As my eyes opened the next morning, my very first thoughts were of the night before. Right where I lay now, just twelve hours ago, my best friend's partner, Adele, had been handcuffed naked.
Today, Paul would return home from work to discover the nude photo album of Adele, made by Jade and I as payback for his theft of two naked pictures from my better half Jade's cellphone. Little did he or Adele know that the phone swap had been initiated by Jade and I in the first place, as recounted in previous stories.
It felt like the day after Christmas as I headed to the shower, leaving Jade still sleeping off the alcohol. She started work a little later than I did today, so I quietly dressed and headed off to buy coffee for my slightly thudding, yet buzzing head. I knew Paul was due home at some time, but didn't know quite when, so rarely ten minutes went by when I wasn't checking my phone for a missed call or a text from my pal. I was still confident he would realise he had been caught being a devious little pervert, and would see the creativity of the payback, and realise that things could have been a whole lot worse if Adele had have held onto her original view that Paul had betrayed her.
Lunch came and went and, still, no contact. I spent the afternoon in a three hour meeting when, on several occasions, I drifted off into my own sordid thoughts, only to be brought back down to earth by a frustrated colleague. Work over, and still nothing. I returned home a little before Jade and had just rustled up a risotto for dinner when she burst throughout he door.
''Well?'' she said, her face flush with anticipation.
We had both agreed not to contact Paul or Adele, and let them make the first move. After all, Adele might still want some harsh words with her man, and Paul might need some time to process the string of events that led to him being presented with a solo porn album of his other half... not to mention the ripped of picture of Adele and Jade.
''Nothing. Not even a text. I am still not worried though. I am sure they are waiting until Adele gets home and they talk things out.''
Jade wasn't convinced, and started speculating that Paul might feel the punishment outweighed the crime. The more she wildly guessed what may or may not be going on, the more I started to lose confidence. By eleven o'clock, we headed to bed none the wiser, and it was only as we were climbing into bed that my phone vibrated. We both froze on the spot, as I reached over to the bedside table. A text received, and the name on the screen was Paul.
''Well? Is it from them?''
''From him.''
''Well fucking open it then Luke! I am dying here!''
I swipe the 'unlock' and up popped the response we had been waiting for.
''Luke, I had no idea what to think when I got home, but Adele explained everything. I believe that's what they call 'getting even'. I am sorry, but you more than paid me back. Lucky bastard. The reason for late text is that I've been fucking Adele for past 3 hours. I should thank you for that! Dinner tomorrow at ours? Put this all behind us?''
I read the message to Jade, texted him back saying that everything was cool and dinner sounded great, and then we both high fived like two villains who had robbed a bank and had got away with it. After much chatter we eventually fell asleep, without as much as a quick grope, mainly due to the leftover hangover from the night before.
There was no more contact between both parties before the following evening, but we headed in a cab to Adele and Luke's very relaxed indeed, and looking forward to a night of reliving the whole experience. Paul greeted us at the door like nothing had happened, and hugged both of us with the same warmth as always. Trust Jade to plough straight in...
''Paul, do you recognise me still, or would you like me to handcuff myself to something to remind you?''
I laughed, but Paul blurted out a whole list of apologies, only for jade to put her finger up to his mouth to quieten him.
''Paul, I was joking. I hope you didn't delete them. You have earned them after what we did to little Adele. Where is she?''
He led us into the kitchen as Adele greeted us, wearing a lovely, tight fitted pair of casual hipster jeans and an equally tight top that showed off her midriff, which was quite the opposite to Jade who had dressed up a little in a nice black dress, that stopped just above the knee, and showed a flirty glimpse of her little tits at the top. Sexy, not trashy, but still perfect for a voyeur like me! And Paul for that matter!
Again, the greetings where very natural, and we soon launched into some food and win, all sat around the table. Before long, talk turned to the photo album and the tale behind it. Surprisingly, it was Paul who brought it up.
''So guys, let me just say that I am sorry for my weakness in stealing those two pictures. I was drunk and stupid and, well, a man!''
I jumped straight in.
''It's forgotten Paul, honestly. In fact, I propose a toast. To friendship, forgiveness and photo-shoots!''
The glasses clinked as we chuckled as one. Paul continued.
''When I opened the photo album I nearly passed out, but Adele had put a letter inside the cover which recounted everything. I just flicked through it, dumbfounded. I sat for what seemed like an hour thinking about what I had just seen, and, to be honest, I kept arriving back at the thought that I deserved what I got. To be fair, the pictures are fucking top quality by the way, apart from the last one!''
The mood was tipsy and convivial, as the girls teased him about the fact he will never get to see the full shot of Adele and Jade posing together fully naked.
''I bet you weren't fully naked! I can only see from above the breasts, so you probably just lowered your dress straps.''
I wasn't going to allow that.
''Think about it Paul. I had already photographed Adele naked, and I see Jade naked every day. Why would they just lower their straps? Don't worry, I will explain it to you in every last details for many years to come!''
I think Paul was loving the fact that everything was genuinely cool between the four of us, and for the next half hour we all got off on the normality of it all. After a while, Adele announced that she was taking Jade upstairs for some clothing advice - something about an impending wedding she had to attend - and that Paul and I could look after ourselves for a while. They were hardly out of the room before Paul was onto me.
''Dude, you have to show me that picture. As a friend, as a man, as a human being you cannot withhold it from me.''
I laughed heartily.
''You stole pictures of Jade from my phone! You deserve this turmoil! At least for now.''
''So you will show it to me some time?''
''Of course.''
''When?''
''I don't know. Maybe a year?''
''Fuck off!'' he said through fake indignation.
''Okay, give it a month of so until all this goes away and we will see. Tell me more about last night.''
''Dude, I don't want to whore Adele out, don't get me wrong, but seeing her all slutty like that, in pictures taken when I wasn't there - it blew my mind. I knew 100 per cent that nothing would ever happen sexually, you're like my best friend, but my mind was full of the nastiest thoughts.''