This is the fifth installment of Melissa's Journey. The story can stand alone but the first four stories may add context.
Melissa, known to her friends as Mel, had just turned 45, but she looked younger. For a few years, she had been on a journey exploring her sexual desires, fantasies, and interests, and that led to several intimate encounters over the last two years, most recently giving her best friend's eighteen-year-old son, Zach, his first hand job and blowjob. Since then, Mel's youngest son had left for college, leaving Mel and her husband "empty nesters." So too had Zach gone to college, leaving his mother and Mel's best friend, Susie, home alone, because Susie was unexpectedly widowed seven years before when her sons were eleven and thirteen years old.
A few weeks earlier, Susie was invited to an over-40 singles event and asked Mel to come with her as her "chaperone." Mel wasn't sure bringing a married friend as a chaperone was in the spirit of a singles get-together, but she wanted to support her friend, because Susie had struggled with dating since her husband passed away. Conveniently, the Friday night mixer was on a day Mel's husband would be on the west coast for business and would not be home until Saturday afternoon. So, Mel agreed to go, but said she would be about an hour late to the two-hour event.
Mel hoped the event would be good for Susie. Since losing her husband, and having to raise two teenagers, Susie had dated fewer than ten men and slept with only one, a real estate investor named Marc. Mel remembered how excited Susie was the first time she went down on Marc and realized things were going to go further. Unfortunately, while Marc was handsome, very charming, and attentive to Susie, he also was married--a fact he somehow failed to mention. They slept together just five times, and Susie confided he was "great in bed," but she ended the relationship about two years ago as soon as she found out his truth. After that, Susie "played" with one other guy about a year ago, but she said it was nothing more than touching and her giving him head once.
When Mel arrived at the mixer, she found Susie surrounded by three men, two very good-looking and one not unattractive. Mel wasn't surprised Susie was getting lots of attention, as she is both smart and attractive. Susie is petite, not quite 5'3", with an athletic body that, because she was committed to exercise, carried only about fifteen pounds more than when she was a college gymnast. Her short blonde hair, blue eyes, and girl-next-door face nicely complimented her smallish but round boobs and curvy rear. Her dark plum dress flattered her figure and the firm abs Mel knew Susie worked hard to maintain.
When Susie introduced Mel, she told the guys to "settle down, she's married," although her suitors were not phased by that and occasionally flirted with Mel. Susie clearly had had a few drinks, and there were two on the table in front of her that she hadn't touched. When they went together to the ladies' room, Susie acknowledged she was happy to see Mel because the guys were "trying to get me drunk and they're succeeding." Then she said: "Aren't you proud of me for telling them you're married, and leaving out that you sometimes fool around." Mel shook her head at Susie's reference to Mel's recent journey, knowing her friend was both nervous and a little tipsy.
"Thank you for that," Mel smirked. "You know I could just leave you here to decide which of those guys you will go home with, or maybe even that you want to take on all three at once," Mel teased.
"Fair enough, smart-ass" Susie said. "Thanks for coming, really," she added more softly.
"You know I'd do anything for you," Mel said, stepping in for a quick hug.
"I do know that, and I love you for that," Susie whispered.
"I love you too Suze," Mel said. "But now your admiring public awaits," she added before taking Susie by the hand and leading her back into the function.
About an hour later, the event ended and, despite having opportunities to continue the evening with any of the three suitors (and Mel being invited out by one), Susie took all of their numbers and said she was "going to call it a night." In the ride-share on the way home, she thanked Mel for "rescuing her" and confided she had been feeling "very needy" recently. "I'm sure I would have done something I might have regretted if you weren't there," Susie added with a shy smile.
"Well, you had plenty of offers," Mel said with raised eyebrows. "And, who knows, you may not have regretted it. You deserve to have your needs met," Mel added while putting her arm around Susie in a comfortable hug. Susie's buzz relaxed her, and she leaned against Mel.
"I love you Mel. Thank you so much," Susie said. Mel gently stroked Susie's head as she nestled against Mel's shoulder. Their breathing was in sync as they savored the intimacy of their longtime friendship.