The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations, A Novel by Leslie Langtry

told me last year that when I slipped away for a few minutes, Terry had gone on and on about how amazing I looked.And when I hugged him goodbye, he wouldn’t let me go, joking that it had been too long since he had held a woman.I remember joking that I would go home with him.We laughed about that then.I didn’t feel like laughing now.
    Terry looked at me for a long time.Just when I was trying to figure out where he hid the rope and butcher knife on the motorcycle, he gave me a warm hug, “I knew you’d understand.”Carefully he helped me back to the bike.Without a word we rode back to the bar.He stopped at the door and turned off the bike.
    “Laura, thank you.That was nice.”
    I was so relieved I hugged him, laughing almost hysterically.I was back at the bar.Alan was inside.A few steps and I would be safe!
    My thoughts were stifled by the pressure of Terry’s lips on mine.I was so stunned, I couldn’t tell if it was passionate or affectionate.He pulled back and said, “Please don’t tell Mike about this.”
    As he drove away I finally found my voice to respond, “Don’t worry.I won’t.”
    Alan was sitting in his chair at the bar, his eyes glued to the door.He seemed so relieved when he saw me that I resolved not to tell him what just happened.Hell, I wasn’t sure myself.
    “Everything alright?” He had a strange look on his face, which must have meant I had a strange look on my face.
    “Yes, of course,” I lied, “everything’s fine.”For some reason, Terry’s kiss still lingered on my lips and I was afraid to dissect its meaning.I shrugged it off.
    “What happened?”That was a fair question.How much should I answer?
    I rubbed my forehead wearily.All this passion and intrigue was wearing me thin, “Nothing much.We just went for a ride, that’s all.”I explained who Terry was and Alan listened without comment.
    The bartender placed another Grey Goose in front of me.I smiled thankfully, and then drained the glass instantly.Bad move.Alan looked alarmed.
    “He made a pass at you, didn’t he?” There was no judgment or condemnation in his words.Just concern.
    “Yes,” I sighed, “at least I think so.”I related the details of the moonlight bike ride and Alan listened carefully.If he had been a dog I believe I would’ve seen his hackles rise up.
    “How could he do that?!Hit on the wife of his friend?!”Alan’s voice went up an octave.
    “Well, we aren’t exactly pillars of morality ourselves.”I was irritated.“Maybe it was an innocent kiss?”
    “He asked you not to tell your husband.What do you think that means?”Color was rising in his face.
    “I don’t know.Hell, I don’t know anything anymore, Alan.”I sat down in the seat he had been saving for me and signaled the bartender for another drink.
    Alan watched me for a moment, and then looked down at his wedding ring, twisting it painfully on his finger.“I guess we should talk about this sometime.”
    I looked at him, wondering if he was serious.He hedged on the subject every time it came up.Now another man was showing interest in his mistress and he wanted to talk about it.
    “Ok.How about right now?”The vodka and tonic arrived and I threw it back like the other.I was getting very drunk.
    “I don’t know what to say,” he replied.
    I believed him, “I don’t either.I don’t know what to do about our… our situation.”
    He was quiet for a minute, “What is our situation?”
     “Well,” I tried to hold back the sarcasm, “we are married to other people, having sex with each other, and last night decided we were in love.How’s that for a description?”
    You know when you have one of those moments where just before you say something a little too loudly, it becomes quiet?I didn’t have to look around to know that the people around us were staring.That’s it.Cut me off.No more vodka.
    Conversations slowly began to resume and Alan put his arm around me, “I’m sorry.”
    I gave him a sideways glance,