"Am I......missing something?" I nervously asked my friend Maxine as I fiddled with a cigarette.
"What do you mean?" She looked puzzled as she sipped her coffee.
"You know.....I.....you.....oh shit." I sighed, "some mornings it seems like........there's something going on.......with you and.....some of the other Mums. All......secretive and shit."
Maxine just shook her head, "You are just being paranoid.......it's just kids stuff.....you know; after school things."
"I don't know." I took a drag of my cigarette, "Some days.....you just disappear without a word. "
Maxine waved her hand to dismiss my concerns and swifty changed the subject.
I'd known Max since our own schooldays and now our kids went to the same school alongside a few other Mums we would meet a couple of mornings a week for a coffee; but recently she had been making excuses and driving off with someone else without even a bye your leave; and some mornings when I walked in the cafe she would be talking to other parents and they would go suspiciously quiet when I joined them.
It was all beginning to be a bit like my last year at school twenty years ago; when I was left out of the 'cool kids gang.'
Over the next couple of weeks I became even more suspicious of not just Max but some others, who on the surface were always polite and said 'Good morning' and just like Maxine would occasionally disappear straight after dropping the kids off or would look very secretive when talking to a couple of the Dads, making my paranoia go onto red alert.
Eventually I was sitting outside the cafe alone with Max and I blurted out; "You know a couple of weeks ago I asked what you were getting up to without me....well.......Something IS going on.....tell me; why am I being left out?"
She glared at me then shook her head; "It's all in your mind."
"No it isn't." I insisted as I turned and turned my cup, "I thought we were supposed to be going to the supermarket yesterday and......then I saw you talking to Jasper's Dad then get into his car." I shrugged my shoulders and looked her straight in the eye, "and you didn't return any of my calls all day.".
Before she could reply another Mum, Helen sat next to us without asking. "Everything OK ladies?" She smiled; and began taking about our kids.
After another coffee and more inane conversation I had to leave for an optician's appointment.
That afternoon when I was back at the school gates Max sidled up; "We need to talk." She half whispered.
"Go on then."
"Not here." She continued; "Can I phone you tonight?"
"Of course." I replied; more confused than ever. Why would my friend need an appointment to phone me?
"Is Alex home?"
"No; he's away until Monday night."
"Kids in bed about 7?"
I nodded. This was really weird.
Satisfied she patted me on the back and confirmed she would call about 8.
Max is a year younger than me and I'm Amber, 36. She's been divorced twice whereas I've been happily married for 12 years to Alex who's a coach driver for a holiday company, often staying away from home three or four nights a week and occasionally longer on European jaunts. I'm a little bit taller than my friend with short brown hair and 34c boobs and while I try to eat well since I changed jobs last year and now work 6-10 in a supermarket and have put a few extra pounds on, now making me a busty size 12 and she is still a slim size 8 to 10 with short rusty coloured hair.
Even at our ages I think we still look attractive when dressed up for a night out; but in my care they were becoming a rare commodity.
With the kids tucked up in bed and hubby called too, I sat with a glass of wine in hand staring at my phone. 8 o'clock came and went but it finally rang at 8.20.
"Hi." I answered as friendly as possible.
"All clear?"
"Yes.....of course." I anxiously laughed, "this is all getting weirder by the day."
"You wanted to know 'what has been going on' as you so......quaintly put it, didn't you?"
"Yes....but....."
"It's too fucking late for 'buts'...Amber." My friend hissed into her phone. "I've spoke to a couple of people and......." she took a big lungful of air, "we have.....I'm...we're in a ......sort of club.....a circle some call it.....with a few other parents."
"Oh." Was all I could think to say. "Who?"
"I can't tell you that....yet. You have to promise to keep everything I tell you a secret though....will you?"
"Of course."
"It's all harmless, a bit of fun.....between.....you know......consenting adults?"
I wasn't expecting that! But remained silent, gulping my wine and feverishly smoking.
"It has to be a secret as......well.....a few....some, most I guess are married.....and....people can be very judgemental.....you're not, are you?"
"I don't think so." I blurted out.
"Good.....because; I've been asked.....told actually......to invite you to.....join us."
"Me?" I must have sounded astounded, "Me? But why? Who? Oh shit Max.....what have you done?"
"Me?" she growled. "Fuck off! You were the one poking your nose in......you even asked Margot 'what was going on', when her sister was there, didn't you?"
"Oh God.....I'm sorry.....did she get into trouble?"
"No, you silly cow." Maxine giggled, "they are both members but didn't know!"
Max refused to give any more names, but went on to tell me that only 'special' people were normally selected and I'd been 'moved up the list'. There were about twenty members she knew of but not everyone knew who were in the club. It all started when a couple of horny but lonely people got it together and invited another friend for a threesome.
Quite a few were married like me, even one couple who joined in together but most were divorced or retired.
"Why me?" I needed to know, "What makes you......them think I could be interested in anything like this?"
"Oh come on Babes," she laughed again, "that fat bastard is never home and when he is, he's either in the pub or the bookies! You're not getting any, are you?"
"Hey....that's a bit personal." It was my turn to giggle, as I'd probably confided too much over the years and she was right. I still look good for a married woman with two kids, but my husband had probably put three stone on in the last couple of years and did spend a lot of time in our local pub when he was home.
"You know I'm right Babes." Max carried on, "while he's ripping his cock off in hotels watching porn you are at home bringing the kids up and I bet you don't even have a dildo, do you?"
I fell silent before I confessed, "I do actually......a rabbit."
"Good for you girl; but how often do you use it?"
"More than you would imagine these days!" I chuckled; never having told anyone anything so intimate before.
"But nothing beats the real thing though, does it????" Max's voice sounded more husky now, "when was the last you got fucked and he made you scream?"
I didn't answer as I don't think my husband had ever made me cum let alone scream.
"Me?" She whispered, "this morning AND this afternoon! Three different cocks too."
"What the fu.......Three?" I was incredulous.
"Yes Babes......two glorious fucks with three different men.....and a.....woman!"
"Oh...my......GOD!"
"I fucking love it Babes......men or women; I'm not fussed and.......you're not going to believe this but I love being gang-banged too.......fucking love that Babes, you will too."
"Oh my fucking God.....Maxine; you're not kidding are you?"
"You heard me right......and there's plenty out there who want to fuck you too."
"What do you mean?" I asked as the wine began to take effect and I slowly relaxed.
"A couple of guys have been asking about you for few months now and last week one of the girls too after you started asking questions."