Sometimes the world seems a dull old place, thought Renny, as she contemplated the gray, overcast Michigan sky through her apartment window one Wednesday afternoon. Her mood was as cheerless as the weather. What you need girl, she said to herself, is something to lift your spirits…
thinks
…what haven't I done for ages that might do the trick? I know! I'll invite Amy and Sue over, get in plenty of good wine and we'll have a girls' night in.
Now, Renny, Amy and Sue had been the closest of friends for years. There's nothing they didn't share with one another; they trusted each other implicitly. It was in their teens that the 'terrible trio' (as they were then known) first became inseparable. Over the subsequent two decades, the bond between them had only grown stronger. They had rejoiced in one another's triumphs and consoled one another in times of heartache or anguish.
Renny phoned Amy then Sue and was elated to hear that they were both up for it and that all three had no other commitments that Friday night. Over the years, their 'girls' nights in' had become something of a ritual or institution, generally taking place every two months of so. But since Sue's marriage to Mike (who seemed to resent his wife having such close, longstanding ties with the two women, and who knew they did not care much for him), their girly get-togethers had become less frequent; the last one had been as long as six months ago.
* * *
The thought of Friday night acted like a tonic on Renny, though her improved mood was not matched by any improvement in the weather. But the dreary, leaden sky no longer reflected her own feelings. She simply couldn't wait to see the girls. She loved the way that, as the wine loosened their tongues, the talk invariably turned to sex. Amy was the most daring and outrageous of the three in sexual matters; she delighted in giving graphic descriptions of her latest sexual shenanigans and indiscretions about whom she'd paired off with and how they'd performed. These lurid accounts of her hectic sex life were arousing, hilarious and shocking by turns, and made the other girls feel readier to share their own sexual experiences, especially Sue, always a little shy in sexual matters.
* * *
Amy arrived first, bearing two bottles of red wine and a bag that she held out to Renny saying "Present!" Renny hugged her, stretched up to kiss her cheek and said, "Oh Amy, you shouldn't have. If I'd known I'd've got you something."
"Nonsense!" said Amy, a tall woman of strong opinions forthrightly expressed. "Your hospitality for the night is gift enough. Well don't just stand there girl, open it." Renny snapped open the bag and, with a sharp intake of breath, drew from it and held up a black, silk basque, elaborately decorated with red lace. This, as Amy well knew, was just the kind of sexy, alluring garment that Renny loved. She kissed Amy again and led her through to the lounge. Renny laid out the basque on the back of the sofa and poured them both a drink.
Just then, the ring of the doorbell announced Sue's arrival and, shortly after, Renny ushered the third friend into the lounge. Sue too had brought a couple of bottles of wine with her. Amy got up and embraced Sue, greeting her as always as, "Sue the mouse. Great to see you, little Sue. The mouse is in the house and now we are three!" Sue smiled weakly and even fabricated a little laugh but she looked wan and dejected.
Renny poured her a drink. "Everything alright babes?"
"Fine," said Sue. "Everything's fine."
Renny and Amy exchanged concerned glances. Renny silently mouthed the word "Later" at Amy, tilting her head sideways to indicate Sue. Amy nodded agreement. They would get to the bottom of Sue's unhappiness later, when she'd got some drink down her and loosened up a bit.
"Well Sue," said Renny, brightening things up, "It's been six months and we've missed you. It's a real treat to see you at last and have the old triumvirate back together again." She poured and distributed more drinks, raised her own glass and said, "Here's to the three of us!"
"The three of us," echoed Amy and Sue.
"Thanks Renny," said Sue. "I've really missed you too, both of you. But the pair of you still get together regularly don't you? Just like we always did?"
"True," said Amy, "But it's just not the same without you Sue, without the three of us. Not a proper girls' night in." Amy could and should have left it there, but didn't. "I mean, that selfish fuck of a husband of yours, how dare he stop you seeing your two best friends in the world. You ought to stand up to him, girl, before he-"
"How's work, Sue?" interrupted Renny, noting how Amy's clumsy outburst caused Sue to frown sadly.
Amy's tactlessness for once embarrassed her into silence. She poured and passed round more wine and for half an hour or so, the women talked about their jobs, the comings and goings of mutual friends, movies and concerts they'd seen and, before long, a modicum of cheerfulness was restored. During a lull in the conversation, Sue pointed to the back of the sofa and said, "What's that?"
"That? It's a basque," Renny told her, holding it up and displaying it to her. Amy bought it for me. Lovely isn't it? Here, have a feel of it," she said, passing it to her.
"It's beautiful," trilled Sue, caressing the garment. "The material feels…gorgeous."
"Ren, why not try it on?" suggested Amy.
"What, now?" queried Renny.
"Yes now," replied Amy, "See if it's your size. If not I'll change it tomorrow."
Amy's words caused the merest tingle of excitement in Renny's stomach. She'd wanted to try it on ever since she'd first seen it. She couldn't wait to find out how sexy and sensual she would look and feel in it. "Hmm," she sighed and smiled slyly at Amy. "I've got just the stockings and panties to go with this; they'll match it a treat. You two just talk among yourselves while I go and slip them on."
She soon collected the items from her bedroom drawer but, in the mischief of her excitement, as she undressed and put them on, she decided to go further and give herself an erotic makeover to do justice to the basque.
After some time, Renny re-entered the lounge. Sue emitted a startled little squeak when she saw her, while Amy just said "Wow!" as a lascivious grin spread over her face. For Renny had returned wearing black silk stockings and suspenders, a bright red thong and stiletto heels and, oh yes, a large pair of silver earrings. Her lipstick matched the bright red of her thongs and she had added rouge and mascara. She had also applied a few dabs of her favorite perfume. She was topless, her nipples hard and jutting.
"You gonna help me on with this basque, girl?" she asked Amy. "Tie me at the back?"
"Sure," grinned Amy, getting up. "Be delighted."
