Page 87 of Overtime

4 Best Day of My Life

Amira

“This isthe best family vacation ever.” Evie laughs as she takes another sip of her wine, finally relaxing with the knowledge that the men are all upstairs near the kids.

“I can’t believe you said you fantasize about DP,” Tori snickers.

“I wasn’t lying.” Evie shrugs. “I fantasize about Rob claiming Designated Parent duties whenever he’s on the road, and I’m up to my elbows caring for two sick kids. I don’t know why their bodies seem to know when I’m on my own, but I swear to God, they only get sick when he’s not around to help.”

This seems like all too familiar territory. “Yes. Layla and Anthony both had the worst stomach virus while Alex was away for the Pro Bowl. I could have been lounging on a beach in Hawaii while they played in the sand, but no. I do not think I have ever done so many loads of laundry in only forty-eight hours.”

“We should tell them.” Tori frowns at the fire as she wraps an afghan tighter around her shoulders to combat the chill creeping in on the late hour. “Rob seemed really upset. I forgot how sensitive he can be.”

Evie snorts into her wine glass. “Hey, you might actually get something out of this. Mike was practically taking notes. I think he honestly believed he could learn something by watching us. And besides, Rob had it coming. Do you know what his intended prank for this year was?”

This promises to be interesting. Tori and I wait for the traditional reveal.

“He thought it would be hysterical to convince you all he was diagnosed with penile cancer. Not only would he make Alex and Mike cringe with thinking about possible amputation, but he figured he could milk some sympathy from you two over the whole thing.”

Tori gasps. “That’s not even funny! People actually die from cancer!”

Evie nods, flattening her lips into a hard line. “I know. I would never have let him go through with it. That man has the best heart, but sometimes…I worry about his brain.”

We all nod in agreement. The threatening specter of CTE is never far from our minds.

“Mike wanted to convince everyone we were moving to Montreal. He came up with this convoluted story about being drafted to the Canadian Football League for more money and benefits than we have now. To really sell it, he was going to explain how he wanted to challenge himself in a slightly different sport and see if he could handle it.”

“I would have likely fallen victim to that prank. It has just enough plausibility to be believable,” I admit. Truly, the best schemes are those with an air of truth to them.

Evie frowns. “At least Mike wasn’t planning to lie to everyone about being sick. If your family really was moving to Montreal for valid reasons, we’d be happy for you and support you in any way possible.”

“I think we were very supportive of each other this evening.” I will fondly remember the expression on my husband’s face for quite some time.

“Thank you both for respecting my boundaries and not touching my breasts. Even though you know about my scars, I would have completely blown our cover if you’d forgotten and touched me there.”

Tori wraps an arm around Evie’s shoulders. “Of course, we wouldn’t cross your limits. We love you too much to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. Thanks for not actually kissing me with tongue. It would be too weird, you know? Like kissing your husbands by proxy.”

“I appreciate no one touching my vaginal area. Honestly, it can be far too easy to blur the lines of propriety when lust and hormones are at play,” I chime in.

Alex seems to bring that side out of me with ease. I’d rather save that amount of control over my person for him and him alone.

Evie raises her eyebrows. “Lucky for us we ironed out all these details last week.”

Tori shakes her head. “I still can’t believe they bought it. Don’t they understand how sexuality works? None of us have ever claimed to be lesbian, bisexual, or even gender fluid. Why would they believe we were all so suddenly aroused by each other?”

“They have been exposed to more than average sexual freedom during their time in football,” I answer. “While other men are left to fantasize about pleasure palaces, they have dwelt in those very halls. Whether they participated or not, their constant exposure to it has left them desensitized to the finer aspects of human sexuality.”

“So, you’re saying our husbands are used to sexual free-for-alls and don’t even question it anymore?” Tori wrinkles her nose. “Maybe there’s something to be said for spicing up our marriages after all. Who’s to say they won’t lose interest with all that constant exposure to kinky, easy sex?”

“I don’t know about losing interest.” Evie takes a large gulp of her wine then glances over her shoulder to be certain we’re alone before leaning forward and lowering her voice to a whisper. “But midlife crisis time is right around the corner. I can feel it. Are you two noticing it yet?”

In all fairness, our husbands are all in their early thirties. They are rapidly approaching the twilight of their careers in the NFL. It is quite normal and expected for any sane person to feel they are losing their identity with the daily monotony of a secure marriage, child-rearing, and being a responsible home owner. “Perhaps that is why Alex came up with his suggestion of swingers. Not so much that he would actually do it, but the thought excited him enough to convince everyone else he desired it.”

“Mike bought that new Maserati after the Superbowl,” Tori admits. “He doesn’t usually squander bonus checks that way. If anything, in the past he wanted to spend extra money on trips to Disney with the kids.”

Evie slides her wine glass across her lips, her usual physical need for tactile movement when she is deep in thought. “Rob’s been…reserved lately. I don’t want to say he’s withdrawing into himself or anything that drastic, but he’s definitely retreated back into his old shell in a way he never has around me or the kids.”

“We need to nip this in the bud,” Tori agrees. “There’s not much we can do to help them on the field, so we need to come up with ideas to make them feel wanted and valuable off it.”

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