Mina's Side Guy

It wasn't love that pushed Mina into Alex's arms, but pure lust. They'd met months earlier in a watercolour class that they both had been attending at the local community centre. Alex, a hot young stud, had been eye candy from the start. His bulging biceps, his square-cut jaw, his tight pants. He was the kind of guy that could have walked in and had his pick of the women in any room. Luckily for Mina, Alex had a thing for women with a bit more experience.

Mina Malone had never before cheated on her husband, John. They had a good marriage, built on trust and respect. The love they'd sworn on their wedding day had been true, and it still was. It was just that Mina, after being married to the same man for twenty-three years, was getting a little bored. John was a few years older than her, and his body was starting to suffer the age, which in turn had been taking a toll on the couple's connubial bed. Sex was less and less satisfying. Sure, when they were together, it was a genuine expression of intimacy, but Mina remembered their younger days, knew what she was missing.

Then came Alex.

"I hope I'm not being too forward," he had said to her as she unpacked her art supplies before the third class, "but I was wondering if you'd like to go for a drink afterwords."

Feeling the red in her face, Mina giggled. How long had it been since a stranger paid attention to her? Asked her out. She knew that she shouldn't, that she should have just gone home like usual, but the feeling was so nice. She wanted so dearly to hold onto it, just a bit longer. Maybe if she played along, just for one drink...

Except that it was never one drink.

Again and again they met. Hotels. His place. Her place. The bathroom of a fancy restaurant. The back seat of his car. Mina was insatiable, and Alex was happy to help. Soon the feelings of guilt were buried so far beneath her pleasure that she barely noticed them.

But it was lust. Pure lust. I could never be love. Mina loved John. Alex just gave her what she needed.

Besides, they never talked long enough for Mina to fall in love.

Then came the Great Shift, and it all fell apart.