Summer
Jen and Sam
Jen couldn't remember another September as hot as this one. Not even in 2003, in that horrible university house, compared to this. Her cycle ride home from work - earlier than usual - was almost unbearable under the full sun, probably even worse than it would have been later, once the shadows were longer, once the breeze picked up. She could feel her shorts clinging to her legs, her t-shirt sticking to her back as she tried to put the stresses of the day behind her. She plied her usual route through the city, ticking off the milestones as she went, noticing the slightly different crowd at this time of the afternoon - more school kids, fewer delivery drivers, the odd elderly couple braving the heat.
Her ride began in the centre, where streets were congested and she cruised past traffic jams. The smells were of fast food, dust and anxiety, a steady pulse that was both exciting and exhausting. As she pedalled on, the roads widened, and distances elongated. Cars roared along main roads, the smell of skunk, grass cuttings as she passed the parks, she was nearing home. The final gentle incline was enough to finish off Jen's energy.
Her legs ached as she pressed on, stopping, fustrated, at the traffic lights before the final section of the hill. She felt sweat beginning to pool on her brow, to drip down her neck. She noticed her breathing and continued on slowly, feeling slightly embarrassed at her pace as she turned the corner that brought her to her front door. She was back. Friday afternoon. The weekend.
The sound of the key turning in the lock made Sam smile to himself. He always looked forward to Jen's return, and this weekend was set to be a scorcher. They had both been working so hard recently, and had promised one another a real break this time - whatever might still be left for Monday. He'd been true to his word, had switched off his laptop and had been busy tidying in preparation for her return. She was here.
Jen staggered in, her cycling gear drenched in sweat. Her hair was plastered to her face and neck, and her face red from exertion. "Have you been out there in the last hour or so? It's unbelievable". Sam approached her for a kiss, but she backed away "I'm disgusting" she said, rejecting the glass of water he held out. "I'm going to jump in the shower." Jen disappeared, leaving Sam slightly disappointed. Not quite the warm reunion he was hoping for. He returned to the kitchen and began to unload the dishwasher as he heard the boiler fire up and the shower run.
He listened as Jen moved around upstairs. He heard as she closed the shower door, opened the lid of the shampoo. He heard the clunk as the shower stopped, as she exited the shower, presumably drying herself before dressing in their bedroom. He was entertained by the image of her as he stacked glasses, put the cutlery in the drawer, made a jug of iced water.
"Let's try again" she said as Jen walked breezily into the room, bag slung nonchalantly down beside an armchair. It was noticeably cooler in the kitchen, with doors and windows open, white cotton curtains protecting them from the worst of the heat. She noticed the succulents and houseplants first - healthy and bold - then the tidiness of the space, she noticed Sam's smile, the jug of water with beads of condensation beginning to form on the outside.
"Great to see you" replied Sam, suddenly relieved, as she walked towards him, kissing him warmly before heading for the glasses he had put out on the side. He watched as she poured two large glasses of water and handed him one. She looked particularly beautiful in the bright, warm light of this late summer afternoon, her skin glowing after her ride and her shower. She wore a dusky orange linen dress that he couldn't recall her wearing before, her dark hair tied in a simple pony tail behind her back. They both collapsed into the armchairs on either side of the kitchen, and began to share the stories of their days, feeling the gentle breeze cool their skin.
At some point, the water was finished, was replaced by a crisp bottle of white wine. Their easy conversation flowed and they laughed and enjoyed each other, the heat and light slowly fading around them as they unwound together - a bond that had been strengthened through many years of shared experience.
Sam watched as Jen stretched her arms above her head - a relaxed motion that he knew all too well. As she returned her arms to her sides, he thought he noticed the feint mark of her nipple pressing against her dress. He couldn't help but keep noticing, and, sure enough, there it was again, and the other. Even though they had been friends for years, and, even though they had been together for nearly a year now, they were both still deeply, physically attracted to one another. He was transfixed by her beauty, her chest expanding and contracting with her breath, her nipples becoming more prominent as he watched.
Jen caught Sam's eye, a smile spread over her face. "So. Do you like my new dress?"
"You're stunning Jen - it's stunning."
Jen kept smiling. She knew he was not admiring the dress, and enjoyed his gaze. She wished he would make some sort of move. But it never happened. Jen had always wished he would be more demonstrative - less kind, more bold. But she knew him, knew that if she wanted something, that she would have to take the lead.
"I can tell you like what you see Sam. Watch..." She said, lowering her voice to a raspy whisper as she stood, six or seven feet from her boyfriend.
Sam watched in silence as Jen turned her back on him, raising and crossing her arms over her head, slowly lifting her dress. He noticed her bare feet, tip-toed, fragile and pale, watched as the fine linen of Jen's new dress revealed her calves, her muscles gently flexing as she stretched. She moved in such a controlled way, her dress edging up ever so slowly past her knees, up long thighs to the point at which her beautiful buttocks began to be seen.
Jen wriggled slightly as she grasped another handful of her dress, twisting her torso so that Sam caught just the slightest glimpse between her legs, before she revealed herself to her hips and her lower back. Sam remained seated, almost glued to his armchair as he watched this young woman - the young woman he had desired for so long - demonstrate such trust in him. He was both intently aware of his own arousal, and completely transfixed - unable to move.