Just Making a Point

Not really cheating or revenge; just trying to make a point.

*

I’ve been going out with Juliette for over a year. She’s five foot two, and petite. Her black hair is very short, almost like an old Beatle cut. Yet despite this and her slim frame, she looks nothing like a boy. She oozes femininity, though doesn’t appear to have much to work with. I’m Steve, about six feet, built more like a swimmer than a weightlifter.

Juliette comes from a rather strict family. She and her sister Jan have to visit their father every Saturday morning and stay for lunch. For a couple of years, when they did this, Juliette was with her then husband, and Jan on her own.

This was because Jan had got married to Will, a black guy, and her father did not approve. Then Juliette got divorced and her abusive husband left the county. Poppa didn’t approve of divorce either, so the relationship with his daughters got a little strained.

Things are more settled now. Juliette’s divorce is history, and Will is finally welcomed into the family. A tiny addition turned up. Jade is the colour of a milky coffee and so pretty it takes your breath away. She won her old granddad round without even trying.

I’m also divorced, and don’t get invited to the Saturday morning gatherings. I’m blond, and they’re all dark haired, originally from Poland. Juliette’s father knows about me, but doesn’t ask. I don’t think I’ll be accepted until wedding plans are announced. And that won’t be for a while yet.

Juliette and I each have our own house. We occasionally get together during the week, but mostly Friday to Sunday night, except for Saturday mornings of course. She stayed over last Friday and we fucked like bunnies. Then slept in late next morning and were woken by her mobile phone.

“You don’t love your old poppa no more?”

She scrambled around for a bra. She only wears them for work and at her dad’s, but luckily we found one in my laundry basket. A few of her bits and pieces, make-up and so on, are round my place.

So that’s Juliette. Best sex I’ve ever had. And she’s very touchy-feely; loves hugs and kisses. Something of a flirt, enjoying the attention from men. She encourages them when she’s had a few drinks, but knows where to draw the line. And we’re both ok with that. When you’re with a real beauty, it comes with the territory.

Suzie? Now she is a flirt. She’s been my next-door neighbour longer than I’ve known Juliette, also divorced. A month ago, I took her to her company’s summer party. She hates going solo and didn’t have a date. It was a Friday night, but Juliette was fine with it; we trust each other. It was expensive coming home in a taxi, but I baulked at staying in a hotel with her. Even though the room was free.

Suzie introduced me to her colleagues as ‘my friend Steve’. It suited us both, and was true. Though she did admit she got a lot of ‘nudge and wink’ queries the next week at work. And she flirted with me.

I forgave her, because she was showing off for her workmates. ‘Look! I did get a date!’ But I always made it clear, we were not serious. Juliette stayed at her house that night. When Suzie and I stumbled out of the taxi at one thirty in the morning, and I took her to her door. We kissed goodnight.

It would have been so easy. Her tongue slipped into my mouth, but I pulled back.

“Thanks for coming.” she said.

“Thanks for having me.” I replied.

We both laughed and the moment passed.

Next morning, she came round for coffee.

“I want to say two things about last night.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, I’m sorry about the tongue business, it was out of order. Bit drunk.”

“No problem.”

“Second, and I am serious, if you ever finish with Juliette, I’m available.”

I did not know how to respond.

“I know I’m not your type Steve. I’m a tall busty blonde, and Juliette is pretty much the opposite. So, I’m not talking girlfriend, boyfriend here. Just sex sometimes. When we both need it.”

“Ah. I think the Americans call that Fuck Buddies.”

“Ooh, that sounds a bit coarse! How about we stick with the F B, and call it Friends with Benefits.?”

“Agreed. Only if Juliette and I split though.”

“Sure.”

Another Friday was looming and we were invited to a party. Will, sister Jan, and little Jade, were emigrating to Australia. I’d always felt I wasn’t good enough to meet Juliette’s parents, and put it down to being over sensitive. But was hoping this might be my chance to meet them.

“Sorry babe. Poppa will say his goodbyes at Saturday lunch. He wouldn’t be comfortable at the party, among all those black people. Will’s cousins and mates will be there; they’re coming from all over the country.”

“I see.”

“He and mum are looking after Jade for the evening. The farewell bash is adults only.”

“Oh, ok.” I was disappointed.

“We’ll probably drink a fair bit, so I’d better sleep at mine Friday. You know how he gets if I’m late.”

“I do have an alarm clock!”

“You have an alarm clock! Ooh, you know how to thrill a girl!” she laughed. “No, I’ll play safe and stay at mine.”

Her dad didn’t exactly have spies watching Juliette’s house, but I rarely stayed there. More disappointment then. No meeting the parents, and no sex!

I live marginally closer to Will and Jan, so Juliette came to my place to get ready. Her dress was royal blue, short and stretchy. It had a thin black leather belt, tied loosely round her waist. It served no purpose but to hang to one side.

Being short, she usually wore high heels. Tonight’s were blue, to match her dress. Under the dress was a black thong and black hold-up stockings with intricate lacy tops. No bra of course, her father wasn’t going to be there.

The ethnic mix at the party was about half and half. Will and Jan rolled the lounge carpet. They had a firm buyer for the place, and carpets were part of the deal. No point in getting them damaged or stained this late in the game.

Random selection on the multi cd player was pumping out rock music. There was an area for dancing, behind some tall potted ferns. I’m not a great dancer, but enjoy watching. After an hour, I was still nursing my second beer and Juliette was on her third white wine, when Jan sidled up.

“Help me out here sis. Nobody’s drinking much. We need to get to rid of this.”

She held out a bottle of Macallan, and passed us two shot glasses. Juliette knocked hers back in one go.

“That’s one of the world’s great single malts!” I complained. “You’re supposed to savour it slowly!”

She stared at me, mock serious, grabbed mine and knocked that back too. They both laughed and Jan poured me another. I jokingly turned away from them, covering my glass protectively as I sipped it.

Around ten, I noticed Will changing the cds, and the music got more mellow. My favourite came on — ‘Just the way you are’ — the Barry White version.

“Let’s have a dance babe.”

“In a moment, I need a pee first.” she replied.

Before Juliette could rise from her chair, a black guy came up and asked her to dance. He was wearing a long-sleeved red shirt. She was straight up, and into his arms. OK, we don’t have an ‘our song’ but that one is close. I was disappointed, and felt more than a little foolish.

He manoeuvered her as far away as possible, though I could still see they were dancing very close. Well, that’s the only way you can dance to Barry White. Juliette had done all this before, and it had never bothered me. But this time it seemed more hurtful. I felt rejected.

I studied them from the corner of my eye, and spotted something suspicious. I could see Juliette’s hands, one up on his shoulder, and one on his waist. And even in that poor light, I knew what she was doing. She was sliding him round so his body was between us. At her height, she disappeared behind his bulk.

I stood up and headed for the kitchen, catching a glimpse of her looking around one of his arms. Peeping? Checking if I could see her? I was getting paranoid. So much so, I got my phone out and set it on video.

As I passed the ferns, I was proved right. Through the fronds, I could now see them clearly. Her head was craned away from me, looking at the place where we’d been sitting. She smiled up at him, and they kissed. I pushed my phone through the fronds. My kiss with Suzie had lasted around two seconds. Juliette’s with mystery man was longer, and their mouths were open. I went into the kitchen.

“Hi Will. Nice party. When do you start shearing sheep?”

He punched my arm.

“Sheep shearing! Typical view of Australians mate. I’ll have you know my job will entail sitting on a high chair on Bondi Beach, wearing Speedos, and looking for sharks!”

“Hah! Any sharks here? The guy in the red shirt maybe?”

“Del? He’s one of my cousins. He knew Juliette when Jan and I first got together, lives in London now. You must have met him once or twice. We don’t really get on these days; he’s probably only after the free beer.”

“I think he’s after more than that mate. He’s all over your sister-in-law.”

“No! Want me to warn him off?”

“No need, Juliette can look after herself. Tell you what you can do though.”

I told him.

“No worries cobber!” he said, with a terrible Australian accent. “Leave it with me.”

Barry finished and was replaced with Bob Seger’s ‘We’ve got tonight’.

“Shit! That random selection is playing all the romantic songs too early, they ought to come on last.” said Will.

“If ‘Help me make it through the night’ is next,” I said, “you’ll be prising them all apart with a crowbar!”

I went back to my chair. Seger’s plea for company wound down, and Juliette emerged from the shadows. She looked my way and finally went to the toilet. When she rejoined me, she drained her glass.

“Having fun babe?”

“Yes. That was Del, I haven’t seen him for years. We hung out for a while as a foursome, when Will was courting Jan.”

“Boyfriend? I mean ex-boyfriend?”

“Not at all. Just a friend. Want a dance now?”

“I’d better not. I’m not feeling so good. May have eaten a shrimp vol au vent; thought it was mushroom.”

“Oh no, are you going to be sick?”

“I don’t think so. just a bit queasy, it was only a mouthful. But you know seafood doesn’t agree with me”

I went to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and returned to Juliette without drying it off.

“Sorry babe, I’m feeling worse, I’d better go home. You stay on and enjoy yourself.”

“God, you’re really sweating! Shall I call a taxi?”

“No thanks. I’ll walk, just in case I do chuck up. The fresh air will do me good.”

“I could come with you.”

“No. You stay here and enjoy the party. You weren’t coming back to mine tonight anyway.”

Once outside, I toyed with the idea of hanging around in the garden, in case they came out. But thought better of it and walked home. Will was on the case, and would keep me informed. Soon after I got back, my phone beeped and his photos started arriving.

Next morning, I went round to Suzie’s for coffee, showed her the photos, and we had a long conversation. I expected reluctance when I made my suggestion, but she accepted immediately. Maybe she thought there might be some ‘FB’ in it for her. Maybe she was right.

Juliette looked rough when her car pulled up, early that afternoon. I wondered if she might have walked round, or got a taxi. You can still get done for being over the alcohol limit, even the morning after.

“How are you feeling?” she enquired.

“Fine now. I soon shake these things off. How did the party go, after I left?”

“Oh, I had a bit to drink, and didn’t stay much longer. We were all hungover at poppa’s this morning. He pretends not to notice.”

“What time did you leave?”

“About eleven thirty.”

“Fancy a hair of the dog?”

“I’d love a lager, I’m parched.”

I poured myself one as well. We sat at the table.

“I’d like to talk about Del.”

“God, you’re not jealous, are you?”

I didn’t answer.

“How long were you two an item?”

“I told you. We weren’t an item. We just hung out with Will and Jan for about six months.”

“And that doesn’t count as boyfriend, girlfriend?”

“No. Look, I see where this is going, so ask all the questions you want. I’ll answer everything truthfully. But I know what you’re like. After beating about the bush, we’ll finally get down to it. So, let’s do it now, shall we? I never had sex with Del, while he lived round here. I never had sex with him last night, and don’t intend to start now. He goes back to London tomorrow.”

“OK, I believe you.”

There was a pause while I digested this. She stared at me.

“But that’s not enough, is it?” she continued. “You still have more questions, don’t you?”

“I do actually.”

“Go on then, Get it out of your system.”

“Why did you turn me down for a dance but, seconds later, dance with him?”

“I turned you down because I wanted a pee. Then he appeared out of nowhere and it seemed impolite to say no.”

“So, it’s all right to turn me down, but you couldn’t make an excuse to him? Just while you went to the loo?”

“It sounds bad when you put it like that. I’m sorry. I figured I can dance with you any time, but hadn’t seen Del in years.”

“Understood. I’m not saying he needs to ask my permission for a dance, but you did mention politeness. He didn’t even acknowledge I was there.”

“Well, I’m sorry about that too. But you can hardly hold me responsible for his lack of manners.”

“But you also showed a lack of manners. You should have introduced us. That would have gone a long way towards defusing the situation.”

“I didn’t think it needed defusing.”

“No, you didn’t. In fact, you didn’t think at all. No introduction, no ‘I won’t be long Steve’. You didn’t even glance at me. To him, it would have looked as if you were sitting next to a stranger, not a boyfriend!”

She sighed. I continued.

“I left the party around ten past ten, and you stayed on for another hour and a half. How many more dances did you have with this Del?”

“A couple.”

“Did you dance with anyone else?”

“No. Christ, we’ve been to parties before. You know how this goes, we’ve both done it Steve. It’s called flirting. Why are you grilling me about this one occasion?”

“You said you would answer my questions truthfully. This is not a grilling. I’m asking because I think it was more than flirting.”

“Well, you’re wrong. It wasn’t! What on earth do you imagine it was?”

“I imagine it went further than our normal flirting. Maybe not full sex, but far enough down that line for me to have doubts. I also think you’re lying to me.”

“That’s not fair! None of this is fair. I am not lying!”

“You jump up and dance with Del, and the first thing he does is drag you off into a dark corner. Didn’t that strike you as impolite?”

“I assumed he wanted to chat about old times.”

“And he couldn’t do that near me? So, he did know we’re together and deliberately snubbed me.”

“It was all just innocent fun. You’re making this sound worse than it wass.”

“I’m making it worse? You made sure I couldn’t see, then kissed him!”

She looked shocked at that, unsure how much I’d observed. But she recovered.

“He’s an old friend. It was a friendly kiss.”

I let that go for now and showed her my phone. There was Will’s first photo of them dancing. She glanced at it and shrugged.

“Note the cuff of his shirt. It’s just touching the lowest part of that little belt on your hip.”

“So?”

“And this as just flirting?”

“Sure it is. And you’re twisted taking photos of your girlfriend dancing. I repeat, it was all innocent.”

“I don’t think so. This is less about how you classify your behaviour, and more about the way it’s perceived. By me, and everyone else at the party. I’ll just call Suzie.”

“What the hell has Suzie got to do with this?”

“I’m using her to make a point. When I’ve done it, if you still think I’m being ‘twisted’ as you put it, I’ll treat you to dinner at any restaurant you like.”

I called Suzie who arrived in two minutes.

“Hi.” said Juliette.

Suzie didn’t respond, but stood in the centre of the room, hands on hips.

“How did you feel when Suzie didn’t speak to you? Are you getting my point now? Look at the photo again and the position of your little black belt. Its lowest point is down the middle of your left thigh. Like Suzie’s.”

She was wearing a similar thin belt. It was also somewhat bigger, as she has wider hips than Juliette.

“Watch my right hand on her hip. With the bottom of my shirt cuff touching the belt.”

“OK, OK, his hand was on my arse! Shoot me!”

My hand on Suzie was barely a foot from Juliette.

“But what if the belt moved?” I asked. “I believe ‘twisted’ was your preferred description.”

I scrolled to the second photo, and placed the phone in front of her. Juliette’s belt had moved all the way round to her side. Suzie tugged hers into the same position.

“See how it drapes straight down your left thigh. And notice this time it’s not the bottom of Del’s cuff touching it, but the top. His hand is lower, and much farther round you. Like this.”

My hand was now at the base of Suzie’s right buttock. And dead centre. If she’d been naked, I could have touched her cunt. I pushed my fingers in.

“This is just flirting?”

“Look, I’m sorry, right? I hadn’t seen him in years. I got carried away in the moment. I didn’t even realise he had his hand there!”

I dug my fingers far into Suzie’s dress.

“See what my hand is doing? And you didn’t notice?”

Even through her clothes, I could feel the warmth of Suzie’s crotch. I was making her wet.

“Can you feel that, Suzie?”

“Yes. I’m rather enjoying it.”

“Would you still be able to feel where my hand was after a few drinks?”

“Definitely.”

“And what would you do if my groping your private parts was unwelcome?”

“I’d slap your damn face!”

“And if it was welcome?”

“I’d probably kiss you.”

I slid to the next shot. Juliette and Del were kissing. She jumped to her feet.

“Enough!” she shouted.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” I countered.

She held her hands up in resignation. I kept mine where they were. They were getting hot.

“I own up. I went too far. I let him do more than I should have. But it was only kissing and groping. I did not fuck him, I swear!”

I let go of Suzie.

“Accepted. But what about people’s perception?”

“You’re being paranoid. It was party. Nobody noticed anything; they were all flirting anyway.”

“These photos were taken by someone who noticed.”

“That’s your paranoia again. What kind of pervert sneaks around taking photos at a house party?”

“I can think of a few. Besides, it was you who refused me a dance, and started kissing a guy before you’d even spoken. You were the one who was checking if I could see you before making your arse available. Calling me a pervert for watching, is a bit rich.”

“I’m sorry, ok? You’ve proved your point. I was out of order and took it too far. Not took it — let him take it too far. But honestly Steve, nothing happened. It was a moment of madness, never to be repeated. You cannot want to finish with me, over one little slip I’ve apologised for, surely?”

“Sit down Juliette. I believe that you did not have sex with him. And I have no intention of finishing with you.”

She looked relieved.

“And I know you were carried away in a moment of madness. In fact, you don’t even remember the sequence of events.”

“What do you mean?”

The full-on arse grabbing took place after I’d left. I never took any photos of you. Will took them.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because I’ve known Will since before he started going out with Jan. I asked him to keep an eye on you as I left.”

“You weren’t ill at all you bastard! You set me up!”

“I only said it may have been shrimp. I didn’t say I was ill, I said I wasn’t feeling good. The way Del barged in on us made me feel that way. And people who are set up to misbehave, can still choose not to. There’s one last photo.”