This is the fourth episode in my story series, Years Before.
In the last part, Eva, Cass and I ended up sharing a very intimate evening together. This time finds Ruthie joining the conversation which does take a difficult turn but prompts a alternative proposal that leads to an erotic middle ground between friends and lovers for 3 people.
Thank you for reading
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Eva, Cass and I were great friends and that special evening didn't diminish or change our friendship at all, save for us all feeling just a little bit more comfortable with being tactile with each other. The fleeting touch of a hand on a body during a conversation, a kiss would be on the lips rather than the cheek.
Cass was feeling compromised, though, by just how much she found herself into me and that, really, she had to, at least, try and make things work with David, partly because she'd devoted so much time to the relationship and did, at heart, still love him. That's why, by the next time we all met up for a drink at her house, Cass was attempting to "redraw her line", as she put it, on anything erotically charged with me. I was still slightly mesmerised by how much she found this a struggle, although it was, of course, gratifying to receive such intimate attention.
So to another Saturday evening, just after Christmas, and it turned out that Ruthie was around too and had plenty to contribute. Ruthie had become more of a feature of us meeting up but I wouldn't have said I knew more of her than what Cass had told me.
That changed tonight. Ruthie wasn't holding back...although she had her eyes opened too as she found out a few things about us that she didn't know. Ruthie wasn't aware of how close things had become. She had no idea on what had transpired before she walked in on me in the nude that Sunday morning, let alone how things had developed between Eva, Cass and myself. As the drink flowed, the conversation predictably loosened up...but, ultimately, not without cost.
Anyway, there we are, patio doors open even though it was cool outside -- this time mainly to let the cigarette smoke out as all four of us were working hard to keep the tobacco industry in business. Eva had turned up with a bottle of white wine amid calls of "the Cinzano not good enough for you then!" to which she gave her poshest mock-affronted response
"I felt I had to move on, dear!".
She was back on the Cinz and Lemonade after she cleared the bottle -- remarkably swiftly.
It was never an issue but I was slightly apart from my friends here on two counts 1) owning a penis and 2) owning my virginity (just about). However, that only seemed to add some frivolity to the conversation.
It was impossible to avoid elephant in the room - the subject of David. Ruthie quick to ask Cass. "How come you're free so many Saturdays? Surely that's full-on boyfriend/girlfriend night?"
Cass looked a little resigned. "Well, he's over at least two nights in the week and, to be honest, I rather be with you guys as much as him."
Ruthie was quick to retort "Wasn't he sorry at all, even after what he caused that time before Andy stayed?"
Cass shot me a quick glance and a smile but Ruthie was sharp "or maybe that didn't matter in the end?" inquisitorially looking to both Cass and me.
Time for Eva to chip in. "Goodbye time again was it then?" accompanied by a smirk and more looks. Eva was doing her best "I don't know about this" act.
Ruthie was quick to pick up on it "What do you mean "goodbye time"?".
Cass saved me the job of trying to explain it.
"Ruthie, a while ago now, I wanted to catch Andy as he was going out the door. I wanted to kiss him goodnight. We went a little further but stopped ourselves. When you found him naked upstairs last week, and me greeting you with my boobs out, we were about to finish that thing off."
"What "thing"?" Ruthie was quick to interrupt.
"OK, so, we were heading towards..."
"You fucking weren't, were you?" Ruthie responded, astounded by the news. "What. Cass, did you fuck Andy?"
Ruthie's question sounded like the subject wasn't completely alien to her. I stayed silent.
Cass continued. "As it turned out, we didn't. You arrived at just at the point of no return."
"You did...Andy, did you...fuck, should I apologise. Cass, that's what you..."
"I know and, yes, maybe one push away and Andy would not be a virgin now. BUT...he is still very much so and, certainly from my point of view, I won't be aiming to change that while I'm still with David. It was two friends enjoying each other carefully following a distressing time the day before."
I chipped in "It could possibly be the longest goodbye in history because it looks like we'll never consummate it!" Knowing nods, glances and smiles until Ruthie popped a banger.
"Well, Andy, from what I saw you weren't exactly ready to go."
Eva did a good "Eva is shocked" moment and exhibited her voyeuristic side
"So you saw Andy naked? Seems I'm missing out now doesn't it?" flicking me an amused, knowing smile.
"Well, I was in a rather deflated state by that time." Cass nearly spat her drink out stifling a laugh.
"I've seen more excited ones, Andy." Ruthie said, laughing away.
More amusing, and sometimes rude chat, continued. Eventually, I got to find out a bit more about what Ruthie was doing. Cass asked her about last Wednesday as she said she'd met someone she hadn't seen for a while.
"Oh yeah, I saw Pete. You know him I think, Andy."
"Yes, Not seen him in a good while. Did it go OK?"
"Ah, not really. He seemed like the rest of them. Thinking I'm a pair of tits and a quick fuck. They never change."
"I'm sorry, Ruthie."
"You don't have to be, but I am fed up of the twats I end up with."
Cass decided to find a moment to say something that would bring Ruthie closer into our group.
"Ruthie, I want to say just now that Eva, Andy and I have shared some quite personal things, which we would like to keep between us. We've become close enough that we trust each other implicitly. You know some of this now. Will you keep what you hear between us...and only us?"
To her credit, Ruthie thought for a moment and then responded
"My life is full of twits and shits or people that want to get their leg over with me. You guys have been very open with me. You have my word. I can be a loudmouth and a bit rough sometimes but I know who my friends are. What's here, stays here between us, always."
"And Andy." Ruthie continued, "while we're at it, I'm sorry I walked in when I did. David's a selfish shit and even I could see Cass was happier after a night with you. You obviously took care of her, made her feel good. I'd like to have someone to be like that for me."
She took a moment and then continued "I might be a little jealous...in a good way."
Time for a cigarette and I went outside in the cool air. Eva came outside with me and lit up.
"Well, isn't this an eventful, revealing evening."
