Note: It's been a while and thank you all for being patient waiting for the Popcorn final chapter. I received mixed requests to either stay with the soft swing or go all the way. So I guess I will disappoint one of the groups. Don't read if swapping spouses upsets you. Please read Chapters one and two to get up to speed. All rights reserved.
*
"Is that them?" Robin asked Carl who was peeking out the small window towards the front of her house.
"I think so....yes it's pulling into the driveway," he said moving over by her on the sofa. "Turn on the TV."
"What do we tell them?" She asked hearing the car doors closing outside.
"Nothing. If they want to say something they can start it."
*
"The light is on," Cassie said holding Mark's hand tightly. "I hope Carl doesn't go ape on us. He's got a bad temper sometimes."
"If it gets out if hand I'll leave," Mark said as he opened the door with his key and peeked inside. They heard the TV on and saw the light on in the den. "I'll go first."
"Hello," he said to give them a warning before they appeared. He moved inside the room first and saw his wife lying on the sofa with her head on Carl's lap. Both were completely dressed.
Neither Carl nor Robin acknowledged them.
Mark moved into the room and stood watching a wrestling match which he knew both Robin and Carl hated. "You can't be watching this."
"I'll get us all some coffee," Cassie said peeking around Mark's body.
"Do you want coffee Robin?" Carl asked not looking at their spouses.
"No, I think I'm going to bed." She sat up on the couch and turned and gave Carl a long kiss before standing and walking by her husband. She didn't look at him as she took his hand in hers and pulled.
Mark turned looked at Cassie who waved for him to follow Robin. She then moved next to Carl. "Do you want to go home?"
"It depends," he said looking at her.
"On what?" She asked starring in his eyes.
"You know," he said firmly.
"Not here," she said standing up. "Let's go home."
*
Robin was in the bathroom for five minutes and when she came out wearing long cotton pajamas Mark was pretending to be asleep. She moved next to him and reached over to turn off the lamp. They both had their eyes opened for the next ten minutes before he spoke.
"I guess it got out of hand."
She didn't answer.
"Did you do it?"
"Did you?"
"Define do it," he answered.
"IT...did you fuck Cassie?"
"No," he said quickly. "We...uh..we were very close but...we both thought of Carl and you."
"Good." She smiled and turned over.
"Whoa...hold on. Uh...come on..tell me."
"We didn't do it either," she smiled. Again they got quiet.
"I love you Robin."
"Me too."
*
"I don't believe you," Carl said when Cassie told them that they stopped short of intercourse.
"That's great Carl. You mess around behind our backs first and now you don't believe me. I'm telling you the truth. We didn't do it but we both wanted to."
He pulled the car into the garage and turned it off. "We did the same. I mean...we didn't go all the way...but we wanted to."
"What now?" She asked taking his hand in hers. "What now?"
"I'm not sure. We need to think about it. What do you want to do?"
"Definitely think about it. If we do it we can't take it back."
*
Nothing more was said the next day. Both couples went about their business like they would on every Sunday. Carl was still in bed when Cassie shook his arm and woke him up. "I'm going to Church."
"Wha...What? Church. You never go to church."
"I know," she said as she turned and walked out of the room.
Robin was having the same conversation with Mark. "If you don't want to go fine. Just don't give me a hard time about it."
"Robin, I'm sorry. I know I started it with Cassie and it messed everything up. But we didn't and you didn't so nothing bad happened."
"Right," she frowned. "None of us are Saints but at the same time we crossed over some lines."
Mark quickly finished his cereal. "Wait for me and I'll go with you."
"I want to go alone," she said seriously.
He sat back down and watched her walk out.
*
Cassie didn't see Robin sitting a few rows ahead of her until they all stood up to sing. She quickly noticed that she had left her husband at home as well. After the service was over she hurried outside and found Robin's car. When her friend walked up to it she moved to the passenger door. "Open up because we have to talk."
Once in the car and after they looked around to make sure no one was close by Robin started crying. Cassie was no help because she did the same. It was Robin who stopped and reached over to hug her friend into her arms. "How did we screw up so bad?"
"I don't know. I know that I love Mark and you so much and so does Carl," Cassie said as she sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Us too. God, what are we going to do? I don't want to lose our friendship."
They stayed quiet for a while when other churchgoers passed by. "I know that it's what got us here but...but I don't want to stop...you know..with Mark," Cassie said hoping that Robin wouldn't be mad.
Robin laughed and wiped some tears away. "I don't mean to laugh but I feel the same way. I never was upset that you were with Mark. What upset all of us was that we were not together."
"You're right," Cassie smiled. "So what do we do now?"
*
Mark sat in his boxers staring at the TV showing highlights from the weekend sporting events. He was happy that none of them went all the way but was sad that there was tension between them now. He was getting up to get another beer when the doorbell rang. He opened the door and saw Carl.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," Mark said not caring that he was in his boxers. The two of them had already seen each other naked anyway. "So you missed Church too."
"Yeah...I didn't get much sleep."
"Wild night with Cassie?"
"Not even close," Carl grinned. They moved into the living room and Mark brought them both a can of brew. Carl opened the can and held it out to tap Mark's. "To friendship."
"To friendship," Mark grinned. They both took large gulps and sighed. "What now my good friend?"
"I think that might be up to the women," Carl answered. "I mean if we don't continue with the swap I'm not sure if I can see Robin without thinking about it."
"Same here. I think the only way is to just do it. It's obvious that we all want to. I know Cassie still loves you."
Carl tapped his beer can against Mark's again. "And Robin still loves you."
"So are we saying that the only way this is going to work is if we...uh swap all the way?"
"That's the way I see it," Mark grinned.
*
"Sex has been the best it's ever been," Cassie said to Robin. Their cars were the last ones in the parking lot.
"And if we quit now we will always wonder how it would have been." Robin glanced at the Preacher who was leaving the church. "I should feel guilty about desiring another man but I don't."
"I don't either. I mean it's not wrong as long as we all agree right?"
"Right. But we have to be together. We can't let that happen again," Robin smiled. "Do you think the boys will agree to...to take it all the way?"
"There's one way to find out. Let's stop and get a movie on the way home."
Mark jumped when he heard two car doors close and ran to the window to see Cassie and Robin walking up to the front door. "They are both here." He thought about pulling on pants but decided to stay in his boxers. When they walked in he was sitting on the sofa a few feet from Carl.
"We are glad you both are here," Robin started. "Cassie and I have been talking and there is really only one solution to our situation."
Carl glanced at Robin's short dress and low cut top. "We've talked too."
"Who goes first?" Mark asked also checking out Cassie's long legs.