Lonnie nodded almost reluctantly. “Yeah. I just wish…oh, nevermind.”
“No, please, speak your mind,” Mick insisted.
Lonnie sighed. “I just wish you’d have been up front about it. That said, if I’m being honest, I really wasn’t looking for more than a hookup myself. I’ve been single too long, and it’s been way too long since I’ve let myself just cut loose and, well…have some fun.”
Tina again turned to Chuck. “What about you? What were you REALLY hoping would happen between us tonight? Just a quick fling? Or were you hoping for more than that?”
Chuck took a moment to consider his answer. “Well, if we’re all being HONEST, then I guess I should say that, up until the end there, when my hand went up your…” he stopped, unwilling to directly say he’d copped a feel in front of her husband, despite the fact that Mick had probably watched it happen, “…up until then I’d have been happy to have just gotten your phone number. After, though, I kinda figured it was a pretty sure thing. And while it would have been nice to maybe have found someone to explore a, you know, relationship with, I wouldn’t have objected to a simple One-Nighter either.”
“So we all admit we were just trying to get laid tonight,” said Mick. “So is what we’re suggesting really all that outrageous? You both were willing to hook up with us before you knew we were married. So what’s the difference, really? Either way, you wouldn’t have felt obligated to see us again after. So, what do you say? We can all just hang out together, have some fun, no pressure, no one has to do anything they don’t want to, and maybe we all get to scratch an itch or two.”
The sounds of the continuing party throughout the tavern served to highlight the silence that hung over their table for several moments.
It was Lonnie again who finally broke it. “Okay. I’m in.”
Tina and Mick beamed excitedly. “Really?” they chimed in unison.
“Two conditions,” said Lonnie, beginning to truly smile for the first time since Tina and Mick had revealed their plan. “One: I don’t do lesbian stuff. Sorry, Tina. Just not my thing.”
Tina nodded. “Of course, I understand. And second?”
Lonnie turned slowly, her gaze now fixed on Chuck. “Second: Quiet Guy over there has to come along, too. I’m not doing hubby here and leaving the wifey out to dry. Just wouldn’t be…fair.”
As her dark green eyes lingered over him, Chuck thought he saw a hint of mischievous intent, as if she were trying to send him a message he couldn’t quite decode. It was only then that he truly noticed how beautiful she was.
Her head cocked slightly as she lifted one brow in question. “So, how about it, Chuck? You up for this?”
Chuck took a long swallow of his drink. “Oh, what the hell. Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play.”
—————————————————–
They ordered one last round, then the women went to the ladies room, leaving the men alone.
“Thank you,” Mick said, breaking the silence. “I was so excited to even get Lonnie’s attention tonight, let alone have the chance to be with her. I was afraid she’d bail. But your being on board seems to have helped. And you won’t regret it, I promise. Tina really is a firecracker, you’re gonna love her.”