Ethan sat back on his haunches and watched Vivian through the crackling firelight. Her mane of red hair was thrown back and she laughed richly at the story her friend was telling her. Vivian and Ethan had been married now for almost four years and he was still amazed sometimes that this smart, beautiful, woman had agreed to spend her life with him. Ethan had been skeptical that he would ever find 'true love,' but one date with his future wife had been enough to convince him to abandon his bachelor ways forever.
For Viv's thirtieth birthday this year Ethan had searched for weeks for a special gift when she had unwittingly provided the perfect suggestion; a visit with her best friend from college. It could have been a logistical nightmare getting her friend here from Amsterdam in time for Vivian's birthday, but schedules worked out and flights were available when they needed them. The look on Vivian's face when she opened the door earlier this evening and found her 'gift' standing there was priceless.
Ethan had put steaks on the grill and cracked open a bottle of wine while the old friends caught up on each other's lives, filling in the blanks that e-mails and the odd phone call could not. The last time they had seen each other was at the wedding and they had not really had more than a few minutes together at the reception. Ethan had watched their interaction this evening with great interest, curious about the person who had been such an integral part of his wife's life throughout college.
After dinner they had decided to take their drinks and venture down to the beach for an impromptu bon fire. It was late September and the beach was devoid of the usual tourist crowd. A slight nip in the night air made it a perfect evening for sitting out under the velvety canopy of stars, relaxing and getting reacquainted.
"Wait a sec. Let me get this straight." Vivian waved her nearly empty wine glass in a broad slash in front of her. "She said YOU don't have a sense of humor?" Her mouth was agape in a slightly inebriated sense of amazement.
"Apparently so." Willem took a drag from his cigarette and stretched his long legs out in front of him. "Some friend you are for not telling me this years ago."
Vivian reached out for his cigarette, glancing over at Ethan apologetically. "You don't mind, do you?" She asked before taking a quick puff and turning her attention back to the dark-haired man seated next to her. "I tried to tell you, but it seemed so cruel."
Willem chuckled and knocked back the rest of his beer before reclining next to her on the log that they were using as a make shift couch. "Of course, if I listened as well as you did…"
"Oh, shut up!" Crossing her arms over her ample chest, Vivian scowled at him.
Ethan retrieved two more beers from the cooler and Vivian's bottle of wine and rejoined them on the blanket. "What did she do?" He asked, holding a beer out to Willem.
Admittedly, Ethan had been more than a little curious about the 'other man' in his wife's life. He was secure enough in their relationship not to feel threatened by their friendship, but watching them interact now made him wonder if they had always been just friends. They were both very demonstrative, touching and hugging often. But there was a sexual undercurrent between them that was almost tangible. Maybe it was only because he knew Vivian in that manner that he recognized the signs.
"Thanks." Willem took the new bottle from Ethan and easily twisted it open. "I probably shouldn't tell tales but—"
"Whatever it is he's making it up, so don't listen to him." Vivian interrupted, holding her glass out for a refill.
Ethan poured the remainder of the ruby liquid into her wineglass but held it just out of her reach. "Now, are we going to let our guest tell his story, Sweetheart?" He asked teasingly.
Vivian pouted prettily, her full lips pursing invitingly. "I should've known you two would get together and gang up on me."
"We're actually waiting for you to go to sleep so we can really talk about you." Willem assured her, lighting a new cigarette since Vivian appeared to have commandeered his first one.
Ethan relinquished the glass and sat down on her other side, dropping a kiss on her cheek. "It's only because we love you."
Willem mimicked Ethan's move and kissed her on the other cheek. "Imagine what we'd say about you if we didn't."
She took a large sip from her wineglass and sighed dramatically. "Fine. Go ahead. Tell him your 'stories.' See if I care."
"It was our last year of college and Vivian decided she wanted one last fling." He started into his tale with obvious relish.
"You make me sound like some kind of wanton slut." She protested, irately taking another puff from the cigarette she had commandeered.
Willem gave her a quick wink before continuing with his recounting of the events. "So she plotted a whole, elaborate seduction scene for a freshman she was tutoring in Chemistry. He was the good looking, all brawn and no brains athlete type." He paused thoughtfully. "What was his name anyway?"
"Patrick." Vivian answered crossly. "As if you didn't remember."
"Oh, yes….Passionate Patrick." Willem chuckled sardonically. "Destined to go down in the annals of the great lovers of history."
"Okay, so he wasn't a firecracker between the sheets." She defended, throwing her auburn hair over her shoulder defiantly. "With a little training he could have become a first class stud."
"If memory serves me correctly," Willem draped his arm over her shoulder. "You referred to Patrick as the reason women become lesbians."
Ethan couldn't help but laugh at the mental image of his sexual dynamo of a wife with a sloppy amateur. "Well, I certainly am glad that you were willing to give the male race another chance."
Willem gestured at Ethan. "And I'm glad your taste in men dramatically improved after college."
"Oh, and you used to pick so many winners yourself?" Vivian shot back, turning to face him. "Shall I list off a few of your more glaring errors in judgment?"
"I've told you before, I think my length scared them off." Willem told her solemnly.
Vivian threw back her head and laughed warmly. "Oh my God, I forgot how NOT modest you are."
Willem shrugged. "Why should I be modest if it's not true?"
"Talk about legendary lovers…" She teased, rolling her eyes expressively.
Ethan took another drink of his beer, deciding to jump on the opportunity to ask the question that had been in the back of his mind all evening. "So, haven't you two ever…?"
Vivian cocked her head to the side and looked at her husband uncertainly. "You mean together?"
"Although separately would probably make a more interesting story." Willem said dryly, taking another drink of his beer.
"Well, you're so close it is a logical question." Ethan explained with a shrug. "You must have wanted to at some point."
