John and Holley were one of those couples everyone knows, and everyone wants to be around. At 26, John was young for being the marketing director at a major biotechnology firm, where I also worked as an engineer. Having the heir of the company as a fraternity brother helps I guess. Holley was 24, perky and outgoing. Her and Julianne both attended graduate school, though different programs. Our couples night tradition was devised at company party by my fiancé Julianne, when the four of us agreed that The Walking Dead is the best show on television. Julianne suggested we all watch together on Sunday nights, but Holley objected because of an early Monday class. Not wanting to be a killjoy, Holley suggested moving it to Mondays, and watching on DVR. She suggested they host, to make up for it. So the tradition began. They made snacks, we brought drinks: Beer and wine.
This particular night started like the others. Julianne carried two bottles of Rose, and I brought a cold twelve pack of Miller. Since leaving college, I don't drink many beers; too many un-cautious words and fights with Julianne. John on the other hand, still put them away. Often that by the time the credits rolled, five empty bottles would be by his feet. By the time we were hitting the road, he'd be slurring the goodbyes. Don't get me wrong, the women would get tipsy also. The twelve pack was ostensibly there for anyone who needed extra.
John opened the door alone and said that Holley had just interviewed for a summer internship and was getting changed. He was setting out cheese with a baguette and crackers. I drank a beer with him and chatted, and then realized I had to pee. I went down the hall to the bathroom, and without noticing the light was on, barged in.
Then froze. Holley was in her underwear , admiring her own figure. I couldn't help but suck in a breath and do the same. She had her shoulders forward to accentuate her breasts bulging out her push-up, but was sticking her ass to the side in an "aren't I just sexy" pout. Her ass cheeks spilled over a lacy red thong. It was all perfect, from the arched back to the apple-shaped ass. I knew I couldn't just stand there like a creep, so I said, "I'm sorry." She jumped a little and looked at me in the mirror. She stared for a moment then burst out laughing.
"Oh no," she said good-naturedly, "it's my fault, I didn't realize what time it was." She covered her mouth as she laughed and shook her head and then glanced down the hallway behind me. "Is Julianne here?"
"Sure is. Don't you feel rude."
She put a hand on her chest and turned around, grinning gamely. "Yes I do, just like you should for seeing this." Then she giggled and opened the adjacent door to her bedroom. I couldn't help but to stay frozen and watch her leave; her ass swung like a pendulum. She gave me one last grin before she shut the door.
When I finished, Holley was already dressed and talking to Julianne. She gave me a knowing glance and grinned, reassuring me all was cool. I joined John on the couch, where he was polishing off his third beer.
"Want another?" John asked.
"Uh, no, I'll have a water for now."
"One water for the mathlete." He chuckled. It was a running joke among the non-engineers in our firm that the engineers were all nerds. We'd get called mathletes, whiz kids, number jockeys; any number of condescending names. I ignored the childishness, comfortable that me and my fellow engineers ere typically the most fit in the company. I had just placed 2nd overall at a local half-marathon and was quite comfortable with whatever insult they wanted to sneak in.
As he got the water, I fired up the DVR. As I did I noticed Holley looking past Julianne at me out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned my head, she quickly looked away.
It was a great episode; the zombie violence was a welcome break from our collectively stressful lives. John got up to turn the TV off, and when he did, knocked over the six empty bottles now at his feet. Holley cast a glance at Julianne and rolled her eyes. When John sat down to retain his spot on the couch between Julianne and Holley, he sat down too hard, and tumbled clumsily onto Julianne's lap. He giggled, and Julianne good-naturedly pushed him back up to the sitting position.
"I'm not that drunk, I promise," he said with a fun laugh that was almost convincing.
"It's alright," said Julianne.
"The night is still young," said Holley, "Anyone up for another show?"
No one objected, so Holley flicked the TV back on, and started scrolling the DVR. She paused at "Wife Swap" obviously a favorite based on the number saved.
"This?" She asked.
"Never seen it," said Julianne. "I don't know, though. It looks weird to me."
"How so," said Holley.
"Do they actually have sex with the other person's husband? That just seems kind of wrong, and gross. Especially on TV"
"Naw, they don't." Said John loudly. "Which is kind of pussy actually. If you're gonna put up with any extra women, you should get a reward for it." He looked over at me for solidarity, but I avoided eye contact.
"The rules say you can't have sex," said Holley, ignoring John, "You're just living in a new household usually under different rules and such."
"I guess that's not so bad," offered Julianne. "I thought it was about swingers or something." She looked at me and laughed.
"No—" started Holley, but John interrupted her: "There's nothing wrong with swapping wives or girlfriends, or whatever. I've swapped girlfriends in college on a night like this. I'm all about it. I've had group sex. It doesn't matter in college. Hell, once I let a fraternity brother fuck my girlfriend for concert tickets."
"Are you serious?" Holley said.
"Sure, but only once. She said he had a little dick anyway. I didn't care, Didn't love her." The room was silent, and John immediately tried to cover his tracks. "I didn't love her like I love you."
"Gee, that's sweet," Holley said, rolling her eyes. John hugged Holley close and started cuddling her and whispered into her ear, no doubt reassuring her of his devotion.
I glanced at Julianne, who was noticeably uncomfortable. You alright? I mouthed to her. She shook her head.
"Say, babe, don't you have a paper due at noon tomorrow? You should probably get home."
She nodded. Holley and John broke from each other, and Holley said, "Oh, come on, we didn't get to watch it.
"I do have a paper," Julianne said, and shrugged. "It was great as usual though."
"Well, let Rick stay then. We hardly get good company, and I feel like staying up. Besides, there's a whole bottle left."
"And a shitload of beers," John pointed out.
Julianne looked at me. "Fine, you stay, I'll get a cab."
"Nonsense," I said. I looked at Holley, "I'm gonna drive her home, but then I'll come back and we can watch Wife Swap."
"Yay!" said Holley, waving fists of victory. "Come right back though."
"Sure thing"
"Hey dude," said John, "get some more beer."
I looked at him, said nothing, and we left.
In the car, Julianne grasped my arm and laid her head on my shoulder. "Thanks for getting me out of there. The way he was talking made me think they were about to invite us into a foursome. It really freaked me out."
"Come on, really?"
