Chapter 3: Coffee With A Friend
It was 4pm as Cheryl pulled into the parking lot of the Starbucks near their home. She parked her white Volvo SUV next to her husband Michael's BMW X7 and got out of her car.
"I wish I had had time to change before I got here," exclaimed Cheryl as she fixed her red pleated skirt and navy tee.
She looked at her husband, who was checking his phone for the hundredth time. "Michael, you look like you're about to rob a bank," she joked, gesturing to his dark jeans and collared shirt.
"Nerves," he confessed, running a hand through his short hair. "I just don't want us to come off as..."
"Inexperienced?" she filled in, raising an eyebrow.
He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. That."
They walked into the Starbucks, the bell above the door chiming their arrival.
The air was warm and filled with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. A few patrons glanced up at them, but for the most part, the shop was quiet. Cheryl scanned the room, her eyes searching for the man they'd been chatting with for awhile now.
Michael squeezed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Look at me," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "You don't have to do this, you know. We can still walk out right now."
Cheryl took a deep breath, her green eyes meeting his gaze. "I know," she said, her voice steady.
Just then, they made eye contact with a sharp dressed man sitting in the corner, a cup of coffee untouched on the table. He smiled warmly, raising his hand in a subtle wave. Cheryl recognized him immediately from his profile picture.
"That's Richard," Michael whispered, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.
Cheryl took a deep breath and nodded. Together, they walked over to the corner table where Richard sat. As they approached, Richard stood up, offering his hand. "Michael, Cheryl, it's a pleasure to finally meet you both," he said, his voice deep and smooth, with a hint of a Southern drawl.
Michael shook his hand first, introducing himself.
"Nice to meet you, Richard."
Cheryl followed suit, her hand trembling slightly as she met his gaze. "Hi, Richard."
Richard smiled, his deep blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Please, have a seat." He gestured to the empty chairs at their table, and they sat down, Michael to his left and Cheryl to his right.
"Can I get you two anything?" Richard asked, already standing up again. "A coffee, perhaps?"
Cheryl glanced at Michael, who nodded slightly. "Sure, that would be great," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Richard nodded and walked away, leaving them alone at the table. Cheryl watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. Michael turned to Cheryl and asked, "First impressions?" Cheryl took a deep breath, her green eyes thoughtful. "He seems... genuine." She glanced toward the counter where Richard was ordering their coffees. "He's not what I expected."
Michael leaned back in his chair, his eyes following Richard's movement. "Me neither. He's... calmer. More... I don't know, comfortable with himself?"
Cheryl nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. That's a good sign, right? If we're going to do this..." She trailed off, her smile fading as the weight of their situation settled back onto her shoulders.
Michael reached over and gently squeezed her knee, his touch reassuring. "It is," he agreed softly. "But it's also a chance to explore something new, together. And if at any point either of us isn't comfortable, we can stop. No questions asked."
Richard returned with their coffees, placing them on the table with a practiced ease. He sat down again, his blue eyes meeting theirs. "So, how have you two been?" he asked, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of genuine interest.
Cheryl took a sip of her coffee, her eyes meeting Michael's over the rim of her cup.
She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "We've been good, thanks. School has been crazy as usual, but
we're surviving," Cheryl replied, her voice steady and genuine. She took another sip of her coffee, trying to hide the nervous tremor in her hand.
Richard nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "I'm glad to hear that. I know meeting like this can be a bit nerve-wracking, so I want you both to know that there is no pressure. I am just happy we can finally see that we are actual people." Richard smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "The internet can be such a strange place, can't it? All those profiles, all those personas, it's easy to forget that there are real people behind them."
Michael nodded, looking down into her cup. "It is strange, isn't it? I mean, we've never done anything like this before. We've never even considered it until..." He paused, glancing at Cheryl before turning back to Richard. "Until recently. Until we started talking to you."
The trio continued their conversation about life for over an hour, becoming more comfortable with each other with every passing minute. Richard shared stories about his travels and his late wife, who he spoke of fondly and with respect. Cheryl and Michael offered insights into their life as educators and parents, their eyes lighting up as they discussed their children and their shared passion for teaching.
Finally, Michael checked his watch and let out a quiet sigh. "Well, it's getting late. We should probably be getting back," he said, a note of reluctance in his voice. Cheryl nodded, her eyes meeting Michael's before flicking to Richard.
"Thank you for meeting us," she said, her voice warm and genuine.
"It's been... refreshing."
Richard smiled, his blue eyes glinting in the soft light of the coffee shop. "Likewise. I'm glad we could finally put faces to the names." He stood up, extending his hand to Michael. "I hope we can talk more soon." Michael took his turn shaking Richard's hand, a small smile playing on his lips.
Richard nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Text or call me whenever." He looked from Michael to Cheryl, his eyes warm and inviting. "If you're both up for it, of course."
Cheryl returned his smile, her green eyes sparkling with a newfound curiosity. "We'd like that."
The two left together and drove to their home to discuss what they had just experienced. The Volvo and BMW pulled into the driveway, parking side-by-side once again. As they walked into the house, Cheryl kicked off her heels, sinking into the plush sofa. "Well, that was... surprisingly normal," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Michael chuckled, tossing his keys onto the coffee table. "Right? I was expecting awkward silences and forced smiles, but it was actually... nice." He sat down beside her, a thoughtful expression on his face. "So, what do you think? Should we take this to the next level?"
Cheryl hesitated, picking at a loose thread on the blanket. "I don't know, Michael. It's one thing to have coffee, it's another thing to invite him into our bedroom." She looked up at him, her green eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Are we really ready for that?"
Michael took her hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. "We don't have to do anything we're not comfortable with, Cheryl. But if we're both intrigued, maybe we should at least consider it. Talk about it. Set some ground rules."
Cheryl sighed, leaning back against the sofa. "Okay, ground rules. Number one: I do not like condoms and I had my tubes tied, if it gets to that point"
Michael nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Number two: safe words. We need to have a way to stop things if they get too intense."
"And number three," Cheryl added, her voice firm, "no cumming in my mouth or face."
Michael squeezed her hand, respecting her boundaries. "Understood. Anything else?"
Cheryl paused, her brow furrowed in thought. "I want to start slow. I don't want to feel pressured or objectified. I also don't want initiate anything, I want someone else to make the first move."
She looked at Michael, her eyes searching his for understanding. "I need to feel desired, not like a participant in some experiment."
Michael nodded, his expression serious. "Of course. I want you to feel safe and in control. We'll go at your pace, Cheryl. I promise."
Cheryl let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Okay. So, hypothetically, if Richard comes over on Saturday, we'll take it slow. See how things feel. And if I'm not comfortable, we stop. No questions asked."
Michael squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with warmth and reassurance. "Absolutely. Your comfort is the most important thing."
Cheryl leaned back against the sofa, her mind swirling with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She glanced at Michael, a small smile tugging at her lips. "So, should we text Richard and see if he's free on Saturday?"
Michael's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Let's do it. But remember, no pressure. We're just exploring the possibility."
Cheryl nodded, her heart racing as Michael pulled out his phone. She watched as he typed out the message, her stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation.
"Hey Richard, we had a great time today. If you're free on Saturday, we'd be open to having you over to our place. No pressure, just a chance to chat more."
Michael hit send, and they both stared at the phone, waiting for a response. The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity.
Finally, Richard's reply came through. "That sounds wonderful. I'd be honored to spend more time with you both. I completely respect your boundaries and look forward to a relaxed and enjoyable evening."
3 people sitting talking at Starbucks. A woman, 5'1", with a proportioned, average build. She has fair skin and straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, styled in a bob. A navy blue t-shirt with a circular, colorful logo in the center and a coral-colored skirt that falls to about her knees with tan sandals. Two taller men, one much older and handsome with grey hair, the other man heavier no hair.
Cheryl let out a sigh of relief, her smile widening. "Okay, it's official. We're doing this."