After class on Tuesday, the study group got together at Jim's apartment. Things were a little tense for a while, as this was our first time back together since I slept with all of them, after the mid-term exam. Fortunately everyone was very cool about it and after a few humorous remarks, we all relaxed. I made it clear from the beginning that there would be no repeat performance that night. No one pressed me or Debbie any further. I think they realized that they had a good thing going and they didn't want to jeopardize it by pushing themselves on us. It was this relaxed, caring attitude that led me to feel that everything I did with these guys was OK. We were friends sharing what we had with each other. It was my chance to grow and develop my self as an individual. My secret life at college was staying secret.
Things at home had become a little involved. Tom and I had switched spouses with a couple across the street several times in the last month. Tom was very happy with that arrangement and encouraged me to feel free to expand my activities. At a party over the weekend, we had found out there was a group of neighbors that was into wife swapping. Tom had asked me if I would be willing to get involved. He had already agreed to sleep with Cathy, one of the neighbor's wives. She had caught her husband, Rob, with another woman in the neighborhood and was getting even with him. Her husband knew she was going to sleep with another guy, he just didn't know who she was going to choose. She had given Tom a blow job at the party this past weekend.
I told Tom I didn't think it was wise for us to get too involved. I was getting worried about where this all could lead. I admit I was still very dependent on Tom and I was afraid that he might leave me. I didn't say no, I could just see lots of potential for things getting messy! Tom kept the pressure up all weekend, but I wouldn't actually agree to participate. He told me that he was going to see Cathy Thursday night when I was at school. I had mixed feelings about that, but I knew that I couldn't stop Tom from doing it. He felt too strongly attracted to the idea, and I felt some guilt about my college affairs.
Thursday came quickly and I sat in my lab class, trying to focus on our project, but thinking about Tom and Cathy. I hoped that this would be a one time thing and we wouldn't get too involved. I was so worked up over it that I didn't go to the apartment with the study group after class. I went home to wait for Tom. I sent the baby-sitter home at 10:30 and waited until 12:30 before I went to bed. Tom never came home! I couldn't bring myself to call Cathy and Rob's house, so I worried all night long. Tom finally called from work at about 11:00 the next day. He said that they had fallen asleep and he just left for work in the morning. I yelled and screamed at him on the phone, angry at having worried all night and scared that he had fallen for Cathy.
Tom got home Friday afternoon and we just kind of tiptoed around each other. At dinner Tom asked me if I was still mad. I didn't even answer. He apologized over and over, telling me how much he loved me and how unimportant Cathy was to him. He did his very best job of sweet talking me. He was careful not to mention my big mistake and abortion. But I knew that it was there, just below the surface, if I got too critical of his behavior. I relented and kissed him, saying,"Don't ever put me through a night like that again!" He asked me if I would go across the street to Mark and Donna's with him later. He said Mark had invited us over and he had forgotten to ask me. With more than a hint of sarcasm, I asked him if he was planning to screw Donna again. He said, "No, we didn't talk about that at all. They just wanted to talk and have a few beers." I said I didn't know if I could get a baby-sitter this late. Tom called the neighborhood girl who usually watched the kids and she agreed to come over at 7:30.
I called Donna and asked her what was up. She said nothing in particular, just a chance to wind down from the week. We arrived just after 7:30 and went into the den. My heart jumped when I saw Cathy sitting on the couch with her husband Rob. I looked at Tom and he just shrugged as if he was also surprised. Donna handed us both a drink and pulled me over to the bar. "Don' t be pissed! Let me explain what's going on." I was already so mad I was ready to storm out! Donna continued to tell me to calm down. Tom and Mark stood on the other side of the room and avoided eye contact with us. So did Cathy and Rob.