Tess slumped in the chair, her laptop glaring back accusingly at her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and clicked "send." She struggled with her guilt but decided it was time. She and her husband of 18 years had been high school sweethearts but things had grown distant between them for the last few years. She often wondered if he even still loved her. She suspected he had been unfaithful during their tough years and figured it was time to do the same.
She had stumbled across the website while looking for lingerie to surprise her husband with of all things. It was a place where you could select someone to have a one night stand with, no strings attached, no money involved, just pleasure. She had browsed for weeks before actually deciding to go through with it but finally got the nerve after a particularly bad argument with her husband, Jack.
The man she reached out to was someone she felt would have an easier time disconnecting with, looking completely opposite to Jack. The smirking face staring back on the screen belonged to "Max", though she doubted that was his real name. He was adorable, with blue-green eyes and a grin flanked by dimples that made her weak in the knees. She can't remember the last time Jack smiled at her that way. Max had sandy blonde hair with a sculpted goatee and a lean muscular build, like a swimmer. She flushed at the thought of running her lips over those abs.
Her stomach was in knots over what she'd just done. A line she never imagined she would even consider crossing. She heard Jack's car pull up and hurriedly stashed the laptop away. She tried shoving the thoughts of Max from her mind. She hadn't even gotten the chance to see if he accepted her proposed date and meeting place, a nice but inconspicuous motel about 40 minutes away. It would have to wait until morning. She willed herself to put a smile on and jumped out of chair to greet Jack and their 14 year old son, Nate.
"Hey." Jack greets her in the kitchen. He runs a hand through his dark, loosely curly hair. "I have work to do, so I'll be upstairs. I ate a late lunch so I don't need dinner." He brushed by as she reached out to hug him. The rejection chipped away her guilt over what she was about to do. She watched him go, broad shoulders, a face that reminded her a bit of her favorite actor, James McEvoy. A heavy sigh escaped her as Nate made his way over. "Whats up, mom!" he put his arm around her. "I'm walking over to Matt's to work on a project, I'll be home around 8." She looked up at her tall son, smiling to herself about what a handsome, goodhearted kid he is. She had wanted another child, but suffered a devastating miscarriage and they agreed not to try again. She felt guilt creep up again, thinking about Nate and how disgusted he would be if he knew what she'd be doing tomorrow night. "Don't be late, I'll worry," Tess replied, watching him grab a book off the table and shove it in his bag. As she watched him go, she thought about pulling out her laptop but decided to take a shower and get comfortable first.
She grabbed some loose yoga pants and a tank top from the stack of folded laundry she needed to put away. She stepped into the large bathroom and examined herself for a few minutes in the mirror. Tess had put on a few pounds over the last few years, especially struggling with sadness over the state of things with Jack. But, she was still decently attractive. She was average height, about a size 8, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. Her favorite feature were her full, D-cup breasts. She reminded herself to pick out some flattering lingerie for her evening with Max, contemplating between her favorite black lacey bra and thong or a sheer pink babydoll.
Her mind was lost in thought, fantasizing about Max, when Jack knocked on the bathroom door. She had just stepped in the shower. "What is it?" Tess called out. Jack poked his head in and said he had to run back out. He didn't even really look at her much less make her feel wanted. She sighed, trying to remember the last time he initiated sex or paid her a compliment. She prayed Max didn't reject her too. She finished her scalding hot shower and grabbed her laptop from behind the couch and curled up in her favorite chair. She hadn't anticipated checking again until morning, but found herself alone again. She had a new message. Max had replied and said to be at the hotel by 9. Her stomach lurched with excitement and anxiety all at once. She had only ever been with one man and now she was crossing into uncharted waters. There would be no turning back...
Tess barely made it through work, her mind elsewhere. She raced home to shower and prepare for her evening with Max. That afternoon she'd snuck away during her lunch break to get a Brazilian wax done. She wondered if Jack would even notice. If things went well with Max, she could see doing this again. The thought made her wet. Jack said he was going to be working really late and Nate was spending the night at his friends house. Just in case, she texted them both saying she would be going out with friends and would be home late as well.
She selected the black lace set and a lowcut black sweater and skin tight jeans to put on over it. She took extra care with her hair and makeup, hoping Max found her attractive too. She took a quick picture and considered sending it to Jack because she looked good but couldn't bring herself to, knowing it was meant for another man. She took a last look in the mirror, squared her shoulders and walked out the door.
