Page 107 of Now and Forever

“Hey, it was just a little bump, that’s all. Don’t get all dramatic.”

We talk for more than an hour. When I hang up the phone, I get dressed and go down to the dining room. Simona is vacuuming and, when she sees me, she stops.

“How are you today, miss?”

“Better, Simona. HasEmerald Madnessstarted yet?”

“Goodness gracious! We’d better run, or we’ll miss it,” she says after a quick glance at her watch.

At twelve o’clock, Frida shows up with some things I asked her to pick up on her way. She’s speechless when she lays eyes on me. Even though I warned her over the phone, she can’t help but be blown away when she gets a look at my face.

Sitting down in the living room, we eat what Simona has prepared for us while we chat.

“I have to tell you something, Frida.”

“Go ahead.”

“I ran into Betta the other day, and I slapped her twice across the face. And, before you say anything, I know it was wrong. I’m an adult, and I can’t go around behaving like a delinquent. But, listen, I have to admit it felt good doing it, and if not for all the people looking at us, I would have given her seven more.”

The fork drops from her hand, and I tell her what happened. She curses, wishing she’d been there, like Marta, to give Betta a well-deserved slap of her own. When we finish eating, instead of sitting in the living room, we decide to go to my room. She’s surprised at how pretty I’ve made it, and, when she sees the red tree in one corner, I comment only, “Don’t ask.”

In good spirits, we sit down on the comfy red armchair Eric gave me and gossip about our favorite soap opera.

“So, is everything all right with Eric?”

“Yes. We argue; we make up; and we argue again. It’s fine.”

“I’m glad,” she says, laughing. “And in bed, also fine?”

“Incredible. Every time we have a threesome with Björn, it’s indescribable. It drives me crazy to see how passionate it makes Eric. How he offers me up ... Oh my God, I love how they possess me between the two of them! I never thought I could have such a good time doing something that seemed so scandalous at first.”

“Sex is sex, Judith. That’s all there is to it. If you two like it and enjoy it as a couple, go for it!”

“I enjoy it now, Frida. But I can assure you, before, I thought people who did this kind of stuff were a bunch of perverts. But it makes me feel so wanted, the way they make me theirs ...”

“Shut up; you’ll get me all excited.” We both laugh. “By the way, did Eric tell you anything about the private party tonight?” I shake my head no. “Heidi and Luigi throw amazing parties. I’m sure you were invited, but given your condition, I’m guessing Eric turned them down.”

“With my color, he’d better not take me out of the house, in case I scare someone,” I joke, and we both laugh. “Are lots of people going to that party?”

“Yes. They usually do it at their swingers’ bar, and I can promise you, you’d love it.” She lowers her voice. “Last year at that party, Andrés and I made one of our fantasies come true.” When she sees my face, Frida laughs and whispers, “We each had an orgy.”

When she sees me blink at that, she explains further. “Andrés picked out six women from the party, and I picked six men. We went into one of the rooms, I gave myself to mine, and Andrés gave himself to his. It was amazing, Judith. I was the center of my men, and I tried different positions with all of them. God, you can’t imagine how much I enjoyed it, and Andrés had a great time with his girls too. In the end, we brought the two groups together and had one big orgy. Like I said, Heidi and Luigi’s parties always have something good to offer.”

What she tells me sounds excellent, but a little exaggerated for my taste. I have plenty with just two men, but it’s hot to imagine.

She explains her experiences to me for a while. They’re all so hot and exciting. I love talking to Frida so openly about sex. I’ve never had a friend I could confide in with this much candor, and I like it. She leaves at five to get ready for the party.

Sonia calls to see how I’m doing, and Marta calls after her. She’s delighted about her date tonight. I encourage her and tell her to call me tomorrow and tell me how it went.

Flyn comes home from school. After he completes his chores, I wait for him in my room. I show him the in-line skates I told Frida to get for him. He claps. Once he’s put on his elbow pads, kneepads, and helmet, we start his skateboard classes. As I expected, he gets exasperated. The first thing to learn is where your center of gravity is. It takes him a while, although he finally gets it, but he doesn’t do much more than that.

When we hear Eric’s car, we quickly put everything away. He can’t know or notice we’re practicing this. Flyn runs to his study, and, when Eric comes to my room to look for me, he finds me sitting on the floor, looking at the computer screen.

“Why don’t you sit on a chair?” he asks.

“Well, because I like to sit on this fluffy, pricey rug. What’s wrong with that?”

He crouches down and gives me a kiss. He’s so handsome in his expensive blue coat and dark suit. His executive look is imposing, and it turns me on. He takes my hand and lifts me up; then, surprising me, he hands me a lovely bouquet of red roses.

---