We lay together. We kissed, our lips rubbery from the effort. Her hand drifted over my back, fingernails lightly scratching a possessive mark of satisfaction.
Sherry was breathing heavily, as though she’d run ten miles. She exhaled deeply and snuggled up into me, “That was really good. We should do this more often. I loved the way you came in me. I could feel you throbbing.” We kissed again.
I had little doubt after that scene that Sherry loved me. She was passionate, involved, in the moment. She had resisted a little, but had given herself completely. I remembered why I’d married her and no longer knew what I was going to do.
—————-
The main courses had arrived but I’d realized during the appetizers that I wasn’t hungry. My emotions were eating a hole in my belly. Tom wasn’t acting strange and neither was Sherry. The intimacy among the four of us was genuine. My wife, my best friend and my best friend’s wife. Sherry had her hand on my leg. She was being very affectionate. Every look at me was filled with closeness. She radiated contentment.
Tom was digging into his pasta. Sherry and Peg were eating and chatting. I stared at my chicken and listlessly pushed a piece of zucchini in a circle. The time is now. Now is the time. For what? For what?
“I have a question,” I said. “Something that’s been bothering me.” Sherry put her hand back in mine.
“Shoot,” Tom said.
“What would you do if you found out that your best friend was betraying you?” A brief moment of silence. “What would you do if your wife was cheating on you with your best friend?” More silence. “Seriously. If it happened to you, what would you do?”
I could feel Sherry’s hand freeze.
I continued as though everything were completely normal. “It’s happening to someone I know. He told me and it started me thinking. I mean, you’re my best friend. If you found out I was having an affair with Peg, what would you do? You know, would it hurt you more that it was me? Or would make excuses for me? Who would you blame?” I paused. “I’m just wondering.”
Witty repartee happens only in stories. Tom slowly shook his head. Sherry looked down at her plate. Peg was astonished.
I decided in that instant to drive the nail home. “I was wondering because you’ve been fucking Sherry and I was curious if I should beat the shit out of you or what.” I squeezed Sherry’s hand tightly. I turned to her, “And you my dear. Should I toss your cheating ass in the street or should I just file for divorce and go away peacefully?”
The lack of response killed them. I know Peg. She knew that Tom would come back at me in an instant if I were pulling his leg. If I were joking, he’d have said, “If I were you, I’d be grateful that Sherry was finally experiencing a real man” or something else, some comeback that showed we were buddies needling each other. He took too long to react and Peg knew. And a heartbeat later, Tom realized he’d blown it, that Peg had read his reaction.
He knew better than to cover. “We have to talk.” He started to say, “It’s not what you think,” but only got half the words out before Peg hit him hard in the face.