Dave and Jen are invited for a double date

The late afternoon sun streamed through the bedroom window. Clothes littered the double bed and the air felt humid due to the shower in the ensuite. Jen sighed as she looked in the bedroom’s full-length mirror. She was wearing a silk leopard print slip-dress that had a provocative shark-bite-hem that exposed her lower inner thigh. She turned to Dave who had just pulled a freshly ironed polo shirt over his shoulders. “I feel a little ashamed of wearing the same clothes all the time. I know Sun has seen me wear this once or twice before.”

“Don’t be. I love that sexy little number. Anyway, our lives will turn around. You never know, it might start tonight.”

“Hm. I don’t think so.”

“Be positive. Mick is loaded and you said Sun wanted to talk about something.”

“Yes. I know. But she sounded a little serious. Most unlike Sun.”

Dave began fingering moose through his damp hair. “Only one way we’ll find out.”

~

That evening the night sky was crowded with stars as if they were competing for space. Insects sang the night away like merry drunks. However, on the terrace time had passed slowly for all involved. The large table was filled with empty plates. Dinner had been rich, heavy but most tasty. Yet conversation had not run smoothly. Not even generous amounts of red wine beer had loosened their tongues.

They were talking around the obvious.

Mick wandered off for a few minutes. Didn’t give a reason but headed into the house towards the downstairs toilet. After five minutes he then returned carrying a sports bag, plonking it in the centre of the table to the sound rattling china and cutlery. “There you go. Sixty grand in Sterling.” Son appeared awkward. A little ashamed.

Jen’s eyes lit up like a child at Christmas. But she new miracles was only for fairytales. But still stood from the chair before placing both hands on her mouth .“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“Of course. There are strings attached.”

Dave still felt interested. He put his arm around his wife’s slender waist. “O...kay. We’re listening.”

“As you know, Jen. I believe Sun has told you. My wife and I, we have an open relationship. And would like you to join us for a weeks holiday.”

Dave snapped. “What? Gotta be fucking joking.”

“No joking. Just fucking.” Mick then focused only on Dave’s wife. “Jen?”

“Oh.” Jen didn’t know where to look but knew she had to say something. “Well, that’s not what I was expecting.”

Mick used his serious tone. “Those are the terms. The only terms.”

“I, I mean, we, we can’t accept those terms. Just can’t. ”

Dave qualified what Jen said. “We don’t swing. Sorry.” He tightly held his wife’s hand. Anger swelled his veins. Being married to a stunning wife Dave was used to men lusting over his spouse. But the fact another man was so blatantly disregarding his presence while chasing his wife, riled him.“In fact, we better leave. Come on Jen.”

“That’s fine. But the thing you need to learn is that the best deals are when both parties have something to gain. Not just one side.”

Jen spat in spite and disappointment towards Mick. “I thought you wanted to help. Not manipulate us.”

“Please, take the time to think about it.”

Sun winced as Jen and Dave slammed the door behind them. She then glanced at Mick disapprovingly. “See. What did I say? I’ve lost a friend now.”

“She’ll be back. I saw the desperation in her eyes.”

~

Sat in the car with Jen on the passenger seat, Dave turned the ignition and the engine purred into life. Like Jen, he had never driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the UK. But had quickly learned the rules were not as rigorously enforced in Nicaragua. Anyway, he had other things on his mind… mainly, Mick. “What an arrogant prick.”

“Disgusting.”

“The fucking cheek.”

Jen held her head in her hands. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean?”

Jen whimpered, “We’re stuck in limbo.” A single tear slipped down her olive cheek. She knew she made for an emotional drunk but given the circumstances, her tears felt more than justified. “Our lives are wasting away.”

“I’ll love you whatever happens. Nicaragua or… whatever.”

“What do you mean by, whatever?”

Dave sighed as the car slipped from the light of the plantation house and into the darkness of the country lane. “Well, you know… If you’d do it.”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“Seriously? Would you put me through such things? Have me humiliated? Raped?”

“No. It's not r… never mind.”

“Good.”They continued down the twisting country lane as it wrapped its way down the hill. An already emotional Jen again snapped, ”Can’t believe you’d ever think of that. Consider it, I mean. Pervert.”

“Hey, hey. Come on. I wasn’t.” Dave went to reach for Jen’s uncovered thigh, to give it an affectionate stroke.

“No.”

“Come on, sweetie. Believe me. I wasn’t.”

“Get off me.” Jen slapped away Dave’s hand. As he tried again to reach it once more, she pushed him away with a hard shove. However, this caused Dave to lurched the car to the left.

To the couple’s horror, out of nowhere, a body came into vision. It was lying in the middle of the road. Dave hit the breaks.

But it was too late.

The car mowed down the old man, and the wheels mounted his flaying body. No doubt crushing the stricken man underneath.

Dave lost control and the car hit an embankment before rolling back onto the road until it came to a stop.

In shock, Dave stared into the midnight while Jen cried like a banshee.

One of the headlamps were broken but that wasn’t Dave's concern. “What fuck just happened?”

“You killed a man. Dave… you killed someone.”

“Me, you mean... we? You attacked me while I was at the wheel.”

Jen ashamedly nodded. “Yes.”

“But you saw him, right? He was lying in the road. I mean, who the fuck does that in the middle of the night?”

Jen shook her head in utter dejection. “I don’t know.” She then screamed, “I don't know. Fuck!”

“Shit. Shit. Fucking shit. Now what?”

“I’ll call the police.”

“What?” Dan snapped. “ I’ll go to jail. I’ve had a drink too. A white boy in jail is nothing but fuck meat.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Let’s drive off.”

“What?”

Dan tried to calm himself but it felt impossible. Yet, he eventually reasoned with himself and decided he owed it to the victim to check on his welfare. “Come on. Let's get out and see if he’s OK.”

In the darkness, there was a shadow of a body. There was no crying or even groaning. Using his smartphone’s torch, Dave made unsure baby steps towards the figure who lay in the road, unmoving. The body was facing away but was lying in an unnatural position which suggested broken bones. Lots of broken bones. He reached out and cautiously placed a finger on the victim's neck, leaving it there for a few seconds. “He still has a pulse. I think. It’s really faint.”

“Then we need to call an ambulance.”

“But…”

“But what?”

Dave began to panic. “We’re criminals.”

“Even more so if we leave him here.”

“I know. But I’m not going to jail. Look” Dave shone the torch from his smartphone to the corpse once more. “He’s an old man. Lived his life. We haven’t.”

“I know. But…” Jen then sighed. “I get your point, no matter how selfish it is.”

“Plus, don’t forget, for all we know someone already hit him.”

A nearby hill suddenly wore a glowing crown of light which suggested an approaching car. “Dave let's get out of here. Quick.”

“I agree.”

“Wrap your hands in your sweater and roll him over into the field drain.”

The pair worked in tandem and rolled the old man off the road, through the rough weeds before hearing a splash which signalled the cruel deed was done.

The ride home was done in silence. A guilty silence. A murderous one.

Dave and Jen couldn’t move on from that night on the road. Drowned in guilt in may as well have been themselves lying in field drain. Their lives were broken. Every time a police siren was heard it caused panic in the house. They refused to watch TV, browse the net, even visit the market. They hoped time was a healer.

It wasn’t.

Jen woke up in tears. “I can’t live like this.”

Dave put down his bible which he had recently started reading in hope of salvation. “I know what you mean.”

“I have a heart attack every time the doorbell rings.”

Dave signed. “Or when the phone rings.”

“I know.”

“I feel dead.”

Dave reached for Jen’s hand. “Me too.”

Jen stared at the ceiling. She wanted to confess what she had slept on. “Dave?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think we should call Sun and Mick?” Dave didn’t answer but Jen felt him squeeze her hand. She added. “Because, in all honesty, I don’t think we have the choice.”