My Husband's Girlfriend

Emily     As I walked through the door to our house my mind immediately when to Damien. After a long day at work, with several very difficult customers, and then having to run errands, all I wanted was to be wrapped up in is strong and comforting arms. “Too bad, he’ll be at work all night,” I said to our sleek black cat named Crow, who was waiting for me patiently as I pushed the door shut behind me. Damien recently got transferred to another fire department in our city and has been adjusting to all his new coworkers and to working overnight, but this station is closer to home at least.       I walked through the living room, which doubled as our video game den with a singular couch, computer with desk and chair to the right of the entryway, and each of our game consoles and televisions sat next to each other across from the couch, and into the kitchen with my black shadow of a cat underfoot. I mindlessly searched through the refrigerator for something quick to eat when my phone vibrated in the pocket of my flour-covered blue jeans. I pulled my phone out hoping it was Damien checking in, it usually was, I typically keep to myself outside of him and the few coworkers of mine that I talk to outside of work.       Husband      Hey baby, you make it home from work ok?        I couldn’t help but smile to myself while reading his message. Short and simple, but always worried about my safety. He truly was such a good husband, even if he was typically a man of few words. I tucked a loose strand of my champagne-blonde hair behind my ear.        Me      I’m home, I was just thinking of you, I really miss you already, any word on if they’ll let you transfer to daylight?        I really hated him being on the night shift; we barely saw each other anymore. With him working 5 pm to 5 am, and me working 6 am to 2 pm, there was very little time we were ever in the house together. When we were, it was typically while one of us was getting ready to leave for work and the other was just getting home. The rare day we actually have off together is typically spent catching up on housework and occasionally going out to eat or for a hike. But this was only once every other week or so that we both happened to be off on the same day.   I decided to settle on a simple ham and turkey sandwich with lettuce, and as I was gathering my ingredients my phone buzzed again.         Damien  Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m really enjoying the night shift actually, and a few of my new coworkers are much easier to work with. I think I’m going to keep this schedule for a while.      My heart sank. This was supposed to be temporary. It was only going to be a few months at the most with Damien and me on completely opposite shifts, and then he was going to request a transfer to daylight so we could actually spend time together again. I knew he was enjoying the change and was getting along with his coworkers for a change, and I wanted to be supportive, but I missed him being home with me and being able to make plans together during the day. With his sleep schedule he typically doesn’t get up until 3 pm, so most of the day is gone. When he does try to wake up earlier to do things together it usually isn’t all that fun as he is tired the entire time. I miss the days we would spend taking a drive into the mountains, hiking in the woods, exploring the city, or taking spontaneous day trips. I end up spending so much of my time alone, which when it comes to most other people it’s a blessing, but I do enjoy and crave his attention and affection greatly.         Me      Well, that’s not really what I wanted to hear, but if it makes you happy then we’ll make it work. I love you.        Damien       I love you too        And at that quick, brief exchange I know that it’s likely he won’t be texting for a little while. So I put my phone on the counter and finished making my sandwich before preparing for my long, lonely evening.       After quickly enjoying my sandwich and a can of soda, I gathered up the dirty clothes to start a load of laundry. “Does every man leave his socks in the most random places?” I thoughtlessly said to Crow as I picked a sock up off of the kitchen floor, earning a disgruntled look from him, as he was likely using the dirty sock as a toy. I know Damien’s job is stressful, but would it kill him to clean up after himself? While taking the clothes to the washing machine I passed my full-length mirror. My self-consciousness got the best of me as our s*x life has been a bit rocky lately, not for lack of trying on my part. I know I hadn’t put on any weight really, at least not noticeably, I had my curves, but curves that were supposed to be there. I absentmindedly ran my free hand over the thin part of my waist to the wide part of my hip and then around to my smooth stomach, while fixing my posture as I looked at my form in the mirror. Damien and I were trying to get pregnant for almost a year now to no avail, and my lack of bump was a bit disheartening. I’m not sure why his s*x drive has been down as of late, but maybe how long we’ve been trying unsuccessfully is affecting him too? I’ve tried talking to him about it, but he tends to deflect every time. Maybe this month we’ll get lucky.    Damien      After sending Emily the last message I planned to for a short while I saw one of the other crew members approaching and quickly put my phone away as I realized it was Laura approaching. The garage bay doors are open allowing sunlight to pour in and made her copper hair shine so beautifully as she glided past the fire engine making a beeline for me. I feel like she could tell that I found her attractive even though I hid it well. Her slim figure and large chest were not well hidden in the skin tight t-shirt she was wearing. Everyone at work knew she had breast augmentation, she wasn’t shy about it, though, she wasn’t shy about much at all. She practically hopped as she stopped when I realized how incredibly close she was. Close enough to smell a brief waft of strawberries and cream as she began pulling her hair up into a high knot as she did at the beginning of every shift. She was babbling on about some drama that I wasn’t paying kind to, it was difficult to pay attention to much as she seemed to be deliberately pushing her large chest out at me as she tied up her hair. It must’ve been obvious I was distracted because she reached out and gave me a playful hit on my chest.      “Did you even hear what I just said? Kaci and Mark from daylight were caught messing around in one of the trucks a few days ago” she said excitedly. For being 41 years old she sure did act a lot younger than her age; constantly wrapped up in all of the workplace drama and always getting into everyone’s business.      “Uh, yeah, did you forget you told me that yesterday?” I said playfully. Laura rolled her eyes and grabbed my wrist, pulling me to what I assumed was the rear break room where she liked to go any time she wanted to talk about all the rumors floating around work.       The room was smaller than the main break room, with only 3 small dining chairs seated at a small square table against the right wall, 2 more comfortable cushioned seats against the left wall, and a small tv against the far wall. As we walked into the room she was still pulling me by my wrist as she quickly caught got me up to speed on the new drama that has been unfolding. I let her pull me over to the 2 seats on the left where she finally let go and plopped down in the seat closest to the tv. I followed suit and sat in the other. With only the small space between us, I could more clearly smell the strawberry scent of her hair. Laura has attached to me quickly since I transferred to this station. Even with the age gap, her at 41 and myself at 28, and knowing I am married, mostly happily, to Emily, it was just easy to talk to her. I knew I should be somewhat cautious about what I told her, as I know she lives for knowing everyone’s business, and had a habit of telling people's secrets any time she had a falling out with someone.       Suddenly she leaned closer, with a devilish grin and a slightly cocky look on her face that was extremely sexy.  “I saw you checking me out when I walked into the garage bay you know..” she said in an almost hushed singsong tone.      s**t. I didn’t think I looked that long. Hopefully, she doesn’t say anything to anyone, Emily is friends with a few of my other coworkers and I don’t want that getting back to her, especially since things have been a little difficult in the physical intimacy department. Laura leaned closer again, her face only a foot from mine. “It’s okay, I wanted you to see me” she practically cooed. I gulped, hard, unsure of where this was going. I leaned away slightly; what was she up to? What game is she playing? She had to have sensed my discomfort, but that didn’t stop her. She propped her elbow on the arm of her chair and rested her delicate chin on her hand while continuing to gaze directly into my eyes.      “You know, we could have a lot of fun together. Nothing serious, my life is too busy for that anyway” she said, holding her gaze, clearly trying to gauge my reaction.     You know I’m married, right?” I said cautiously.     She smirked. “Your point?”