Soon as I met her during our first week in college, I was seduced. Stephanie is a good-looking 22-year-old girl, with long strawberry blonde hair and the most admirable blue eyes. I would not call her a supermodel. But she has a lovely, slender body, thanks to just enough sport to keep it fit. Mostly, it's her kind, open personality that drove me — and countless other males on the campus — to fall for her almost on the spot.
Alas, Jay was there before I. I got to meet him quite early in the semester, as he came to pick up Stephanie after class one day. Setting aside the bit of jealousy I was feeling, I have to admit that they were a nice, well matched couple. He's perhaps my height, 1 m 75, although perhaps a bit slimmer. A quiet, intellectual type, a bit like me. And, as I got to learn by meeting him a few more times around Stephanie, a really nice guy.
I'm really glad for them that they are such a nice couple, although having been without a girlfriend for a while now, I'm even more jealous of his good fortune with such a lovely lass.
Perhaps out of pity, or just because we get along magnificently, they invited me for a Friday dinner out. Just a friendly little dinner and chat at a neighbourhood Vietnamese restaurant. "Hop by my place for cocktails around 6:30, and afterwards, we'll head out to the restaurant."
So here I am, in the entrance of her building, 6:30 sharp. "Come on up," she says with her cheerful voice as she buzzes me in. I climb the couple of stairs to her floor. She's waiting for me at the door.
I notice that she's wearing most relaxed clothing: jogging pants and an old t-shirt. She's quite sexy. As usual. "I guess I'm a bit early," I say. "You haven't had time to change yet."
"You're not too early. It's just that neither Jay nor I felt like rushing things. Hey, we have some time since it's very early in the evening and we don't have reservations at the restaurant."
Her explanation satisfies me. As I walk inside, I notice that Jay is also very casually dressed. Makes sense.
We sit down in the living room for a round of gin tonics. Although she's still living on a student budget, Stephanie has a nice apartment and knows how to lead the good life. We chat for a while, and enjoy a second round of drinks. We're now more relaxed. Finally, the mood is appropriate for a Friday night.
As we're finishing our drinks, Stephanie jumps up, turns to me and announces "Well, if you'll excuse us, Jay and I should hit the shower before getting ready to go out."
Perhaps this should sound strange. But I understand that their schedule is as loaded as mine and it's quite likely that they had no time to get ready earlier.
"Don't worry about me," I say. "I'll finish my drink while you're preparing."
Stephanie leads Jay away from the living room, down the hallway that leads to the bathroom. I hear the door close and the shower that starts running. I have another sip of gin tonic. Hearing a splendid Oscar Peterson number on the radio.
I'm enjoying the haunting harmony and dizzying virtuosity of the late master when Stephanie's voice, coming through the bathroom door, pulls me out of my meditation. Very fast.
"Why don't you come over to join us?"
You would be flabbergasted hearing such an invitation, right? Well, that's precisely how I am. I get off the couch and walk closer to the bathroom. I'm at the door. I'll act dumb. That's got to be safe.
"Well, I do plan to join you guys. For dinner. That's the program, right?"
"Why don't you come over to join us — right now?" she insists.
I'm not mistaken. She's actually offering me to join them as they're showering.
"You want me to bring you a couple of drinks?"
"Man, when you decide to play dumb, you really do!", she replies. I detect the laughter in her voice.
I'm running out of possible objections. And running out of explanations to this whole situation. Still. How can I be sure that I really understand what I hear, that everything's that happening is real?
"You're sure about what you're saying, Steph?"
"Are you waiting for a written invitation? 'Cause it ain't coming. I can't write under the shower."
I've really run out of objections. I'm going in. Besides, the thought of seeing Stephanie naked is enough to dispel all possible objections.
I open the door and walk inside, struck by the hot and humid air. The water is running. The shower curtain is opaque, so I can't see Stephanie and Jay inside. Silently, I begin peeling off my clothes. Wondering about what's going to happen. Is this the opening sequence for a ménage-à-trois or just a casual and fun shower, a brief episode akin to three kids playing with their clothes off? Vertical skinny-dipping, if you will?
