The weather bureau had promised fine and fantastic weather for the week-end. They'd got it right, so for a change on Saturday we walked the couple miles to the cricket fields. We sat with the same two parents like we did every game and the four of us watched our kids and their teammates as they all played really well; in fact, exceptionally well.
We were enjoying ourselves as we watched a great game and it was made better still by the great conversation and the harmless teasing with our two best friends. Our close bond had led to countless great evenings and barbecues with them and even an unforgettable holiday away together the previous year when we'd rented a large house at the beach.
At Julie's insistence we'd invited them along after we realized how big the holiday house was. It had been such an amazing week. Life couldn't have been more perfect.
I smiled to myself as George kept our wives wine glasses filled. I knew I'd get very lucky that evening so I didn't complain. Over the past twelve months or so, Julie had become far more adventurous in bed when she'd had too much to drink. She'd want to do things she'd never dream of doing any other time; she'd always refused to try them before.
Don't get me wrong; Julie wouldn't be anywhere near falling over drunk, just really happy and amorous with less inhibitions; but that would be hours away. Best of all, the kids were going out to a party at a friend's place. They'd told us it was an all-nighter so we'd have the house to ourselves until late Sunday morning.
In the meantime, the night ahead was something for me to daydream about. Even I was taking advantage of the fact I didn't have to drive and was drinking when I usually wouldn't have. George had brought enough beer and wine for all of us after I'd told him earlier in the week we'd be walking to the game if the weather was going to be as good as they'd forecast. Luckily for me the beer was my one of my favourites and I'd share the cost with him later so he wouldn't be out of pocket.
Our team's manager was doing the rounds talking to all the supporters. As she stopped to talk she reminded us all that the cafe was closed and we all needed to have brought our lunch as there weren't any open shops nearby for some reason. It was obvious we hadn't been given a message and her advice was a bit late for us; George must've forgotten to pass it on.
It had been his turn to pick up the kids from training during the week and he would've been given any messages while he waited for them. Like most parents who have to drive their kids everywhere I was looking forward to one or even both of them finally getting their car licence so they wouldn't be so dependent on us.
We all looked at George and he shrugged his shoulders saying, "I'm sorry. What's done is done. It just completely slipped my mind when we started to talk after I dropped the twins home."
He was right and maybe I was partly to blame as well. I did stop him and we talked for quite a while about how he was finding work now that he was contracted full-time.
Shit happens, so rather than start any finger pointing that could ruin a good friendship I stood up, smiled and gave a half-hearted wave then started to walk home to make lunches. In hindsight I should've just asked George to drive me but it didn't even occur to me at the time.
I'd only taken a few paces before Julie called me back saying, "James, don't be silly; you love watching the twins bowling so much. I'll go; I want to do it. Besides you always leave the kitchen in such a mess."
She did it again! Why do wives always do that in public? All the women nearby had turned their heads and were smiling and quietly laughing as they looked for the husband who'd just been outed by one of their "sisters" for "always leaving a mess". Even Karen was laughing at me. I'd done nothing to deserve that!
Was there some hidden code there for the other wives nearby to hear or is it just to let them all know you have some bad habits like the one that everyone around us just heard, 'you always leave the kitchen in such a mess' or that other great favourite they sometimes use, 'you never put the toilet seat down' to stop them thinking you're perfect and want you?
Julie got up to walk home and I wondered if she'd had too much wine at the time but she seemed remarkably sober otherwise I would've stopped her. No matter how much I loved to watch the twins bowling I grabbed her hand and went to walk with her.
Then George spoke up, "Hang on you two! Wait up a minute! James, Julie's right about you watching the twins. It's my fault, so how about I drive Julie home so that I can help make our lunches with her. Your place is closer so it's the obvious choice. Karen can't take her as she's had too many wines to drive now and I've only had one beer all morning.
James, I'd give you my keys so you could drive our SUV but you've been drinking a lot more than me and you're probably just over the limit. Anyway, we've forgotten our lunches as well. So I'll take her and once the lunches are made we can get back here quickly to watch the rest of the game.
It's pointless Karen coming with us; besides you two can keep each other company. Anyway, someone from each family should stay here just in case. Like you, I hate missing any part of the game but it's the least I can do for forgetting to pass on the message.
If things change dramatically and we go into bat early, one of you can phone us so we can hurry back. There'll a ten minute change over and you only live minutes away by car so we won't miss anything. Todd's opening the batting today but by the looks of it we'll be back in plenty of time if we drive unless your kids get them all out quickly of course."
Karen had been watching and listening closely then agreed, "George is right. I've had too much to drink so I can't drive. James, let them do it; let em go! It won't take them long. Besides, my shoulders need a massage. Stay here and talk to me while you watch your kids. You'll always regret it if you go and miss watching it all. It's turned out to be such a great game. Julie, please tell him he has to stay and look after me!"
Julie laughed and responded, "James, you heard Karen; she needs a massage. Your magic hands will turn her into a quivering mess again. George and I can make the lunches while you look after the needs of my very special friend here. I'll expect her to be thoroughly relaxed by the time we get back, so do as you're told and put your amazing hands to work on her. Pleassssse honey?"
I took a few moments and watched William bowling while I decided whether to go home with Julie or do what everyone else wanted and stay. As I watched, William took another wicket; that made three. He was on a roll and I didn't want to miss any further success with the ball so I decided to do as Julie asked me and stay to massage Karen's shoulders while I continued to watch the game and talk.
They immediately left for our home nearby. As soon as I started Karen seemed to melt like she did every time I worked on her shoulders; I knew she always enjoyed it. She must have loved it more than usual or maybe she was daydreaming about having sex with George as I heard her quietly sigh and moan quite a few times.
William finished his spell bowling with his fourth wicket on the last ball of his last over then Amy took the ball and did just as well. At the time I was sure I'd made the right decision and was glad I stayed.
Perhaps I should've gone to make the lunches but I especially loved watching the faces on the young batsmen when a very pretty girl with long blond hair took their wickets. A few players from the opposing team had given her shit all morning as they heckled and sledged her trying to get her flustered or maybe mistakenly thinking it would get her attention so they could ask her out later.....they'd certainly got her attention.
I often wondered if the batsmen were watching her when she bowled and not the hard red leather ball racing towards their wickets. She could be a devastatingly accurate swing bowler as they all soon found out.
There was nothing more humiliating to the four teenage boys who were given out with very few runs to show that their time at the crease had been worthwhile. A couple had even copped hard hits on their bodies from the ball depending on what they'd said to her. They'd been hit accidently of course.
It felt like Julie and George had been gone quite a while and I'd expected them back much sooner. I wasn't worried but I mentioned it to Karen and she told me, "Don't fret James. Please just keep massaging me. They really haven't been gone all that long."
If it had been anyone else who'd told me not to fret, I might've taken offence. Sometime late in the morning I needed to check on the progress of some software testing at work and before our spouses arrived back was as good a time as any, so I stopped working on Karen's shoulders much to her displeasure.
I dug my IPhone from my pocket and contacted my staff and watched them as we spoke. During the conversation I could see Karen looking at me questioningly; god she was hot and so nice to be around.
I'd never admit it to anyone; not even Julie or Karen herself but I always enjoyed touching her now as well as having her near to me and that really scared me because I loved Julie so much; I'd never hurt or betray her. I justified it to myself thinking we were all just really close friends and enjoyed being with each other; besides, Julie constantly asked me to do it.
I had thought it strange to start with but Julie was continually asking me to massage Karen after I did a massage course at her request following our holidays last year. Although the requests were frequently for full body massages I'd only ever agree to work on her shoulders and neck. I saved my full body massages for my loving wife.
