'Just before the shit hits the fan!' Cheryl stubbornly persisted.
'Alright, it's not ideal, but there's nothing we can do about it,' Josie stated.
'Like cut his balls off, or bury him in the back yard, you mean,' Cheryl meanly smiled.
'Yes, exactly, like doing nothing at all. We're married women, so we don't want a fuss. We don't want to attract attention to this, err, affair, or whatever it is,' Josie said.
She waved a hand around the room to include them all.
'Maybe you've got a marriage worth saving. I'm not sure if I can be bothered,' Cheryl quietly spoke, and sighed.
'Surely you don't want a young guy sited in a divorce. You'd be kicked out on your ass. You'd get a pittance in the settlement. Has Stan been messing around?' Josie asked.
'No. He's too boring,' Cheryl grimaced.
'Have another drink, and let everyone else say their peace,' Josie suggested.
Cheryl poured a vodka on the rocks, added cola, and plonked her bottom in her favourite easy chair. Maybe she should be more careful, and consider keeping it quiet. She had been prepared to blast the young guy's name all over the neighbourhood. The more she thought about it, it was useless, and out of the question. Her reputation would sink without trace, while his would soar. It was so unfair. Women were sluts, and men were studs.
'I'm not sure. I mean, it's not a good idea for anyone to find out. I really don't want my name mentioned, if Cheryl insists on doing something,' Andrea rambled on.
'I enjoyed it. My husband's away a lot, and when he's home, he plays golf. I might as well be a widow. I'm approaching, well, I need to enjoy myself before it's too late,' Josie explained.
'Why are we talking as though it's all over?' Maxine asked.
The other three went quiet. They hadn't even considered that idea. This was Cheryl's home, and they were there to talk through a stupid problem, something of their own making. It was a luxury home, past its best, though she didn't care and everyone knew it. At forty-one, with a hard working, big earning husband, she figured she deserved the easy life.
'He's playing around with us, all of us,' Josie pointed out.
Josie was a year older than Cheryl, and they had been friends since the first day in college. Cheryl taught her to roll and smoke a joint. Most important of all, she'd learnt to enjoy herself. How to party, sleep with whoever she fancied, get to lectures, and still present an essay on time.
'So? He hasn't asked us all to join him in bed. Can't we just continue as before?' Maxine proposed.
'I, err, don't know, maybe,' Josie said, and smiled.
'You must be joking, surely,' Cheryl asked.
She looked around at her friends, looking incredulous, considering the wistful expressions on their faces.
'It should be discussed, now it's been brought up,' Andrea proposed.
'I will, err, whatever you three decide,' Maxine said.
This was a big surprise to the others, for she was so quiet and respectable. Even more so than Andrea. They'd figured Andrea had been sweet talked into it by the young guy.
'So will I,' Josie firmly resolved.
'No surprise there,' Cheryl chortled.
'I guess, if we're voting on it, I'll say yes,' Andrea stated.
Her no nonsense approach sounded almost mundane, as though she were taking a vote at the carnival committee, over whether to include a chilli contest. Her agreement stopped them dead. If she demanded a vote and was outvoted, would she abide by the rules, and go to bed with him? It would mean she was screwing a young man against her wishes, just because everyone else voted to continue. The other three looked at her, wondering. They'd laughed about her complying strictly to the rules before she arrived.
The moment of surprise, and contemplation ended, and the three of them turned their heads toward Cheryl.
'I won't. How can you possibly agree. You're prepared to let him get away with it? He's made fools of us, hasn't he?' Cheryl complained.
She tried to stand, but failed to push herself out of the easy chair.
'No, I don't think so. He's made us happy, otherwise, we wouldn't have, err, you know, would we,' Josie ambled around the objection.
Cheryl looked far away, thinking about him, and what they had done together. Eventually the marvellous sex overruled her objections.
'All right! I'll give it a go. We'll see how it can work,' she relented.
Another round of drinks were mixed, this time by Josie. She knew her friend would come round to agreeing given a moment or two. After all, it wouldn't be the first time they shared a lover. In college they had sex with a guy all through the weekend. They kept him going until he ached, and pleaded for mercy.
'We've had a few interesting experiences, and our share of men,' Josie boasted.
'Did you have to beg?' Cheryl laughed.
