I couldn't even look at her, the mere sight of her made me angry, for the first time in my life I hated her, not just an uncomfortable dislike but a deep seated hatred that was festering under my skin.
We couldn't talk without ending up in a bitter fight and it seemed everything she did angered me more.
How did it come to this?
Six months ago I was offered an incredible work opportunity, the chance to run my own branch and when Liza and I talked it over we decided to go for it, to just grab the bull by the horns and do it.
We were both in our forties; the kids were off at school and no longer needed us, except for money. Liza's job as a realtor wasn't something she was tied to, she went back to work out of interest not financial necessity.
The only problem was it meant packing up and moving to the other end of the country. With the decision made we packed all our stuff into a storage facility, the apartment we leased was fully furnished so we took only our personal belongings.
This was a big change for us leaving our comfortable life in suburbia, our friends and family to move 1500 miles and live in an apartment in the middle of the city. I knew I would have to work long hours so I wanted to be close to the office and I didn't want to waste the weekends doing house maintenance.
We rented out our own home which more than covered our lease on the new apartment and headed off to start our new life.
The job was demanding and I had to throw everything into it, yep it was long tiring days. Liza although left to her own devices spent days enjoying the high life shopping finding her way around the big city enjoying the convenience of city life. We ate out a lot, we didn't have to use the cars, they stayed locked away unused. I had a ten minute walk to the office so I didn't lose 3 hours a day commuting. Life was pretty good, yep Liza did get bored which was what drove her to find a job with one of the cities big four realty companies.
With both of us working long hours our social life never really kicked off. I had my circle of work friends and Liza now had her little circle of colleagues, but we didn't really get a chance to mix and mingle. That changed a little when getting home from work one evening there was a young couple in the living area drinking wine and chatting and laughing with Liza. When I walked in Liza jumped up and introduced me to Simon and Denise, apparently we were neighbours. Liza had bumped into them in the elevator and invited them over for dinner.
As I shook hands with Simon and a hug with Denise I could indeed smell the aromatic odours of food cooking, it smelt like one of my favourites, chicken chasseur.
Liza poured me a glass and we all sat together, Simon was a lawyer with a city firm and Denise worked in customer relations with a department store.
They were both very likeable, pleasant and chatty, I was surprised how easily the evening flowed. It was surprising because they were in their early thirties at least fifteen years younger than us which made me wonder why a vibrant young couple would want to hang around with a couple of old fogies like us?
It seemed to make Liza happy to have new friends I guess that had been the missing link here in the city, we missed our friends, the dinner parties and barbeques. It had eased since she started work but I think we both needed friendly interaction with other people, to talk about stuff other than work.
By the end of the evening and they were leaving I saw a little of the vibrant outgoing Liza.
As we closed the door behind them Liza jumped into my arms, "Wow what a wonderful night, it was so nice to talk to other people, I had forgotten how much I enjoy it." Her tongue forced its way into my mouth in a passion laden kiss, "thank you for being so charming tonight, you were wonderful."
Our embrace tightened and I felt the heat of her body as she nestled up against me, "let's go to bed." She breathed as our mouths slid apart, "Take me to bed and make love to me."
God damn what a night, if that's what having neighbours over was going to be like then bring it on.
The next day as Liza made breakfast she gave me a big hug, Last night was fun darling, thank you."
"Yes I thought Simon and Denise were nice, although lord knows why they want to hang around with oldies like us eludes me."
She slapped me on the shoulder playfully, "Hey Mr, a little less of the oldies thank you."
Chuckling I muttered, "I just meant they are a lot younger than us, I would have expected them to be off nightclubbing."
Liza arched her brows, "Denise is rather pretty isn't she."
Nodding in agreement I added carefully, "Yes she is attractive I suppose."
She nudged me again, "Idiot, I saw you ogling her, it's OK you're allowed to look."
Accepting her tease I mumbled with a mouthful of toast, "Well I wasn't the only one staring young lady."
She snickered, "Yes well he is rather dishy as well."
I gave her a quick kiss as I scooted out on my way to the office. Simon and Denise became a bit of a fixture at our place over the next few weeks and they really were a lot of fun, Denise was bright and bubbly whereas Simon was quite the thinker, offering deep insightful comments and he definitely seemed to have developed an attraction to Liza, not that I was jealous or minded, there was nothing over the top. I just found it interesting.
Liza definitely enjoyed the company of Denise and Simon it seemed to reinvigorate her, suddenly we were listening to the top 40 hits rather than classic hits and when her and Denise went shopping she always came back with clothes a little more risquΓ© more modern and she was reading fashion magazines.
Simon and I although friendly were nowhere near as attached at the hip, they took us out to dance clubs where we were the oldest people, Liza loved it, but all it did for me was make me feel old.
Denise did her best to make me comfortable and always dragged me onto the dancefloor and man could she move, her body was everywhere rubbing and grinding on areas she had no right to, but when I watched Liza and Simon they were just as bad, it was a little intimidating, Simon was young and fit, a gym junky and me well I was neither of those. Not that I was overweight or anything I just couldn't compete with his energy.
The good news was when we got home Liza exploded with a sexual energy I hadn't seen for a long time, he might have been doing all the arousing but I was receiving the payment, gladly I might add. Liza's sexuality was reborn and I was not complaining.
Things sort of rolled along like that until one evening after they had been over for dinner and we were collected on the balcony, the music wafting through the apartment, Simon dragged Liza into a clinch and they slow danced swaying gently with the gentle breeze.
Denise not to be out done pulled me up out of my chair and we danced beside then. Wow her body was glued to me tight her legs separated slightly and I felt her crotch grinding on my upper thigh, her lips mere inches from my ear as she breather wetly on my neck and ear.
I tried to move slightly afraid that Liza would see and get mad but when I peered across at them their dance made ours look innocent, Simon's hands were under Liza's arse cupping her cheeks squeezing gently as he pulled her against him. Her arms were circled behind his head and her head was nestled against his chest, her lips like Denise's leaving little moist trails of saliva up and down his neck.
Jesus Christ, what the hell was happening. I broke the dance with Denise taking a couple of backward steps before calling out loudly, "Does anyone else want a drink?"
Liza guiltily slipped out of Simon's arms unable to look me in the eye. "Yes please she whispered." Simon nodded with a snigger, "Yes its hot tonight isn't it."
I went in and brought out the bottle of wine and replenished everyone's drinks, as we sat down enjoying the warm summer air Simon blurted out, "Do you guys ever share?"
I gave him a strange stare, "Share what?"
Denise giggled, "Each other, you know...swap partners."
I choked on my drink, "What... Good heavens no...... no we don't."
Liza gave me a worried glance, "Is that something you guys are into." I enquired.
Simon nodded, "Yeah Deni and I have and open marriage, we agreed that we are free to enjoy the company of others so long as we are honest and careful. Sometimes when the time is right we like to swap."
Liza stuttered, "So what are you suggesting?"
Denise interrupted, "Liza we like you, Simon and me talked about it, we both like you, we like you a lot and if you were interested we would like to swap."
Suddenly the breeze stopped, there seemed to be total stillness, I knew the music was still playing but I could hear nothing but my beating heart. "Oh I see." Liza mumbled as she glanced up at me with nervous look.
Simon laughed, "Sorry we have wanted to say something for a while but we were nervous, we like you guys, but we didn't want to shock you or spoil our friendship."
I tried to laugh it off, "No offence Simon, I'm flattered actually but no we are not interested."
He nodded, "Kevin, there's no pressure, we just wanted to ask."
I nodded, "As I said, we aren't offended." I glanced at Liza, "Are we dear?"
She giggled, "Definitely not." Her face was red as a beet and she looked flushed. Denise moved over beside her, "Are we still good? We were scared to ask we value your friendship so much."
"Its fine honey." Liza answered giving her a kiss on the cheek, "I am a bit overwhelmed though, we are well older than you."
Simon chuckled, "You may be older but Liza you have to realise you are a very beautiful woman, you certainly get my motor running."
"That's for sure." Denise giggled, "This is all he has talked about for weeks." She glanced at me, "I feel the same way Kevin I am very attracted to you, age means nothing to us."
I was flummoxed, speechless and I think everybody felt the same way. We sat sipping our wine in silence.
Eventually Denise stood and muttered, "Perhaps we should leave."
Simon agreed, "Yes I think we have shocked you enough, please don't hold it against us, there was no pressure."
After they left Liza and I went about cleaning up before bed and as we found ourselves standing together at the sink she giggled, "Bloody hell... Well that was a shock."