Chapter 15 - Mother-in-law visitGiovanni's mother did indeed arrive on Sunday afternoon. He went to pick her up at the bus station, and Brenda returned early from her walk to be home when they arrived.She was determined to make a good impression, despite what Giovanni had told her about his mother. Surely he was exaggerating.When they arrived, Brenda asked solicitously if she would like something to drink, but her mother-in-law replied that she would not, as she would have dinner early.Giovanni had warned her not to pay much attention to her, as she would likely criticize everything they did."Don't let anything she says affect you. It's just one day," he had commented.Brenda found it hard to believe everything he had told her. When she met her on the day of the wedding, she had behaved properly, cold but polite and courteous.When Giovanni went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, she commented:"So, you're the one who has to cook? Doesn't your wife cook?""Brenda cooks when it's
Chapter 16 - Arguments...because of jealousy?Brenda closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully, much calmer than the nights she had locked the door, and especially much calmer than the nights he was absent from home.Giovanni had a harder time falling asleep, even though he had taken a sleeping pill when he entered the bathroom.In reality, knowing that he would find it very difficult to sleep with her nearby, he had tried to do what he had joked about with her, but he hadn't been able to.He had taken out his address book and tried to call some "girlfriends", but no matter how much he flipped through the pages and looked at the names, he couldn't decide on any, because he didn't really feel like sleeping with them.He had to admit that the only one he wanted to do it with was lying beside him... and he couldn't touch her.He tossed and turned in bed for a while, and gradually, the sleeping pill took effect and he eventually fell asleep.The next day when Brenda got up, Giovanni and
Chapter 17 - Kisses, Desire and Wet DreamsThat afternoon, Brenda had been drawing in the living room, trying to push aside the conversation she had with Giovanni.She didn't know why she had gotten so upset just thinking about him wanting to hook up with Isabella, but the thought of them together had made her blood boil.She told herself it was because she didn't want to continue being seen as the cuckold in the relationship.She went to her room to undress for a bath, trying to shake off the embarrassment that weighed on her and was driving her crazy."At last, I feel like new," she sighed after spending half an hour in the shower.She emerged with only a towel wrapped around her body, confident that Giovanni wouldn't be home yet; she had made sure to check the time, and there were still a couple of hours left before his workday ended.She felt her heart skip a beat when she heard a noise and then began pounding in her throat when she saw Giovanni emerge from his room in the nude.S
An InvitationGiovanni was desperate; Brenda had refused to speak to him, communicating only in monosyllables.Meanwhile, she literally trembled at his presence, feeling like a child as she avoided him, yet unable to see a way to resolve their situation."They're husband and wife, no one will say anything if they have sex," an impertinent little voice in her head spoke, causing her cheeks to flush.Giovanni noticed, and his heart raced, thinking she looked irresistible when her cheeks blushed."Are you okay?" He tried to sound casual, but to him, it didn't seem to work."Perfectly." Her tone was curt and cold; she moved away from him, pretending not to notice how the Italian man looked at her, each time sending butterflies fluttering in her stomach.A couple of weeks later, Brenda came home from the academy and found Giovanni engrossed in a pile of papers. It was her turn to prepare dinner that night, so she greeted him curtly and headed into the kitchen.He got up and followed her, s
Trip to the AlpsThe day of the trip dawned clear and sunny.Giovanni had advised her to pack warm clothing in the luggage and had also accompanied her to buy hiking boots because he anticipated they would go on some hiking excursions.He had also bought her a motorcycle helmet, although he warned her that if she didn't want to ride with him, she could ride in the car with Marco."If you promise me you won't speed, I'll go with you.""I promise. I never speed on the bike.""What about the day of the wedding? You showed up at the courthouse going who knows how many kilometers per hour.""That day I had to impress you, and besides, it was in the city," she looked at him, incredulous, "No, really, I don't speed, and I assure you it will be quite an experience riding up to the mountains on the bike. It feels like you can touch the sky with your hand."Marcelo left on Friday night to prepare the house, and the rest of them left on Saturday morning.Brenda got on the bike with Giovanni and
Among Friends and AcquaintancesThe accused defended himself vehemently."No one wants to play just to take three turns around a chair or go ask a stranger for the time," he smiled a bit, "Besides, there's not a soul around here.""We have to warn them that the challenges can be a bit... special.""How special?" Gino asked."You might have to stay in your underwear until you roll a certain number, have to kiss someone, say or do something very personal... things like that. Or you might not get anything if you don't land on a penalized square. There are only four, and the chance is remote.""And can you refuse?""Well, newcomers are allowed to refuse once. But then, if someone isn't willing to do what they're supposed to, they lose the game and therefore, the chance for the prize.""And what's the prize?""The winner gets to use the spare bedroom and shares it with their partner, or whoever they want. But if you've refused a challenge, even if your partner wins, you can't sleep there.
The kiss was just a game.The girl fell into thought for a few seconds."Although I'm not sure about giving Brenda and Giovanni the room, because with the kiss they shared, they must have been on fire. They even got me!""No, Alba... that's not necessary. Enjoy your victory," Brenda said, feeling a bit nervous."Then invite me, and you'll see that Giovanni isn't the only one who knows how to kiss.""Go to hell, Sandro. I already told you I'm sleeping with Paula."After the game was over, they had one last drink and spread out sleeping bags around the fireplace. Giovanni placed his next to Brenda's, very close to each other, and they climbed inside.She tried to sleep but couldn't. She saw Giovanni's sleeping face beside her with a serene expression she had never seen before, and she couldn't shake the memory of how he had kissed her; the things she had felt, and how she had kissed him back.What would Giovanni think? Well, she didn't even know what to think of herself! All she knew w
An admirerWhen Brenda left the academy that afternoon, a guy she had coincided with several times copying the same model approached her."You're Brenda, right?" he asked."Yes.""I'm Máximo. Are you heading home?""Yes, of course.""Would you like to come with me for a drink?""I can't, I have to do something there.""You can let them know you'll be late," he replied with a hopeful smile."No, it's not about letting them know, I really can't," she said uncomfortably."Well, another day.""I don't think so, I'm usually very busy."Brenda walked away towards the bus stop. She had noticed that the guy looked at her a lot while they drew, but she didn't think he would approach her and ask her out.It had been funny, though. He wasn't ugly, but the truth was he seemed so dull, so childish...She smiled at the thought of what he would say if he knew she was married.Several days later, Máximo approached her again, and she excused herself once more.But on Sunday afternoon, she was alone at