Sue was looking forward to her 'girls' night out'. It had been too long and John was out of town again on business. Her three friends had all agreed to meet her for drinks and dinner at the 'Beach Café & Grill' in downtown Cardiff since it was a convenient location and now that it was Fall, the tourists would be gone and they should be able to get a good booth.
Mary and Julie were already there -- waving to her from a prime booth that offered a view of the bar and most of the rest of the restaurant. Sandy joined them a few minutes later and the 'girl talk' continued with each bringing the other three up to date about their marriages, kids, work and everything else in-between.
Chardonnay bottles were half-priced on Wednesday evenings and the girls had finished off two before ordering appetizers. Sue was having a great time -- it was nice to not to have to look at her watch to see when she had to get home to John. They had been having more problems lately and his business trip came at a good time.
The minutes flew by and more wine consumed. Mary and Sandy had to head home since they still had kids to put to bed, but it allowed Sue and Julie to talk more privately. Sue had always shared with her friend her marriage problems and Julie was a great listener. She was not afraid to offer advice, but only if solicited.
A few weeks before, Sue had been pulled aside by Bill Crayton at a school fundraising dinner. He blatantly leered at her deep cleavage and whispered that he wanted to fuck her. Sue laughed off the comment assuming that Bill had had too much to drink, but in the following days she thought more about it. It was local gossip that Bill was about to get divorce and Sue knew that he was known to say similar outrageous things to attractive women in town, whether married or not. Most women in town viewed Bill's sense of humor as obnoxious and crass. Others, like Sue, viewed Bill as truly funny and that he would probably not know what to do if any of these women actually agreed to one of his 'come-ons'.
Sue could not help but think about him since the event and, of course, what he had said. She was not naïve enough to think that she was the only one he had ever so approached, but she knew that night she looked as good as she ever had and had admittedly purposely flaunted her well-trimmed figure, large breasts and long legs -- much to the irritation of John who had long given up asking her to tone it down. John was clearly jealous of Bill -- Bill was good looking, rich and had an over-the-top personality that was so much more outgoing than that of John's who would never be described as the 'life of the party.'
With the kids grown and now away from the house, Sue's frustration of what she deemed a boring marriage to John became even more pronounced as he struggled to make ends meet and had let himself pack on a few too many pounds. Little to no sexual attraction to him remained for her, however, John clearly knew that he had a hot looking wife who could be described as a MILF. He wanted sex as often as possible. Once or twice a month was as good as it would be and John was smart enough to realize that sex had become to Sue more of a 'obligatory marriage event' as opposed to an actual romantic desire or lust for him. She did have her own needs.
'Sue, are you there? You seem a million miles away. I asked if John is still upset at your comment about what Bill told you at the charity event?' asked Julie.
Sue smiled and said, 'Sorry Julie, I was just 'drifting' there for a bit. No, he has not forgotten the comment -- how could he? It was stupid of me to tell him, but he pissed me off on the way home from the event and I could not help but tell him."
'You realize that Bill is trouble, don't you?' asked Sue. 'He is getting divorced and is already on the prowl. You just might be his target. He does not care if you are married -- in fact it probably gives him more motivation to see if you would sleep with him. He would love smiling at John at the next party knowing that he fucked you and John did not know. Stay away from him is my advice.'
'You are right, but I don't think he is as bad as most people do. He IS funny and loves to push people's buttons -- that's all' replied Sue.
It could not have been more of a coincidence that out of the corner of her eye, Sue saw Bill sit down by himself in a booth in the far corner of the restaurant. Julie excused herself to go to the restroom and her absence allowed Sue to look over to Bill who was looking directly at her smiling. He could see him write something down on a cocktail napkin and hand it to the waitress taking his order. Sue turned her attention to the bar area to see if Julie was heading back -- her mind spinning from seeing Bill, reliving his comment to her at the party, and, of course, the 4 or 5 glasses of wine.
The cocktail waitress approached her booth and remarked: 'The gentleman over there claims that he a friend and asked me to give you this."
Sue opened the napkin and read his note: Give me your cell number -- I will text you. Sue did not even think twice: she asked the waitress for a pen and wrote down her cell number and gave her back the napkin. Just as she left, Julie dropped back into the booth, thankfully not having seen Sue give the napkin back, nor not having seen Bill in the corner.
Julie said: "Well you know how I feel. You have a great husband and a wonderful family. Bill is nothing but bad news. Anyway, you are a big girl. Just don't let a bump in the marriage with John prompt you to do anything stupid. I have to go -- can I walk you out to your car?'
Sue replied, "No I will visit the restroom and head on out myself. Drive safe.'
Julie and Sue hugged each other and Julie left for the front door as Sue walked towards the Women's Room. Just as she neared the door, her cell buzzed with a text message. She knew who sent it and could not help but look down to read: 'One more for the road? I will be in your booth.'
Sue washed up in the Women's Room and walked back to the booth.
'So how was 'girls' night out' -- was it my imagination or were my ears burning for a reason?' Bill asked.
Sue laughed and told him he must have had a rash. Bill inquired: "Where's John -- home knitting?' with a smirk.
Sue did not know why she said, 'No he is out of town.'
She could see the smile forming on Bill's lips and asked, "What is so funny?' '
Bill said: 'Oh nothing -- it is just that he would have a heart attack if he knew that you were sitting here with me. I'll bet that you told him what I said to you at the charity event, am I right?'
Sue replied: 'I did and he was pissed -- he is still pissed. I am surprised that you remembered what you said, but then again, maybe you said the same thing to ten other women."
'I was not drunk and did not say it to anyone else. You weren't pissed, however, were you?' Bill asked.
'No -- unlike nearly all of my friends I think you have a sense of humor -- warped maybe, but still a sense of humor,' Sue responded.
'You know that I was not joking, don't you?' Bill said. 'I think you are one of the hottest women in Cardiff and I would guess that John has no clue how to take care of you, am I right?'
Sue lost her smile and said: 'That is none of your business Bill -- maybe it is best if I leave.'
'No, no, no, I am sorry -- I DO have a bad habit of saying the wrong things to the right people,' Bill quickly stated.
