Some people were dissatisfied with the ending of my story, "Jack Should Have Known Better,' feeling it was too abrupt. They wanted more story. So, here's a little more. Frankly, I don't think this story has enough weight to be developed any further, so this will be it. I hope it satisfies. (No sex, no violence, no car chases, no deep thoughts.)
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As we pick up the story, Jack has just discovered his wife Sally has given a BJ to a guy behind the bar where she and her friends go for "girls' night out." Jack has told her, "You thought you were blowing Jimmy, but you were really fucking yourself."
After turning his back on the revelers Jack walked out and got into his car. He drove around before going home to their dark apartment. He was upset and confused. Her cuck? Really? Is that what she thought of him? Is that what he had been? It sure looked like it tonight. He finally realized that he'd had enough to drink that he should not be driving - let alone driving around. So he pointed the car toward home.
He was glad there was no sign of Sally at the apartment. Either she was still partying, or she had gone home with one of her girlfriends. Or some guy. Shit.
It was Thursday night, and Friday was a work day. They both usually tried to be home by 11 or 11:30 on these nights out. He saw it was 11:30. He locked the door, went to wash up and brush his teeth, then fell into bed. He wasn't crying, and some of the upset had left him, but he was very sad and very tired. Maybe the beer caught up with him, but he quickly fell asleep.
The next thing he knew, it was light and there was somebody moving around the bedroom. He was ready to tell Sally to get lost when he opened his eyes and saw it was Jan. "Sally sent me up to get her something to wear to work. I'll be out of here in just a minute," Jan said as she dug through the underwear drawer in Sally's dresser. "You guys can talk after work." She paused for a moment, then looked Jack in the eye. "Would you really kill that guy? Jimmy?"
"In a heartbeat."
"What about Sally? Will you hurt her? We told her what you said and she's terrified."
"I have no plans to harm her physically," Jack said. "But I am very angry. She was smart to send you. Now, if you'll finish your business and get out, I have to get ready for work. I don't wear pajamas and I don't want to flash you. We're not that close."
Jan went to the closet, pulled out a work outfit she recognized, then left with Sally's things. Jack got ready for work, scarfed down some breakfast, and went to the PT clinic for a day of stretching legs, teaching exercises, and encouraging his clients. The work was familiar and repetitious and while appearing to be attentive, Jack was able to put himself on autopilot, which was good on this troubled day.
At five he finished his last patient report and headed for home, unsure what future awaited him. Whatever he expected was not what he got.
As he pulled up to the apartment he saw Sally sitting in her car in the parking lot. Jan was with her. Jan got out as he parked and walked over to his car. "Let's go upstairs a talk a little before Sally comes up," she suggested.
Jack led the way, and once inside grabbed himself a beer from the fridge. "Want anything?" He asked Jan. She asked for a diet cola and sat on the couch. From her manner, Jack got the idea she was not here to supplicate on Sally's behalf. No, she took the offensive.
"So, what were you doing last night, showing up at girls' night out?" Jan asked. "Which part of 'girls' didn't you get?"
"The lights went out at my sports bar, so I thought I would come and join my loving wife and her friends," Jack replied. "I had no idea I would be walking in while she'd be blowing some guy in the parking lot. Or that I'd learn that she referred to me with her friends as 'her cuck.'"
"You know, Jack, Sally loves you. That silly nickname is only for GNO, and only for us girls, never for guys she meets. It is kind of an in-joke when she's feeling frisky. Jack, truthfully, she has never disrespected you with us, and has always spoken about you as a smart guy. Now I'm beginning to question her opinion."
Jack bristled a bit. "What does that mean?" He asked. "And why did she send you up to be her mouthpiece?"
"She's afraid of you, after you threatened that goofball last night. And it was my idea that I come up and try to straighten things out. As for whether you're a smart guy, Jack, let me ask you a question. What the hell do you think girls' night out is all about?"
"Girls go out with their girlfriends to drink and eat and gossip and flirt a little, and maybe dance with a guy or two," Jack replied.
"Jack, haven't you read any cheating wife stories online about girls' night out? Are you really that naΓ―ve? We go to a bar where there are guys. We eat and drink, and if we're lucky we only have to pay for our food and our first round. After that, in the normal course of things, guys start buying us drinks, then inviting themselves to join us, or us to join them. They ask us to dance. Sometimes the the guy who hits on one of us is funny, or cute, or charming, and we feel some attraction. That guy might get some time added onto the flirtation. Sometimes the guy is a drip, or a letch, or a douche, and we just drink the drink he bought us then move on.
"When the guy is cute, or funny, or charming, or some combination, we might dance with him several times. Dancing can be a very intimate experience. Sometimes the attraction we feel for each other leads to other things. We don't go to the bar hoping or expecting to go anyplace past drinking the drinks they buy us and flirting a bit and dancing. But it is our time away from the commitments of our lives and sometimes other things happen.
"Jack, sometimes if a guy has the right moves, we might wind up making out a little in the booth. Sometimes we might do some dirty dancing. And yes, sometimes we go out the back door and other things happen. There's a secluded area where a couple can go and have a little privacy. And sometimes, Jack, we do stuff right out in the open where people can see us, just for the thrill of it."
Jack got himself another beer.
"So, you're saying stuff like what I walked in on last night happens all the time. My wife performs sex acts in the parking lot with random guys while I'm watching a football game with my friends."