The night before the big event, Gitta couldn’t sleep. It was the first time, after a few months of dating, that John was introducing her to his friends. The rest of the group had been together with their partners for years, and some were even married. The girls had already known each other for a long time, while Gitta would be the outsider. She was the newcomer, and either she would be accepted, or not.
She sat nervously in the large garden among the seven women in their early thirties. The hostess offered cream liqueur and sangria to the ladies. The men were on the back terrace, preparing the grill for cooking.
Gitta found it hard to relax. She had always been shy and introverted, whereas John was the complete opposite. He loved women, and women loved him. At first, Gitta didn’t understand why such an outspoken womanizer would be interested in her. But she quickly fell in love with the humorous, entertaining, and laid-back John, who made her laugh and was the best lover she could have ever imagined.
Marie, the hostess, threw her head back and stretched her arms toward the sky as if streching.
“We’ve been together for twelve years; I can’t believe how time flies!” Encouraged by the others’ nods of approval, she continued.
“I remember how much of a womanizer he was before we met. But ever since, he hasn’t looked at another woman. He said I’m the love of his life. In fact, he told me that when he first saw me, he knew I was the one.”
“You two are such a beautiful couple,” Liz added admiringly. “We’ve only been together for four years, but I’ve never been this in love, and neither has he. He left his second wife for me. He would never cheat on me because he’s found everything in me that his previous women couldn’t give him. We still make love twice a day.”
“Wow!” Dia clapped her hands. “Twice a day? What a man! We only do it four times a week, but I never thought there could be a more devoted lover than mine. He only cares about my pleasure. He doesn’t even think about himself, that’s how much he adores me.”
“You can see it by the way he looks at you,” Nicole enthusiastically agreed. “There’s such fire between you two, just like there is with me and Teddy Bear.” She looked around to make sure everyone was listening. “Imagine this: as soon as I get near him, he gets excited. He just can’t control himself if I’m within a meter of him.” She laughed smugly. “I’ve never been jealous. I’m the only one who has this effect on him. I’m the only woman who can bring that out in him, and he told me so himself. My Teddy Bear.”
“We’ve only been together for five years,” Chloe chimed in, joining the competition, “but my darling always tears up with happiness every anniversary, so grateful that he found me. And, believe it or not, he doesn’t even notice if there’s a provocatively dressed woman nearby. He’s so happy with me that ever since we met, he doesn’t even care to look at anyone else.”
“Well, of course, because you’re gorgeous,” Nic responded immediately. “It’s no wonder he doesn’t look at anyone else when he has someone as beautiful as you.”
Gitta tried to shrink herself as small as possible. Their romance had only lasted three months so far. John had never once cried with joy over the fact that not long ago, at a party, he had accidentally stumbled into her and spilled beer on her. The only reason he had invited Gitta for a drink that night was to make up for soaking her clothes. Their conversation that evening only ended in sex because John was suffering from loneliness, and Gitta had wanted to treat herself to a one-night stand for her birthday. Neither of them had thought they would still be together three months later. Gitta wasn’t sure about John’s intentions, nor was she certain about her own feelings toward him. Just then, the group of men burst into loud laughter.