I Ran Into My Ex-Wife’s Friend Again and Everything Changed

My phone had been working only half-correctly for months: it would shut itself off, the battery would die before noon. That Thursday afternoon I decided enough was enough and went down to a department store, to the electronics floor, to look for a model that would convince me. I was looking at a shelf of chargers when I heard someone say my name behind me.

I turned and saw a woman approaching between the aisles, in jeans and a light blouse. It took me a couple of seconds to recognize her. It was Lorena, an old friend of Marina’s, my ex-wife. I hadn’t seen her in years.

For a while we used to go out a lot, the four of us: her, her husband, Marina, and me. Dinners, the occasional getaway, long after-dinner conversations that went on until dawn. Then life gradually pulled us apart. Marina and I moved to another city and little by little we stopped running into each other. After the divorce I came back, I’d been settled again for several months by then, but I’d barely given those people a thought.

—I can’t believe it! —she said, hugging me—. How long has it been since we last saw each other? I can’t even remember.

—Me neither —I replied, carried along by her enthusiasm—. How’s Andrés?

—Very well. He’s traveling right now, he has loads of work and things are going great for him. And the kids? Well, they’re not kids anymore.

—They’re huge, you wouldn’t recognize them. Both away, studying —she smiled with that mixture of pride and nostalgia mothers have—. And you? Have you moved back to the city? We could all meet up for a weekend, like before.

I lowered my gaze for a moment. I don’t like talking about it, but with her there was no point pretending.

—I have moved back. Marina and I split up a few months ago. She stayed in the house back there and I decided to come back.

—I’m so sorry, truly —she said, and I believed her—. You made such a good couple.

—Things happen. That’s all. And what brings you here?

—I came down for a stroll, that’s all. Alone at home I get bored stiff. —She thought for a second, biting her lip—. Hey, do you feel like having a coffee? I’ll tell you how things have gone for us these years and you can tell me whatever you want to tell me.

I accepted. We sat in the café on the top floor, next to a large window, and the time stretched out without either of us looking at the clock. We talked about Marina, about the old days, about the people who were no longer around. Usually I avoid those subjects, but with Lorena it was easy. She had a way of listening that made you want to keep talking.

And while I talked, I watched her almost without realizing it. Lorena was fifty, not very tall, with wide hips and a generous chest, dark-haired, with a very long mane falling down her back. I had always seen her as a friend, I had never looked at her in any other way. That afternoon, however, something was beginning to change and I still didn’t know it.

***

Before we knew it, it was almost time for dinner. Lorena picked up her bag and made me another proposal.

—I’d love for you to see my apartment. We’ve made it gorgeous, you’ll see. It’s right over here.

—It’s a bit late, Lorena. Another day.

—Come on, it’ll only take a moment. I’m excited to show it to you.

I gave in to her insistence and went with her. She lived on the sixth floor, in a tall building, in a spacious apartment, well furnished, with taste in every detail. You could tell she was proud of it and she had reason to be. She offered me a soft drink and we sat on a large sofa facing the window, continuing to talk about the renovation, the furniture, the plants on the balcony.

What happened next was triggered by a silly comment, a joke I made without thinking.

—Well, I should get going —I said, setting down my glass.

—I don’t see why such a hurry. After all, you don’t have anyone waiting for you at home now —she replied with a half-smile.

—I get up early tomorrow. And you don’t have anyone tonight either, but you’ll make up the time when Andrés gets back.

Lorena stopped smiling. Her face clouded over at once, as if I had accidentally touched a wound.

—Sorry, it was just a joke —I hurried to say—. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.

—You haven’t made me uncomfortable. It’s just that you reminded me of something I haven’t done in a long time.

—I don’t understand you, Lorena.

She merely shrugged and smiled sadly.

—When you were talking about making up time, I suppose you meant Andrés and I would have a lot of sex when he came back.

—It was a joke. But that’s the normal thing in a couple after a few days apart. That used to happen to me with Marina.

—Well, not with us. I don’t want that anymore. It’s been years since sex gave me anything.

I looked at her not knowing what to say. And looking at her, this time really looking, I realized how attractive she was. The curve of her neck, her mane falling over one shoulder, her lips slightly parted waiting for me to say something.

—Andrés understands it —she went on—. You don’t have to sleep together to love each other, especially not at our age.

—But you don’t have to give up on enjoying yourself either. Age is no obstacle, Lorena.

—For me I don’t think it’s possible anymore.

The sensible thing would have been to stand up, say goodbye, and go home. That’s what I should do right now, I thought. Instead I slid along the sofa until I was beside her and laid my hand on her leg, stroking it over the jeans, slowly.

—What are you doing? —she asked without pulling away.

—Proving you’re wrong.

***

Now it was she who couldn’t find the words. My fingers moved up and down her thigh while I looked into her eyes. I brought my hand to her chest and ran it over her blouse, traced the outline, searched for the nipple with my fingertips and circled it.

—No, no… leave it —she whispered, though so softly you could hardly hear her.

I ignored her, and that “no” didn’t sound very convincing either. I started unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time, while I kissed her neck. She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. I ran my tongue along both sides of her throat and felt her skin rise in gooseflesh.

When I finished opening the blouse, a dark blue bra appeared. My hands covered her breasts, squeezing them gently. Lorena kept shaking her head, though without any strength now. I took off her blouse, unclasped her bra, and her breasts were freed, large and firm for her age. I lowered my mouth to them, took one in my hand, kissed it, licked it in circles until the nipple hardened against my tongue. I repeated the same with the other one.

When I looked up I understood there was no turning back now: her breathing was ragged and her cheeks were flushed. My tongue kept moving down her belly, circling her navel. I stopped to unfasten her pants and took them off her slowly, until she was left in panties that matched the bra.

I took off my sweater and T-shirt and went back to her navel while my fingers slipped under the edge of the fabric and caressed between her legs.

—Ah… —she moaned when she felt them.

She was wet almost at once. My fingers parted her, went in and out slowly, and her moans kept building. I pulled down her panties while I shed my pants. I spread her legs a little, settled myself between them and kissed her where my fingers had been, tracing her from top to bottom with my tongue without stopping moving inside her with my fingers.

—Do you like it like this? —I asked, lifting my face.

—A lot. Keep going, please, keep going —she answered, burying her fingers in my hair.

I did as she said for a good while, until my body asked for more. I took off the last thing I had left and moved up. I rubbed myself against her, slowly, teasingly, and when I finally entered her we both moaned at once. I held her legs and started to move, first gently, then with more force, feeling how she gave way and received me with less and less resistance each time.

—This is incredible. I want more —she panted.

—Don’t rush. We have all night.

***

After a while I changed my mind. I sat on the sofa and asked her to position herself on top, facing me. Lorena guided me inside her and lowered herself slowly, her eyes locked on mine.

—Now move —I told her.

And she began to rise and fall, more eagerly each time. Her mane slapped against her chest, she threw her head back unable to hold back what she felt. Seeing her like that, finally letting go, losing control after so many years, turned me on more than anything else.

—Yes, yes, I’m going crazy —she kept repeating between moans.

I grabbed her hips and matched her movement. I could tell she was close, and so was I.

—God, I think I’m coming —she managed to say.

She hadn’t finished the sentence when she started trembling. Her orgasm lasted several long seconds, clinging to my shoulders, mouth open and voiceless. When she finally calmed down, she sat up, took me in her hand, and finished bringing me to mine in a matter of moments. I closed my eyes and let go, emptying myself completely, my head spinning.

Then she stayed leaning against me, catching her breath. She looked at me and smiled.

—It was wonderful. Thank you —she said, kissing me on the lips.

—I’m glad I made you feel good.

—I’m sure you did too. —She brushed the hair from her face—. But now you’d better go, since you get up early tomorrow.

I got dressed slowly. When I finished I wanted to kiss her on the mouth again, but she offered me only her cheek. I understood the message. I said goodbye and left.

As I went down in the elevator I was thinking about what had just happened. I would have liked to do it again, to see her again, but something told me it wasn’t going to be possible. Even so, Lorena truly loved her husband, and what had happened that afternoon had been just a brief interval, a crack in her routine.

Still, I couldn’t help smiling when I stepped onto the street. That woman had just recovered something she thought she had lost. Maybe one day she’ll realize she doesn’t want to give it up, I thought. And then maybe my new phone will ring again. Who knows.