Fuck buddies Page 5

  She reappeared a minute later and Susana started to interrogate her as soon as they were on the stairs. Sara turned to her and demanded: “I’ll answer all your questions, I swear it, but first you have to tell me how you’ve found it out.”

  “On Facebook.”

  “What?”

  “Roberto has tagged you on a super cool photo. You appear underwater with flippers and goggles. Behind you there are even fishes. Super cool!

  “I’ll kill him.”

  “It’s not a big deal. Probably no one else will realize that both of you are tagged in the photo. I’ve got you both on Facebook and I’ve seen the same picture on his profile and yours and when I checked it, I saw that you were the one in the picture and he had uploaded it. I only had to put two and two together.”

  “I’ll kill him” Sara took her phone out from her bag and searched for the phone book.

  “Well, he hasn’t been clever, but poor guy, I’m sure he had done it with his best intentions” said Susana.

  “Sara?” Roberto’s voice asked on the other side of the line. “Right now we can’t meet. I’m working, remem—?”

  “Have you uploaded to Facebook a photo in which I appear?”

  He kept quiet for a second. He had noticed that her voice was full of irritation, but he chose to give a jovial answer, just in case he could ease her that way.

  “Yes. Have you seen it? It’s awesome, don’t you thing?”

  “No, I haven’t seen it. But you have to delete it right now.”

  “Why?”

  “Why!? We said we were going to be discreet. No one should find out about our deal.”

  “And you think they will find out because of a photo? Come on, Sara! I’m sure people won’t spend their time looking at those things.”

  “No? You’re sure? Well, Susana sends greetings. She dropped by just to ask if I’m sleeping with you.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “But that must be because you’ve told her that you were seeing someone and she was on the lookout for any clue.”

  “Remove the photo right now.”

  “Ok, as soon as I finish my shift.”

  “Now!”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Sara hanged up furiously without saying goodbye. Susana, who hadn’t missed a word, laughed:

  “What a lovers’ quarrel!”

  “Lovers’ quarrel, my foot! This dude is a fool.”

  “For the record, the picture is awesome. Look, I’ve brought it so that you can see it” she fiddled with her Smartphone for a moment and then showed her the picture in which she appeared under the transparent water of the beach where they had been some days ago.

  Sara didn’t look at it in detail; she didn’t want to see it. She went downstairs and Susana followed her. Her friend seemed quite amused by the situation and it pissed her off. By the time they arrived to the ice-cream saloon, she was still angry with Roberto but seemed calmer and ready to talk about it.

  “Then, how did everything begin?” asked Susana.

  “You can’t tell anyone what I’m gonna tell you, ok?”

  “Of course.”

  “Swear it.”

  “I promise.”

  “Sure?”

  “Sara! You’re my best friend, what you tell me stays always between us.”

  “And Marga?”

  “What about her?”

  “You two used to hang out together, right? I’ve seen some photos. I don’t want you to tell her what I’m gonna tell you.”

  Susana was completely disconcerted. She had gone there to interrogate her friend and so far she had been the only one who had been answering questions. She tried to think quickly and suddenly realized what it was all about.

  “Oh! Now I know why you’re asking me that. You don’t trust her because she tried to steal your boyfriend. Bah! You don’t have anything to worry about. I hung out with her and her group only for a few weeks, just to see if we got on well, but we didn’t. In this town there aren’t many people to have fun with, you know? Almost all my friends, including you, went to universities of other provinces and I had to deal with it as best as I could. So yes, I partied several times with Marga, but our relationship didn’t come off. What you and I have, baby—“ she winked at her “is unique.” She reached one of Sara’s hands and said: “Now, seriously, you and I have been a long time without seeing each other, but with you I feel good, calm and confident. I know I can tell you everything and I— well, actually I thought that you felt the same way.”

  “Oh, Susana!” her words had touched her and she rose, hugging her friend and giving her a resounding kiss on the cheek. “Sorry for my doubts. I love you.”

  “Oh, dear! You’re gonna make me cry. And I’ve come to hear every little detail of your relationship with Roberto, not to cry.”

  Sara told her all their story: how they had reencountered, how she hadn’t recognized him, how he had gone to her house with the proposal of being fuck buddies, how since then they had been meeting on the sly, how he had taken her to the beach and then to dinner— everything.

  “Wow, wow, wow, kiddo, half of the things you have told me aren’t typical of a fuck buddy relationship” said Susana when Sara finished with her story.

  “I know, I’ve also realized and I’ve asked Roberto several times about it, but he replies that we have a friendship to develop as well as our sex agreement. And he states that with her friends he does that kind of things: going to a mountain, to a beach—“

  “Yeah, well, but it’s not the same and you know it.”

  Sara sighed. “Actually, I don’t want to think about it. Sex with him is good and that’s all I care about. I’m not going to mull it over.”

  “And have you already dressed up for him as a schoolgirl?” Susana asked suddenly.

  “What?”

  “It’s one of his fantasies, or it was.”

  “Schoolgirls? And how do you know it?”

  “Some years ago, when we were in high school, one night we were a little bit drunk and we ended talking about our sexual fantasies. Not only Roberto and me, of course, there were more people. We were a small group. We began to talk about what we liked to do, what aroused us, who will we sleep wi— Oh, my God!”

  All of a sudden, Susana’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with both hands. Sara was scared and looked everywhere, trying to find out what had startled her friend.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, my God!”

  “Susana, you’re frightening me. Tell me what’s happening.”

  “Roberto is in love with you.”

  “Oh, come on!”

  “Yeah, listen, listen to me. I only remembered the anecdote that he would like to screw with a girl dressed up as a school girl, but I’ve just remembered that he said he would like that you were that girl.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “I swear I’m not.”

  “But are you sure you’re not mixing up things? Back then you would have told me right away about it, Susana, and it’s the first time I hear something of this.”

  “I have to admit that we were quite drunk, but I’m a hundred percent sure that I’m not making up this because the next day, when he was sober, he sent me a message in which he told me that the last night he had only said nonsenses and that I shouldn’t tell you anything.”

  “Then that’s it. He was drunk and said nonsenses.”

  “Drunk people tell the truth. They free from inhibitions and say out loud what they would never dare saying when they are sober.”

  “Ok, maybe it’s true, but what? He liked me when we were in high school, that doesn’t have anything to do with our current relationship.”

  “Of course it does! In high school he didn’t have his opportunity because you were dating Juan but now he has seen the perfect chance to have something with you. And I have to say that he has been very smart, because if he would have tried a regular relationship
with you, I’m sure you would have said him no. But he approached you with the excuse of being fuck buddies and he is managing what he wanted: you are becoming attached to him.”

  “Wow, wow, easy! You would be a perfect love stories writer.”

  “Seriously. Do you know which the main problem of a friends with benefits relationship is? There is always someone who falls in love. In this case he’s already in love with you, so you are the one left in the equation. And I have to say that he has been doing an excellent job. So far, he had achieved that you turn a blind eye to all those signs that shout and claim that your relationship is not only about sex.”

  “You’re completely wrong” Sara refused to believe what her friend was saying.

  “Think about it, it’s a master plan. It’s like marketing. Do you know that if you want someone to buy something, the best thing you can do is to let him see it, touch it and feel it? If the client interacts with the goods, the probability that he ends up buying what you want is much higher. And that’s exactly what Roberto is doing with you: he lets you taste the raw material and lets you know him better only for you to fall in love with him.”

  “No, that’s impossible. And I can prove it.”

  “Really? How?”

  Sara thought how she could prove Susana wrong, how she could show that Roberto didn’t feel anything for her but friendship and desire. But how?

  “I’ve got it! One night he’s free, I’ll ask him to take me to the nightclub where we met and I’ll make out with some guy. And Roberto won’t say anything because we have an open relationship and we can be with whoever we want. That will prove you that he isn’t in love with me.”

  Susana considered her idea and eventually said: “Ok, I think it’s a reliable test. But trust me, this is going to get nasty.”

  10. The test

  Sara, determined to carry through the test, invited Roberto to party with her on Saturday night. He accepted, although they would have to meet after midnight, when he would have finished in the restaurant. It was almost the time and Sara was making up. She had chosen a white dress tied at the back, with a neckline that suggested more than showed, opened up to her belly. She felt as a diva.

  Roberto gave her the missed call they had agreed on and Sara picked up all her things quickly. He was leaving his house right then and she had only a few minutes to get ready. When he saw her, he smiled admired.

  “Pretty lady, shall I give you a ride?” he said after whistling at her.

  She shook her head, amused. She got into the car, next to him, and closed the door.

  “Where does the lady want to go that she had made herself look so good?”

  “I want to go to the disco where we met.”

  “What? Why?” he seemed surprised and even a little bit upset.

  “I feel like dancing.”

  “If you want to dance, we can go to places that are closer. The town is full of life today with the festival.”

  “No, I don’t want to dance here.”

  “Why?”

  Sara intended not to reveal her purpose yet so he won’t make any excuses. She had to carry out the test perfectly.

  “Oh, come on, I want to go there. I’ll pay the gas” she said, looking longingly at him.

  Forty minutes later they were at the entrance of the nightclub. Before leaving her house, Sara had taken a coffee to avoid falling asleep during the journey, but Roberto hadn’t known her plan in advance and he looked tired.

  “Actually, I don’t feel much like partying. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to dance too much.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find you a comfortable place to rest” she smiled.

  Roberto wasn’t conscious of what was about to happen, it was obvious. For an instant, Sara felt sorry for him. She had made him take her there only to hook up with another man while he looked. He had even made the effort to take her to the nightclub after working all day. But no, she shouldn’t feel guilty, at least not yet. If he passed the test and proved that he hadn’t been lying to her, she would have enough time to apologize.

  But Roberto wouldn’t pass the test. Sara knew it as soon as they entered the disco and men looked at her with wolfish eyes. Roberto’s reaction was to encircle her waist with the excuse of leading her to the bar. Without a doubt, he was marking Sara as his. She didn’t say a word and let him guide her to the counter, where they ordered their drinks. She sipped from her glass and told Roberto that she was going to the dance floor. He followed her without a word and when she started to dance, he glued to her.

  “I need some space, Roberto” she said, moving away.

  She started to dance in a provocative way and scanned the crowd that surrounded her. She chose a man on her left and she danced for him, staring at him with suggestive eyes. She didn’t dare to look at Roberto although she was dying to see his reaction. Only half a song had passed when he grabbed her waist, turned her and, once they were face to face, kissed her.

  Sara had to push him with all her strength to get rid of him.

  “What are you doing?” she shouted over the music.

  “Come on, Sara, I’m here” he tried to approach her but Sara put her arms between them to keep him away.

  “I’ll help you find a girl, ok? But now leave me alone, you shoo away the guys.”

  “But—“

  “I’ve already attracted the attention of some guys. Don’t screw it up.”

  “But Sara, I want you. I thought that we had a deal and when you wanted or I wanted, we had sex. I want you tonight.”

  “But I don’t want to sleep with you tonight, ok?” she patted his back and smiled. “I’ll help you find a girl tonight, I swear it, but now leave me some space.”

  She was being cruel and she knew it, but he hadn’t confessed yet. His behavior was possessive, but that wasn’t an irrefutable proof of him being in love with her. He had to explode.

  Roberto stood next to her as an idiot, looking at her with sinister eyes. Music kept on sounding around them and now and then ultraviolet beams crossed the dance floor, bringing out Sara’s white dress. She danced and danced and when she thought that the man who was looking at her was ready, she approached him. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t know if Roberto was following her. When she got next to the stranger, she purred provocative words in his ear and he grabbed her waist, smiling. Just a minute later Sara suggested going to the restroom and he accepted, lowering his hand until he touched her bottom. Holding on her ass, he let Sara guide him. However, they were at some meters from the restroom door when a hand grabbed Sara’s forearm.

  “We’re leaving” Roberto’s voice said suddenly next to her while he pulled from her arm.

  “No fucking way! Leave me alone, Roberto” but he didn’t seem to be listening to her. “Let me go, shit!”

  “She has told you to let her go, idiot!”

  It was the voice of the man Sara had chosen as her victim that night. Roberto ignored him but the stranger grabbed his shoulder and her pseudo-fuck buddy didn’t hesitate: he turned with his fist prepared and gave him a right in the face.

  The stranger overbalanced and fell back. That wasn’t enough for Roberto and he followed him, willing to keep hitting him in the ground. Sara tried to stop him and gave the stranger some valuable seconds that he used to recover and launch a kick that reached Roberto’s belly. He moved back sharply and hit Sara. What happened next was confusing and she would only remember that a pair of strong arms carried her out of the nightclub. Roberto and the stranger followed her a few seconds later, shoved by two security guards that were as wide and tall as the one that had taken Sara out of the disco.

  “Get the hell out of here” said one of them “or we will bum out on your asses again.”

  But Roberto and the stranger didn’t seem to be interested in keeping fighting.

  “You can get the cock-teaser” the stranger blurted out.

  Roberto looked at him but didn’t reply nor defended Sara of his offensive wo
rds, probably because he thought that she deserved them. Instead, he turned and walked to his car.

  “I’m leaving. You get in the car now or return by taxi.”

  Without a word and scared by his cold and calm voice, she walked behind him. She was trying to convince herself that she had the right to reproach him that he had broken the contract, that she could demand to know if he had been lying from the beginning, but she didn’t find the words. She got into the car expecting he would say something, but Roberto didn’t say a word. Actually, he wasn’t interested neither in what she had to say, because as soon as they left the parking lot he turned up the music, avoiding any kind of conversation.

  Roberto managed to reduce the journey by stepping on the gas, but even so those twenty minutes were the longest and most uncomfortable minutes of their lives. When finally the car stopped in front of Sara’s house, he didn’t say goodbye nor softened his expression. He was furious with her and she knew it perfectly, but she couldn’t leave. She turned down the volume until the music reached a low tone.

  “You’re in love with me?”

  Probably it wasn’t the more appropriate question, but it was the one that slipped her lips. He shook his head but it didn’t look as a denial, he simply seemed dismayed.

  “Come on, leave.”

  “But—“

  “I don’t want to talk with you right now, Sara, please.”

  But she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to argue with him, to yell at each other, to make things clear finally.

  “You’ve broken the contract.”

  “That contract doesn’t worth a shit, Sara. But I don’t want to argue, go home.”

  “Maybe the contract is not a legal document, but I had your word” she insisted.

  “Sara” he turned to her, startling her. “I’ve broken the contract, right? I didn’t keep my word. Ok then. We take separate ways from now. Let’s forget this has happened. Leave.”

  She looked at him for a moment and then she decided to give up and opened the door. The best thing they could do was to leave things as they were, at least for that night. They would talk about it another day. Or maybe they should do as he had said: forget everything that had happened. They didn’t have anything to talk about, they couldn’t keep being fuck buddies so there was no need to argue about it.