The bar was packed with Saturday night revellers and Vicky needed to let her hair down. A horrendous week at work followed by a disastrous Friday night date had left her deflated. She was happy with her job, but it had its ups and downs. She just wished she had someone to share her life with. Moving through her 20s and into her 30s, most of her friends had partnered up and settled down. She used to feel like she had all the time in the world. But a series of nights out meeting new partners followed by luxuriant weddings was starting to leave her feeling left out. Her best friend Jen was just the latest.
It wasn't that Vicky wasn't happy for Jen. They had been friends for over 10 years and been through more than their fair share of highs and lows together. When Steve came into Jen's life Vicky was conflicted, in more way than one. First there was the concern over whether Steve coming into Jen's life would leave her more isolated, less able to spend time with her closest friend. But the other conflict was deeper. From the moment she met him, Vicky felt instant attraction for Steve. It was almost like a magnetism she could not control. His athletic body, cocky humour and chiselled good looks all made her envious. Yet Vicky knew she had to find a way to break the thoughts she was having. That was what made her tell Jen all those weeks ago the fantasy she dreamed about. She felt awkward thinking of it even now. Imagining herself having a threesome with her best friend and her partner. She could not recall what possessed her to share it.
Jen seemed fine with the revelation and even appeared to laugh it off. Yet, ever since her drunken confession, Vicky was concerned that Jen had been off with her. She had become less responsive to messages and even seemed distant when organising tonight's night out. Whilst they invited along some of their other friends, Vicky hoped to get some time alone with Jen to clear the air. Vicky knew that moment had come. She turned to see Jen striding across the dance floor towards her with a beaming smile. She was wearing a tight blue dress that hugged her toned figure paired with strappy heeled sandals. Vicky could not help but notice that in the last number of months, Jen appeared to have a lot of new outfits and heels, perhaps gifts from Steve. She leaned in for a hug as Jen reached her.
"So glad this night out made it out of the group chat! We've been talking about it for ages!" Jen laughed.
"I know! I was needing it too after the week I had!"
"No luck on your date then?"
"Sadly not. But at least the cocktails are good to drown my sorrows! Listen, Jen. I have been meaning to talk to you."
"Yeah, sure. I was hoping to talk to you too! I think the others are out at the smoking area chatting so we can use the table."
They both lifted their cocktails from the bar and walked to the quieter tables at the back of the club. They slid into the plush booth and settled themselves.
"How about you go first?" Jen said.
"I just wanted to say Jen that I am absolutely mortified at what I said to you a few weeks ago. I can't believe how bad it must have sounded, your best friend blurting out a sex fantasy involving you and your boyfriend. I just feel so bad putting you in that awkward position because I would never want to harm our friendship..."
"Vicky, listen. It's fine, honestly". Jen said, placing her hand on Vicky's forearm. "It is really not a big deal. I am the one who feels bad if it made you feel our friendship was at risk."
"It's just, I know how good you and Steve are together and you've been looking for a great guy like him for so long. I hated the idea of it coming between us. I just felt you had been a bit distant the last few weeks and was worried you felt betrayed."
"Vicky, really, you're reading too much into this. I mean, think about it, your fantasy was with both me and Steve there, not just you and Steve. Plus, I know you're not one of those girls who goes around stealing other people's boyfriends. You admitted it. I just put it down as an innocent fantasy. Plus, I was just taking some time to think about it."
"Think about it?" Vicky said surprised.
"Well, yeah. The truth is Vicky, I think we've known each other longest within our friend group. We go way back. So, I feel like I can share things with you."
"Absolutely Jen. Anything."
"Well. I thought tonight I would let you in on something. A secret between Steve and I. If you promise not to share it."
"Of course not Jen. My lips are sealed."
"Well." Jen began, sliding closer to Vicky on the seat beside her. "What if I told you, Steve and I have already had someone else in the bedroom before?"
"What!? Are you serious? You've had a threesome?"
"Well, maybe not in the way you'd think." Jen said wryly, sipping her cocktail.
"What do you mean?"
"The thing is Vicky. Steve admitted to me shortly after we started dating that he had a thing about being watched whilst having sex. He hadn't really experienced it properly, but he was into the idea of someone being there watching us. Truthfully, I was kind of into it too."
"And you actually found someone to watch? Like a random stranger?"
"Not a total stranger. Do you remember the quiet, shy guy I dated before Steve? Would have been about 3 months before him. I think you met him at a house party once."
"Wait, you're not serious!? You got your ex to watch you having sex with Steve!? Wasn't he the one who also had the foot fetish thing?"
"That's him! Yes, I talked to him and suggested the idea and he was into it."
"He was into it? What did you say to him?"
"Well, that's where the fun part comes in." Jen replied, her mouth curling into a smirk. "I met him for coffee and a chat. Just a casual walk. After chatting to him a bit to test the water, he made a confession himself. Not only was he into feet. He told me he also had a thing for something called 'cuckolding'. It's basically where he gets to watch a woman have sex with another man. Specifically, he said he had fantasized over the thought of watching me having sex with other men, even when we were still dating."
"Oh. My. God!" Vicky gasped. "So, you had sex with your new boyfriend whilst your ex sat and watched?"
"Well, watching mainly, but that as well as doing a few other things..." Jen said mischievously.
"I can't take much more of this Jen! There is more?"