It started out as a friendly wager.
I didn't know anything about women's soccer but I liked to egg her on as if I knew more about it than she did. She was obviously much more knowledgeable about the subject than I ever would be since she played soccer her whole life and watched the pro's on tv.
"Megan Rapinoe is a scrub." I said.
"Are you high?!" She exclaimed. "Megan is one of the most elite players in the world. She could probably play on some men's team."
"HA!" I interjected. "She would get eaten alive! The best woman athlete can't hold a candle to the men's worst athlete." Oh, I was really digging myself a hole...
"Oh really?!?" She replied in a half shocked, half challenging tone. "Well Mr. Man, how bout we make a little wager then..."
Now we're talkin'. "What kinda wager?" I asked coyly.
"You and me, mano a mano. Winner take all."
"Mano a girl, you mean? And at what?" I taunted her.
She glared at me and through squinted eyes she said "Soccer... bitch."
I laughed and said "That's not fair! You've played your whole life and you know that I've never even tried!"
"So? I thought you said even the best female athlete couldn't defeat the worst male one? And since I'm the best female athlete in this room and you're... well, you, I think it's a fair match."
I loved it. She was really tearing into me. But just to add fuel to the fire I said "You know what, you're right! This will be a cake walk. I'm gonna absolutely dominate you. It's gonna be so humiliating for you when I make you my bitch at your own sport." Gulp. Uh oh.
"Is that right?" Her eyes were wide as she studied me. Clearly planning her attack. "In that case, lets make it interesting. The winner gets to take 10 penalty shots at the loser."
"Uhh, okay, but that doesn't sound so ba-"
"Naked." Her eyes were like 2 laser beams directed straight at me. I could almost feel her undressing me right there and then.
"Err, uh heh. Psssh" I tried to play it cool. "Ya that's totes fine. I mean, why not? I'd love to see you in your birthday suit, covering up and trying to block my shots." My confident tone had changed into one of unconvincing self-assurance.
"Ok then. It's on." She said with a smile and put out her hand for a handshake. I smiled back and extended mine, but at the last minute moved it away and pretended to comb back my hair and said "Too slow!' with a stupid grin. She gave a false chuckle and flashed me a sinister grin of her own.
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We decided on an indoor field at a local gym. It was a Tuesday night and not too many people came to this gym, so we figured it'd be a good spot for naked shenanigans. Not much risk of anyone barging in on us, ya know? We also reserved the field just to be extra safe.
I wore a t-shirt, tighty whiteys, basketball shorts, socks and sneakers. She wore a long-sleeved tee, thong, windbreaker pants, socks and sneakers.
"I can't believe you agreed to this, I can't wait to see you all naked and embarrassed covering yourself while I kick this at you" and proceeded to kick a nearby soccer ball toward a net, but missed wildly.
She giggled and said "Oh wow, this is gonna be easier than I thought."
I sneered and said "That was just a warm-up kick!" Truthfully it was the first time I'd ever kicked a soccer ball with the intent of scoring a goal. I really had no idea what I was doing. And I knew that she knew as well.
She kicked a ball to the center of the court and while putting a tie around her hair asked "Ready?"
I said "Sure, but what exactly are the rules? How do we play without a team? Or at least without someone in the goal?"
She rolled her eyes and said "Omg. I should just make you strip and take your punishment right now."
"Hardy-har-har"
"It's simple" she explained, "we start with the ball in the middle of the center circle. Count down from 3 and then try to take control of the ball and score in the other one's net."
"That's it?"
"That's it." She said matter-of-factly.
"So I just have to muscle the ball from you?" I scoffed.
"You can try." She winked.
And with that we were at it. We placed the ball in the center of the circle and counted down from 3. She was fast. She kicked the ball through my legs before I even made 2 steps and scored within seconds.
I stood there dumbfounded with my mouth agape while she returned a toothy smirk. "Lucky shot!" I said.
"Oh ya? Wanna make our little wager a little more exciting?"
Hook.
I asked "Wha... What do you mean?"
"For every goal I score, you have to take off an item of clothing."
"And if I score a goal?"
She laughed and said "Honey, If you manage to even take a single shot, I will forfeit and let you tie me to the goal naked."
Line.
I didn't think twice. "You're on!"
"Good" she said, "now, take something off."
"I thought you meant starting next goal!" I crooned.
"Hey, I'm wagering on you simply taking a shot, remember? The scales are clearly in your favor. You probably won't even have to take anything else off."
Sinker.