The Ground Rules Part 15

"Great." She's always so cheerful-this is someone who truly loves her chosen profession.

"How are Chloe and Claire?" she asks.

It always amazes me that despite all the patients she sees, she remembers my daughters' names. "They're great."

"We're here for a physical today?"

"Yes," I say, hesitating. "Also," I pause for a second, trying to figure out how to say this. "I need to discuss...something."

"Sure. Let's discuss it." There's a hint of curiosity in her expression.

I think about it for a second. She knows I'm in a monogamous marriage. And she probably remembers Gabe got a vasectomy last year, since we discussed it at length at my last annual physical, when I got off the birth control pill. I can't very well say, "I need a bunch of STD tests and birth control pills," without offering an explanation.

"Nothing's embarra.s.sing, Mirella. I'm your doctor."

"Well, the thing is," I say. My words feel like lead weights I just don't have the strength to drag out. "Gabe and I have been in a loving, monogamous relations.h.i.+p for almost twenty years," I start.

She listens intently, and I can tell she's intrigued.

I'm not sure how to tell her the rest. I decide to do it as fast as possible before I lose my nerve.

"The thing is...Gabe and I have met this wonderful couple. And we've become quite close," I add quickly. "We want to enter into a s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p with them."

There. I've said it.

She looks shocked. I can tell. For a split second, her expression betrays her usual composure.

But I know I can trust her. She knows all my secrets. She's seen my "lady parts" after all. Only two people have seen my "lady parts" or my "privacy" as Claire calls it. Well, there were the nurses and doctors when I had the girls, but they don't count.

I suppose Weston will be seeing my "privacy" soon enough. I'm not sure how I feel about that. The thought unnerves me. s.e.x is such an intimate thing, and I feel like I hardly know him.

But as nervous as I am about it, the thought still arouses me.

A lot.

After the five seconds or so it takes Dr. Fisher to wrap her mind around what I've just told her, she finally asks. "And you and your husband have discussed this thoroughly?"

"Yes...thoroughly."

"And you both agree about this? One hundred percent?"

"Yes," I fib a little. Honestly, Gabe seems to be on board, but I'm not completely sure about myself.

"You two are consenting adults, and how you wish to live your private lives is entirely up to you. You would actually be surprised to know just how common these types of arrangements are today."

They are?

Dr. Fisher is amazing. This is exactly why I love her. I make a mental note to send her an extra special Christmas card this year-with glitter and gold embossing.

"But you will need to take precautions," she warns me. "We'll need to discuss birth control and STD prevention thoroughly."

And that's exactly what we do. We discuss STDs and the HPV vaccine, and she orders the STD screening I've requested. She writes me a prescription for birth control-the same pill I was on not so long ago.

I've broken rule number two already.

I couldn't help myself.

Gwen and I have been best friends since her first day at the school about seven years ago. I still remember that day so clearly. I came back from maternity leave and there was this new teacher everyone had been talking about-brash, sa.s.sy, and loud. I was sure I would hate her, but it was love at first sight, and we've been inseparable ever since.

And this new development is just too big not to share. I'm going to explode if I don't confide in someone.

So I cheat.

And I tell Gwen all about it on "Girls' Night" at our favorite dive. I still have that vision in my head-her face looms over her giant slushy Bellini-the thing is bigger than her head-and when I tell her, her jaw drops in shock.

"You're putting me on right now, Mirella," she shrieks.

"I'm not making this up."

She bites her lip. "I think Weston Hanson might be the s.e.xiest man on the planet, and you lucky girl, are going to get to tap that," she says, whispering the last words. "I am so jealous right now."

My breath catches thinking about him. "I know. He's so different, enigmatic, and intense. I don't know what to expect. I'm kind of scared," I confess. "What if he doesn't like me...once...you know..."

It feels so nice to get this off my chest, to finally share my fears with someone.

"He will love you, Mirella. How could he not? You're so beautiful."

"Thanks, Gwen. But you're my bestie...you almost need to say that."

She takes a sip of her giant Bellini. "Hey, you know me. I don't say c.r.a.p I don't mean."

I laugh. "That's true."

"I say exactly what's on my mind."

"But..." I go on, exposing my vulnerabilities to the only person I can expose them to. "You should see his wife. She's perfection. She looks like a supermodel...tall, blond and not a single ounce of fat on her."

"Well, that is the kind of woman men like Weston Hanson marry, isn't it? The trophy wife. But I'm sure he's aching for a gorgeous, curvaceous bod like yours, you know what I mean?"

"Maybe you're right," I say, not quite convinced.

"Hey, he's the one who propositioned you, isn't he?" she points out. "Obviously, he wants to be with you. Just enjoy it."

We both sit in silence, sipping our drinks, looking over the menu. She's right. I should just stop obsessing. What will he think of me? Will I be good enough? Beautiful enough? I'm driving myself insane.

"This all seems very fun and exciting, Mirella," Gwen adds, looking up from her menu. "But don't you worry this could really mess up your relations.h.i.+p with Gabe?"

"Honestly, I prefer not to think about it."

I haven't. I've pushed those thoughts away, far away. I've wrapped them up in a box, and brought them to the dark, dingy back bas.e.m.e.nt of my mind.

"And won't you be jealous, thinking about Gabe with that supermodel lawyer?"

"Maybe a little." I don't admit I'm just so insane about Weston, all I can really think about is him. This will remain my little secret. I don't even dare tell it to my best friend.

We spend the evening talking about nothing but the "swap." By the end of the night, Gwen knows about everything-the initial meeting in his office, the group meeting, and the rules.

She plops her credit card down in the leather bill folder, as excited as I've ever seen her. "We need to go shopping tomorrow."

"Shopping?"

A mischievous smile curves on her lips. "Naughty shopping," she clarifies, "you dirty little girl."

"Have you been waxed yet?" Gwen asks, as we make our way to her favorite lingerie shop downtown. It's a quaint privately owned little place. Gwen says the service is more personal, and the atmosphere is more relaxing than the big chain stores.

"No. You know me. I don't do that. I hate pain."

She smiles at me. "Weston Hanson sounds like the kind of man who likes his women primped."

I can't disagree. "He does. He's so pragmatic and orderly. He's almost obsessive about it...a place for everything, and everything in its place. You should see his office...it's sleek, clean, and freakishly orderly," I tell her, remembering our meeting at his office. "He's also a germaphobe."

"He probably expects you to be bare," she points out.

"Well, he can expect what he wants, but he's going to get what he gets."

"You go girl," she cheers.

"I'm not suffering through this crazy, modern day torture ritual for any man. He can take it or leave it."

She grabs me by the shoulders, taking me by surprise. "This is why I love you, girl," she almost screams out onto the street.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm going to trim the hedges and make everything look pretty. Pick something lacy and pretty to wear, but that's as far as it's gonna go."

"Yeah...let's go pick out something cute," she cheers as we make our way into the old Victorian building.

Gwen was right-the atmosphere is very calming. The place is bright, airy, and smells of patchouli. Soft music is playing in the background. There's just one other client shopping, a young woman sporting a dark bob.

"How are you ladies?" the woman at the cash register offers, her flaming red hair flowing softly over her shoulders.

"We're good, Jasmine," Gwen tells her. "This is my best friend, Mirella."

"h.e.l.lo, it's nice to meet you."

I shake her hand. "Likewise."

"Do we have a special occasion we're shopping for?" Jasmine asks in the softest voice.

"Ohhh," Gwen almost growls. "You could say that, Jasmine."

I am completely mortified. I bury my face in my hand, thinking I'm going to kill Gwen if she whispers a word. But thankfully, she doesn't. She tells Jasmine I'm looking for a few sets to spruce up my love life with my husband.

"You know what it's like, Jasmine," Gwen says, a mischievous smile on her face. "You have two kids of your own. Things can get pretty boring in the bedroom."

"Yes, the magic sure can disappear," she agrees. "Let's find you something fabulous."

I eye this beautiful white lacy set with delicate flowered embroidery. It's incredible and also very pricey. Gwen notices me look at the price tag.

"How 'bout if I get you a few sets," she offers. "My treat...an early Christmas present."

"I couldn't, Gwen. It's too much."

"I'm the one who dragged you here, knowing you can't afford it."

"You do make a good point," I half-joke.

"I do."

The thing is, Gwen is a little better off than I am, money-wise. Her husband Greg is a successful hedge-fund manager, and he keeps her happy in designer wear and a luxury home. Mind you, she's not a gold-digger by any means-she just happened to fall for a guy who has a way with money.

We pick out a few sets. Gwen is quite opinionated about the whole thing, but she has more experience in the bedroom department than I do, so I listen intently. She tries to push me toward the thongs.

"Men love thongs."

"But again, don't I have to be comfortable?" I argue. "You know me. Thongs are not me."

She looks me up and down, her gaze falling on my long skirt and comfy Mary-Janes, and she rolls her eyes.

"You're right," she concedes. "Let's look for s.e.xy briefs instead."

We end up picking out the white pretty set I was eyeing, a s.e.xy red lace set, and a black silky one.

I try on the white set, slipping the lace panties over my cotton undies.

Gwen sits on the pink Victorian bench, filing her nails. Her brow perks up as she looks up at me. "You have a really good body. Curves in all the right places. I've never really noticed before."

"Why, thank you, Gwen," I tell her, smiling a little.

"Why don't you ever wear bikinis?" she asks. "I've only seen you in those horrible mommy one-pieces."

"They're more comfortable for playing with the girls," I explain. "I don't want to fall out of my bathing suit."

"Oh, Mirella..." she sighs. "You're so uptight."

I laugh a little.

"Me...uptight? I am shopping for lingerie for my upcoming swap," I point out, slightly catty.

She laughs. "Yes. You make a good point. But I'm still getting you a bikini for this summer."