The sound of muffled music coming through the door became increasingly unbearable as I tossed and turned trying to sleep. It was my daughter Alice's 18th birthday, and not only had I allowed the party to be held at my house, I had promised to stay quietly in my room and not get in the way, but in practice it wasn't that easy.
My name is Elena and I'm a 36-year-old woman, which means I was the same age my daughter is now, 18, when I gave birth to her. My marriage to Alice's father didn't last very long because we got married under family pressure because I was pregnant. When I was 22, I became a single mother and took care of my daughter as best I could, alternating motherly duties with work, but I didn't stay single for long, because at 24 I met the man who became my second husband, and with him I had my second child when I was 28, now a boy named Gabriel. He was at his father's new house during Alice's party, as I had recently divorced again.
The last few months hadn't been easy and I really missed having some fun. My closest friends had stayed in my hometown and as much as I wanted to go back, I couldn't at the moment because Alice was already very well adapted and would be devastated to move again.
After I gave up on sleeping, the sound of the party coming from downstairs became more attractive by the minute, until I decided to break my promise not to interfere with the party. I got out of bed and looked at myself in the closet mirror. I was still wearing my white nightgown, but I quickly threw it on the floor and stood naked while I chose my clothes. First I picked out some of my most beautiful lingerie, a very delicate red lace set that barely covered anything, at that moment I wasn't expecting anyone to see, but if I'm going to dress up, let it be completely. After some hesitation, I decided on a dress as black as my hair, which I hadn't worn in a while. It was much tighter than I remembered, especially around my hips and butt, and it barely reached halfway down my thighs, perhaps due to the few extra pounds I'd gained over the years and with two pregnancies. At the top, the dress had a generous neckline that gave a nice view of my silicone breasts, a gift from my second husband that I wear with great pride. Finally, I washed my face to get rid of my sleepy look and put on some basic makeup: foundation, black eyeliner around my light blue eyes and a red lipstick on my plump lips.
"At least I'm still hot." I said to myself in front of the mirror as I looked at myself from all angles. It had been a while since I'd dressed like this and it was good for my self-esteem.
With a confident look on my face, I opened the door and was immediately surprised to see a couple making out in the hallway on the second floor, a place that was forbidden in the agreement when I allowed the party, but since the idea was to participate and not be the annoying mother, I just ignored it and made my way to the stairs. As I went down the stairs the music got louder and louder until I reached the ground floor and saw my living room full of young people, many more than my daughter said she would invite, I know how these parties are, there are always a few more attendees, so once again I ignored it. But when I arrived in the living room, I was obviously the center of attention, whether it was glances or whispers among the attendees. I inevitably felt a bit out of place, but luckily a familiar face appeared to save me.
"Elena?" A tall boy with brown hair and an athletic build asked, surprised by the presence of his best friend's mother at the party. "What are you doing here?" He was wearing blue jeans and a white polo shirt.
Alex is a few months older than Alice, and they've been best friends since we moved here a few years ago. I approve of their friendship, although I suspect that he and my daughter are somehow involved, which they both vehemently deny. The boy is polite and has always treated the entire family with great respect, and although he has noticed a few "curious" glances at me, which are normal for a boy in puberty and which I have always taken into account but never reprimanded, I don't deny that I like the feeling of being admired by a younger man, especially one as handsome as Alexander has become over time.
"Hi Alex, I came to celebrate too." I replied with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Really? Alice said you weren't even home." Because of the loud music, Alex approached me to speak closer.
"Well, there's been a change of plans." I shrugged.
"Good then." He said, turning to the crowd and shouting, "PEOPLE, THIS IS ALICE'S MOTHER!!!" He had always been very outgoing.
The attention, if it wasn't already, was now all on me, but the reception was warm, the young people were celebrating and suddenly I was surrounded by them, dancing along as if I was 18 too. Some of them already knew me, and those who had never seen me before had at least heard of "Alice's hot mom". Yes, I know what they say about me at this school. Even though I was having a good time, I obviously missed my daughter.
"WHERE'S ALICE?" I asked Alex, shouting over the music.
"I DON'T KNOW." Was his reply, yelling at the same time. Of course, I doubted that he really didn't know about her disappearance from the party itself, but I respected his attempt to defend himself. Knowing my daughter, there's probably some guy involved.
Even without her, I continued to party for a long time, dancing among the young people, some even tried to approach me and I rejected them all, the only one I allowed because I was intimate with him was Alex and that's when my view of him began to change. I'd always thought Alex was a handsome guy, but I'd never had any ulterior motives because until a few months ago he was underage and I was married, but that night all that was behind me and there was nothing to stop me from trying something with my daughter's best friend, except the fact that he is my daughter's best friend. The way we danced close together, facing each other laughing, or me with my back to him, feeling a hand on my waist, made me nervous, an inner heat rising little by little, the urge to kiss him right there in the middle of everyone, shocking everyone, but I preferred to just walk away and think a little before doing something stupid, so I went into the kitchen to catch my breath. Incredibly, no one was there and I calmly got a glass of water and drank it while arguing with myself, but before I could come to a conclusion, a certain boy came up behind me.
"Everything okay?" Alexander asked when he entered the kitchen and saw me alone.
"Everything's fine." I replied, finishing my drink and adding, "I just came to take a breather, I'm not as young as you are, you know."
That wasn't exactly the reason, but it was true.
"Come on, Elena, you look great for your age." He said, trying to compliment me, but not wanting to exaggerate our age difference.
"Look, when you talk like that, it makes me feel even older." I said, leaving the glass in the sink. I was joking, but I wanted to look serious to see his reaction.
"Sorry, that's not what I meant." Alex said, obviously embarrassed.
At that moment I made a decision, it was the perfect opportunity for a night of madness that I hadn't had in a long time. I'd never been involved with someone so much younger and it was an idea that excited me, plus he'd wanted me for so long, you know? It was time for him to get what he wanted so badly. "It's just that Alice doesn't find out." I thought.
"And what did you mean by that, Alex?" I asked, looking down at the boy leaning against the dining room table, trying to make my intentions clear, and liking how nervous he was getting.
"It's just..." Alex went from embarrassed to intimidated by the change in my gaze. "...you're very pretty and you have a nice body, you know."
"Very pretty and a nice body?" I liked what I heard and even smiled, but I wanted more from this young man, so I teased him even more: "Is that how you flirt?"
Alex was surprised again and almost stuttered when he answered: "No... it's just that..."
