Adultery Consequences by xleglover-COMPLETED

[Ramesh_Rocky]

But she couldn't rationalize it away anymore, she was cheating on Mike. With his brother! But she WOULD tell him. She just didn't want to do it over the phone. And wouldn't all of this get Mike hot? Yes, he'd be upset at first. But he'd be really turned on too.

Mike wanted her to hook up with barista boy. But wasn't this better? It meant something. She was helping Joe. Mike wanted her to take care of him. Okay, he hadn't meant this way. But she WAS taking care of Joe. Wouldn't Mike be grateful after he got used to the idea?

It was just mercy sex. But was it really? It'd started that way. But Joe had just played with her, and she'd liked it. He'd make her cum, and it was a good orgasm too. And she'd kissed him. She couldn't really say it was mercy sex anymore.

Mike wanted to keep playing the game. Didn't this qualify? Maybe this proved something. Maybe she did need the variety of other men. Maybe they should keep playing.

Jen had a restless sleep, all these issues still unresolved in her head. She left for work early, not wanting the awkwardness of seeing Joe.

"You look like shit," Allie said as she bopped into Jen's office.

"I didn't get much sleep," Jen said with a grimace.

"Everything okay?" Allie asked.

Jen wished she could spill her guts to Allie, it would be so good to talk this out with someone. But their friendship was on an upswing again and she didn't want to risk that. "Everything's fine," she lied.

Occupied with her own life, Allie didn't notice Jen's lie. She lowered her voice and said "We've decided to elope. Right after the final Memphis pitch. You and Mike will come?"

"Of course we will!" Jen said excitedly.

"I'm thinking about resigning after," Allie said hesitantly. "Darren's making a lot of money with Sapphire -."

"I'm thinking the same thing," Jen whispered back.

"Seriously?" Allie said surprised, forgetting for a moment her own situation. "You're such a go-getter, I always figured you for managing partner someday."

"I need a break," Jen said. "You know we can't both leave, at least not right away. If we win Memphis we have to get it going, we owe everyone that."

"I know," Allie said with a grimace. "But after a few months?"

Jen thought about it. "Yeah, that should work," she said.

Later that morning Jen's iPhone rang. It was Drums. "Hi Frankie, how are you?" she said hesitantly, not knowing what to expect.

"Everything's great, we're in LA on our tour," Drums said enthusiastically. He laughed. "Artie's calling it our revival tour. Can you believe it?"

Jen laughed back. "So everything's good?" she asked, happy everything seemed to be going good for him.

"Everything's great!" Drums gushed. "This morning I'm going to a studio with Artie to cut a single. With the Ramones hot again, Artie thinks there's a good chance it'll get serious radio time."

"Oh god Frankie that's so good!" Jen gushed.

"But listen, can you do me a favor? Right now the world knows me as one of the Ramones. I could really use some marketing to beef up my image as a solo performer too. Can you help?"

"Um, yeah, I can help you," Jen said hesitantly. She quickly added "I have to ask Mike, okay?"

"Sure, definitely," Drums said without any hesitation. "After LA we shoot over to Chicago, then next week we're back in New York. Maybe we can meet then."

After lunch Jen called Mike. "Hi baby," she said.

"Hi honey," Mike said. "How's Joe?"

"Um, good," she said awkwardly.

"Thanks for helping with Joe's treatment," Mike gushed. "Mom told me you're helping when Willow's busy. Thanks for doing that. It makes me feel better you're there with him."

"Um, of course baby," Jen said. "He's an easy patient." Wanting to change the subject, she asked "How's it going over there?"

"We're almost done fixing the Ring," Mike proudly announced. "We made major progress last night."

"Really?!" Jen said excitedly. "Can you come home?!"

"I just need to check a few things," Mike said. "But this weekend, I think so."

"Oh that's so good!" Jen gushed. "I miss you so much Mike!"

"I miss you too honey," Mike said. He grinned. "So, have you seen barista boy lately?"

"God you have a one track mind," Jen said with a laugh.

Mike laughed back. "Have you thought about it? For us to keep playing the game?"

"Actually I have," Jen said. In a soft voice she said "Maybe I'd like to do that."

"Really?" Mike said, surprise and delight in his voice. He excitedly asked "Do you have someone in mind?"

Jen hesitated. She was tempted to tell Mike - she desperately wanted to tell him - but she didn't want to do it on the phone. "Let's wait until you get home, okay?"

"Okay..." Mike said hesitantly. He knew Jen better than anyone. In fact, they both knew each other so well it was like they could read the other's mind. "Jen, you already have someone, don't you?"

"Mike... let's wait until you get home," she said.

Mike heard the guilt and anxiety in his wife's voice. "Baby, it's okay with me if you've already hooked up with someone. It wouldn't be cheating on me. I WANT you to hook up with him. So don't feel bad, okay?"

It was like Mike had just lifted a huge load off her shoulders! He'd said exactly the right thing, and it was like sunshine breaking through the clouds and beaming onto her!

She started to cry. "I love you Mike," she said through tears. "I'm a terrible person. You're too good for me."

"No you're not baby," Mike assured her. "You're my goddess remember? It doesn't matter what you do, nothing will ever change that."

"Okay," Jen said in a small voice, smiling and beaming into the phone even as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

"So you'll tell me when I get home?" he asked excitedly.

"I'll tell you everything," Jen promised.

Jen heard voices in the background. Then Mike said "I've got to go honey, we're about to run some tests."

"Okay," she said wiping the tears away with her hand. Then she remembered her call with Drums. "Oh um honey? Frankie called. He's doing an album. He asked if I could do some marketing for him."

"Oh..." Mike said.

Jen heard a lot of worry and anxiety in that one word. "I'm not thinking about getting back together with him," she assured him. "He called ME baby. It would just be a favor."

"Okay," Mike said. "Then I guess it's okay."

"Are you sure? I won't if you don't want me to."

Mike didn't want Jen to think he was a jealous wimp. "Yeah definitely, it would be good to help him," he said forcing the anxiety from his voice.

Jen nodded into the phone. She said "Baby, don't worry about Frankie, okay?"

As Jen was about to leave for work she got a call from Willow. "We're meeting with Dr. Calgary to go over Joe's latest tests," the gypsy woman said. "Can you meet us?"

When Jen arrived at Dr. Calgary's office Willow and mom and dad were already there. Jen could tell it was bad news from the look on the doctor's face.

"Joe's not getting better," Dr. Calgary said. "He hasn't responded to the holistic treatments."

Jen started crying. So did mom and Willow. "How much time does he have?" dad asked, visibly trying to hold back tears.

"Not long," Dr. Calgary said looking glum. "A few weeks. Tomorrow I want to start a series of chemo treatments."

"Oh no!" mom cried, new tears falling down her cheeks. She remembered how in the past chemo had ravaged Joe's body.

"It's Joe's only chance," Dr. Calgary said, although he looked just as disturbed as mom.

As the group broke up Willow pulled Jen aside. "Thank you for taking such good care of Joe."

Jen eyed the old gypsy woman. She suspected Joe had told her everything. Jen shrugged. Why did it matter? "I didn't help any," she lamented.

"You don't know that," Willow said.

"You think Joe still has a chance?" Jen asked skeptically.

"I've told you, a rejoicing spirit can often heal a failing body," Willow said. She affectionately brushed her hand across Jen's cheek. "You've been very good to him. Thank you."

Jen blushed. Joe had definitely told her!

Suddenly Willow looked ill. "Are you alright?" Jen asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine," Willow said with a weak smile.

Jen helped Willow sit down. Willow took Jen's hand. She studied it as she did before, like a palm reading. "You'll be fine too, eventually," the old gypsy woman told Jen. Willow smiled but there was sadness in her eyes.

Jen sensed the sadness was for her, not Joe. "What's going to happen to me Willow?" she asked worriedly.

"Sweet Jennifer," Willow said with a kind smile, again brushing her hand across Jen's face. "You'll be happy again, take comfort in that."

"What do you mean Willow?" Jen said urgently. "I'm happy now."

Willow smiled at Jen again, but the smile was filled with sadness. "Remember Jennifer, follow your heart," she said enigmatically. "Always follow your heart."

Jen went home, distracted by Joe's condition and Willow's prophesy. As she entered the loft apartment she saw Joe was packing. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"I don't want to overstay my welcome," Joe said. "Mike's coming home soon, right?"

"This weekend," Jen said. "But you don't have to go Joe, we have lots of room." When Joe looked skeptically at her, she said "It'll be fine Joe, Mike will understand, he'll be okay with what we did."

"I check into the hospital tomorrow," he said giving her a shrug. This was the real reason he was moving out. "Dr. Calgary's going to use pretty aggressive chemo."

"Oh," she said, realizing what he was saying. The chemo was going to be so "aggressive" he'd have to stay in the hospital instead of going home. Her heart ached at what he was facing. Painful chemo. And then, most likely, death. She felt like crying.

"Don't be sad," he said. He smiled encouragingly at Jen. "Come on, you're taking me to dinner. How about it?"

Jen forced a smile. "Sounds like fun. Maybe we can see the Guardians of the Galaxy movie after." She wasn't really interested in the movie but she knew Joe (like Mike) would be into it.

"Cool!" Joe said enthusiastically. "I'll grab a shower and we can go." He disappeared into his room and Jen heard the shower come on.

Jen considered changing. She was still in her work clothes, a dress and high heels. But she didn't feel like it. She didn't feel like anything. All she could think about was the terrible future facing Joe. Devastating chemotherapy that would ravage his body. Most likely, he'd be bed ridden for the rest of his life. The chemo would do that to him. If the cancer didn't kill him, the chemo would. It would ruin his body.