"OK guys, I guess this should be my last drink. It's not even the weekend yet." Dan set the cluster of three pint glasses down heavily on the bar table. His friends grumbled their agreement as they laid claim to their drinks.
"Still, we'll make the most of it when it comes though. You out tomorrow?" Nick directed the question at both of his friends. It was a typical Nick question for a Thursday night. Any time the lads arranged to get together it was always Nick who got things going, directing the events of the evening. He made sure they all had a good time, and led by example. Dan half-laughed to himself. So typical of Nick, then, to start organising the weekend before it had even arrived.
As usual, George was the first to bolster up Nick's social mandate. "Can be. Gotta do Friday, haven't we?" George was understandably keen to be seen around with Nick. Both men were free and single; for them, Friday night was the start of a weekend spent seeking out the best that the town had to offer. So, predictably, he added: "We should text round the girls too, see who's up for it."
Nick nodded his approval. "I'll text that Lesley, she's always up for it with me." He winked, and the three of them chuckled. That remark, too, was pure Nick. Lesley was a tall blonde who turned every man's head, the sort of girl most men tended to develop get awkward around. He'd been seen going home with her on more than one occasion - but casually, and with never a question of them being a couple. It seemed that Lesley was available for casual sex, but only with someone like Nick.
He was probably the best looking guy they hung out with; he fit the tall, dark and handsome stereotype, and his hours of work in the gym was reflected in a strong build and an energetic, positive attitude to life. It was no surprise that George, good-looking and well-liked though he was, chose to hang around with Nick on a Friday night.
"Come on then," he encouraged. "You coming out Dan? That girl of yours won't mind, surely?"
There it was: the reason that, unlike George, Dan no longer felt like he had to rush around with Nick every weekend. Maybe he wasn't the best looking or the strongest built of the three, but for the last few months, he had been the one with the steady girlfriend. Dan might enjoy a night out on the town too, of course; but he could take it or leave it. And this week he doubted he had the time.
"Well, you know I've got that stupid family thing on Saturday. So I'll meet up with you guys for a few drinks, but I'll probably spend the rest of the night with Jemma. You know how it is."
George laughed along. "Oh, we know how it is! You're out of town on Saturday, so you've made an appointment to get laid on Friday, and you'd rather do that than hang out late with your mates."
The three of them laughed their approval. "Can't blame you though," Nick put in. "She's pretty cute. Not bad at all." And there it was - an approval from Nick, almost a get-out-of-beer permission card! "I still don't know how you pulled her though," he continued. "You must have bought shit-loads of Rohypnol! What's going to happen when you run out?"
George nearly spilled his beer laughing. Dan had to chuckle along too. "I know. I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm awake!" He took a swig of his beer. "And fucking. I have to do loads of that too, just to be sure I'm awake."
This sort of treatment was inevitable for Dan with two single friends. George kept things going. "That is some long-lasting beer goggles she's had, eh? What's it been, three months?"
"Four," Dan answered, laughing along with them.
"Woah!" Nick ramped up the pressure. "Long term shit! Must be into the kinky stuff by now then, eh? What's she into, whips and chains?"
Dan gulped. Nick had unwittingly found his weak spot. He felt himself going red in the face. He tried to cover up by drinking, but his reaction was noticed. George poked at him. "What's up, Dan? Got a confession for us? Don't tell me. You're wearing her suspenders under your jeans!"
Dan grinned and tried to move the conversation on, but they had found their opening now. "Go on, what's the problem?" Nick mockingly soothed him. "If she's bought herself a strap-on, I'd advise Vaseline."
"No, it's nothing," Dan said. "I've just been getting a bit possessive, that's all. I get jealous when she goes out without me."
George howled. "Nooo! Not buying it Dan. You were telling me just last week how you totally trusted eachother! And how you knew she was giving other guys the brush-off! What's really eating you?"
Dan started to say something, then stopped. The alcohol had fuddled his mind a little, and he was suddenly on the spot. "Course, if you can't tell your mates," Nick muttered teasingly, "It must be something really horrible."
Dan sighed. He had to admit to himself now, this was actually bothering him. Maybe it would feel better if he shared. "OK," he said. "But not a word to anyone, right? Specially not Jemma!" His friends made mock salutes, and leaned in seriously as Dan took another sip of beer. "OK, well we were talking about fantasies and stuff." Nick and George waited expectantly. "And she said her number one fantasy was... well, she asked me if I'd be up for a threesome."
George was astonished. "How's that a problem? Come on man, just pick her hottest girl-friend! What about that Stephanie, she's pretty cute. A blonde to go with your brunette, right?"
But Nick was one step ahead. "I don't think it was with a girl, was it Dan?" He smiled knowingly.
Dan shook his head. "Right. And you know, I didn't want to, you know, share her that way. Thing is, I really love her and... You know, seeing her with another man..." He trailed off.
Nick butted in: "... Especially if he has a bigger dick than you ..." Laughter filled the table again. Dan felt a weight lifted, in fact, as his friends seemed to understand. "See, it's always good to air your problems," Nick concluded. "So what did you say?"
"I had to say no, I wouldn't want to share her. She was OK, but she was kind of disappointed. Thing was she'd been telling me it had been a big fantasy of hers for a while, and she'd love to do it, but how could I say yes to that? She was OK with me, but I just feel bad right now. It was only last week."
"Well, you know what I think?" Nick smiled. "I think you'd better make damn sure you show her a good time on Friday, right? I mean, give her multiple orgasms."
George agreed. "Yeah, jawlock time for you, matey. She'll soon forget about it."
Dan was quite surprised - their advice actually did seem to make sense. He ought to put this behind him, and concentrate on keeping Jemma happy. Their sex had always been fantastic, the best he'd ever experienced, so he felt on solid ground there.
He laughed, finishing his drink. "Yeah. Thanks guys, you know what, you're right." He felt a physical tension ease. "And you know what else? I think I'll have one more beer tonight. Seriously, I feel better now."
As Dan headed to the bar for himself, Nick winked at George. "Young love. Bless."
*****
When Saturday evening came around, Dan joined up with his friends, even though he knew he wouldn't be staying with them for long. A couple of drinks in pubs in the town centre followed. Nick had orchestrated a meeting with three or four of the group, which was to be swell to six or seven later at one of the larger bars in town. A few of the girls they regularly saw would no doubt be there.
Dan was able to enjoy the beginning of the evening, and knowing he didn't have to progress to some of the noisier bars - which would no doubt be visited later - he noticed that he felt more relaxed than most of the rest of the group. He was looking forward to seeing his girlfriend, too.
George could not resist teasing Dan when he heard he was meeting up with Jemma. "Hope you've been exercising your jaw," he whispered in a private moment. "Keeping her happy, that's the key."
Dan took the ribbing in good nature. "Don't worry about me that," he mockingly assured his friend. "I know how to make things good for the lady." As the clock neared nine, the time Jemma had said she would arrive, Dan started to look around for her. He deliberately stayed clear of Nick, as he instinctively wanted to stay away from larger men when his girlfriend arrived. Nick was the most muscular and attractive of his friends, so Dan drifted toward the opposite edge of the group.
When Jemma arrived though, it was Nick who happened to see her first. "Here, I'm sure I've seen that foxy brunette over there before," he laughed in Dan's ear. Dan turned to see Jemma joining the group in search of him, hastily greeting one or two of the boys as she searched for him. She was wearing a smart knee-length patterned skirt and a respectable black top for their date. With her dark, straight hair framing her subtly made-up features and fresh young features, she looked delicious.
Dan felt he was breaking free from his friends' teasing as he strode up to his girlfriend, kissing her briefly on the lips. He was relieved that she had arrived, so that now he could take her away from them and enjoy the rest of the night with her.
One of the men who had not been aware of their relationship looked a little disappointed, and Dan could scarcely blame him. Even though she was dressed quite conservatively, Jemma somehow stood out from the other women in the room, her brown eyes sparkling as she hooked her arm into his. Although her top was hardly revealing, the outline of her figure could be seen - an outline which hinted at a slender but curvy figure. Her bare calves were noticeably tanned.
Jemma's cheeks plumped attractively as she beamed at her boyfriend. "Hi, Dan! Have you been having a good night?" Her soft voice chimed pleasingly in his ears. At 22, Jemma's voice had a girlie quality about it that was appealing, but her attitutde was one of a confident young woman, aware of her own appeals.
