"Mentor Adored"
This is preceded by "Mentor Wanted" and "Mentor Found."
It had been months since Jack and Katie-Jane had their first sexual conversation. What started as proofreading a story with a sexual scene turned into a full-fledged, online affair. Katie-Jane did not call it that, for she was honest with her husband. However, in Jack's eyes- it was an affair.
"So did you and your online boyfriend talk today?" Eric asked one night while he and his wife cuddled.
"We text. We don't talk all that often."
"I drove my online corvette today. She purred like a kitten." Katie-Jane love-punched her husband in the gut. "Hey, don't be jealous of the relationship the two of us have. What did you two lust birds talk about?"
"Today was pretty boring. Mostly about my work. He said he had sex in the shower last night. I congratulated him."
"Did you tell him that you had sex in the shower, too?"
"We didn't have sex in the shower, so why would I tell him that?"
"Damn. I was hoping you would match his experience, and we would have sex in the shower. A guy can dream."
"Are you sure none of this bothers you? You seem to take it in stride that your wife is having a sexting, online relationship with another man."
"Baby, if it makes you happy, and you feel secure, then why would I deny you?"
"Do you want to have a sexing affair online?"
"Why would I do that to myself? Between you and our daughter, there are plenty of women in my life. I'm good. You do it, and then share it with me."
"How about I share a picture of myself in the shower and send it to you?"
"Because that's the same as having sex in the shower, but I will take it." Eric's sarcasm was not lost on Katie-Jane.
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J: TMI- I want to know what your lips feel like around my cock.
KJ: I want my lips around your cock.
J: Simpatico.
That was all Katie-Jane heard from Jack, and that was three days ago. Since booking his trip to Chicago, he had been better keeping in contact, but recently he was back to talking intermittently. Katie-Jane was concerned that she was getting played. What used to be conversations about writing and sweet nothingness had become almost explicitly sexual in nature. For two people having an affair, it seemed pretty inconsistent to her. She knew though that the minute she heard his voice, she would melt like butter and his little hiatus would be forgotten.
It was a Tuesday night, which meant her son had a basketball game. Katie-Jane was sitting in the stands with her husband, daughter, and other son when she received a text.
J: Can I call you?
Jack and Katie-Jane never talked at night. When he got home, it was too risky for him to be on the phone, so their communication always ended by 5 PM. Katie-Jane looked at her family. "Hey, guys. I gotta step out real quick. My principal wants me to call him about something." Her two kids were oblivious. She could have told them that she needed to call baby Jesus on the phone, and they would have mumbled their approvals. Eric, however, gave Katie-Jane the eyes. He always knew when something was up. "I'll be right back."
KJ: Call. I am free for five minutes.
The phone rang not thirty seconds later. "Good evening Kathryn-Jane. How are we?"
"Who is this?"
"Huh? It's Jack? What do you mean who is this?"
"Ohhh. Jack. I remember now. As in jack me around."
"Okay. I deserve that. I know that I have been a little MIA lately. The wife needed some extra time. I should have told you."
Katie-Jane wanted to fight this battle, but in her heart she knew that it didn't matter. He was a married man living states away. She had no right to be hurt. Besides, it became clear that Jack only sent her a message when he wanted to get his rocks off.
"So," she began, "what's up? I don't think we have ever talked at night. All good?"
"I have a business thing in Chicago. I want to see you."
"Woah. What?"
"I need to set up some things, and those things are in Chicago next month. I can either send a junior partner, or I can fly up there and take care of it myself. I chose the latter if you would see me."
Katie-Jane's annoyance with his absence apparently had been forgotten because she replied, "Of course I want to see you," before her thoughts were fully developed!
"Perfect. I booked my flight already."
"I thought you said you may send a junior partner."
"Whether it was he or I, a flight was needed. I had arrogantly hoped you would accept seeing me."
"I accept it."
"Perfect. Until next time." The phone went silent. Katie-Jane and Jack apparently couldn't say bye like normal people. She was stung by his abruptness the first few times she had talked to him, but over the months she had realized that's who he was. One could not rise to the top of an architectural firm and not have some firmness. The problem was, Katie-Jane was attracted to the wrong type of firmness. She tried to mask her giddiness as she walked back to her family.
"Where did you go?" asked Mika, Katie-Jane's older son.
"Oh good lord! I told you I had to call my boss." Her son just looked at her and went back to playing on his phone. Katie-Jane never understood why her children came to "watch" their brother play basketball, but then just played on their phones.
"All good?" Eric asked.
"All good." My boss wants to set up a meeting to see me. Katie-Jane's eyes widened, and she smiled her famous joker smile- as Eric called it. Eric knew full well they were not talking about her principal.
"Oh really. Interesting. You'll have to tell me more about it later." Eric changed the subject, for he noticed their daughter was listening to their conversation.
Katie-Jane watched the rest of the basketball game, but she couldn't even tell you what she was watching. Her mind was racing about Jack. She was finally going to meet the man she had been talking to for months. Katie-Jane realized that Jack had this mystical power over her. She was attracted to his intelligence and his power at work. She loved his throaty, deep voice and his use of the English language...especially the verbs he used when stating what he wanted to do to her body. She was also incredibly attracted to him: his professor-like, dark rimmed glasses, his salt and pepper gray hair. She even liked his gray goatee and slightly crooked front tooth.
The man could be her father, but she never looked at him that way. He was Jack. Her special, intimate Jack. She knew him but didn't
know
him. According to him, he never talked to his wife the way he talked to Katie-Jane. He could share his deepest secrets with her and foolish admissions. And they could laugh. It didn't matter what it was about, one or both of them would make some type of lame joke that would send the conversation into giggles and lame innuendos.
As Katie-Jane sat in the bleachers that night, it slowly dawned on her that she was falling for a married man. Something in the back of her mind told her that she was going to get hurt, but that small voice was snuffed out rather quickly by all of her desires.
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By the time they got home that night, everyone was too tired to talk. Eric and Katie-Jane went to bed, and the week went along as it always does. However, Jack's pending trip was on the forefront of Katie-Jane's mind.
J: October 24 is only a month away. Are you ready for me?
KJ: Of course I am. I can't wait to see you.
J: Breakfast. We will have french toast and coffee.
KJ: And you will walk me to my car like Dow walked Maria to her car after coffee
J: You sly devil. You make me hard.
KJ: You make me wet.
J: What if you make me hard on Oct 24?
KJ: What if you make me wet on OCt 24?
J: I need to stand up. There's pressure in my pants.
KJ: Do you want me in your pants?
J: I do.
KJ: Simpatico.
J: Coffee and French toast. Maybe a cold shower.
Jack could make Katie-Jane wet with two words "I do." He wanted her just as much as she wanted him, and that was dangerous. Once again, a heavy conversation needed to be had with her husband, but she was too scared to look at him and tell him she wanted another man. Thousands of people-Jack included- would get together, and their spouse would never be the wiser. However, Katie-Jane could never do that to Eric. Ever.
Dear Eric,
Isn't it cute that you are getting an email from your wife? It's like the good ole days of
You've Got Mail
. What a cute movie with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. I love Tom Hanks. I am also stalling. I didn't email you to talk about movies. This is hard for me to share, so I wanted to email you because I am a chicken shit.
Jack is coming to Chicago next month for business, and he wants to have breakfast. I know you would be fine with that. Eric, I love you. You know that I love you. That is why this is so hard to talk about. I want Jack. It's more than flirtatious emails. I want to touch his skin. I want to be selfish. I spend all of my days helping students, and then I come home and help the kids and you. I am asking for 8 hours or 4 hours or 2 hours of Kathryn-Jane time. I am sure most women ask for a day at the spa, so I know what I am asking is selfish on a whole new level. I don't even know if Jack would go through with any of this, which means this email is moot. But I rather it be moot than ever hurt you. I am asking for your permission. You know me better than I know myself, so I doubt any of this is a shock to you. Maybe it is. IDK. Just don't leave me and don't love me less.
I love you.
Katie-Jane hit send. No turning back now. The truth was out there, and she knew that she and Eric would have some hard conversations. Katie-Jane also realized that Jack may not want any of this, so it could all be for naught.
KJ: Hey babe. I emailed you. I hope we can talk.