Todd's poker night was tonight. Friday at 8:00. Always Friday, so the guys could get good and loud and drunk on scotch and beer, and not worry about work the next day. And as the dutiful girlfriend, I felt obligated to make up a big batch of nachos and rollups to keep them from falling off their chairs. And if they really were too drunk to go home, they could sleep it off on the rug in the living room. That's the bad news.
The good news is that the poker game was at our condo only once every 4 months. And I liked the guys (Dave, Ray, and Terry, Terry being a former boyfriend who introduced me to Todd. That's another story). And once I get the guys settled, I go upstairs to the bedroom, take a leisurely bath, get into bed early, read or watch TV, and fall asleep totally relaxed.
So, tonight Dave and Ray arrived first, followed by Terry. The poker table was already set up, and I got the nachos out of the oven, and served them. They started on the beer and scotch right away, and within 10 minutes, the cards were dealt, and I was on my way upstairs.
I got undressed, sunk into the bubble bath, opened my book, and breathed a big sigh of relief. I could hear the guys laughing and busting each other's balls, and it gave me a good feeling that Todd had maintained his male friends, and, frankly, that I got some time out.
A half hour later, I dried off, wiggled into some panties, put my short nightie over me, got into bed, and pushed the on button on the remote. Five minutes of surfing and I rolled my eyes: 150 channels and absolutely nothing worth watching. I shut it off, and went back to my book.
The noise downstairs got quiet. I figured they were tiring. It was about 10:30. A few minutes later Todd came quietly into the bedroom. That never happened, so it scared me a bit.
"What's wrong, Todd?"
He replied, "OK, Linda, don't get mad. Here's what's going on. Terry bet me $100 that you would not come down and play strip poker with us."
WTF?
"Are you crazy? No way, buddy. You just lost $100," and I put my nose back in the book.
"Please, Linda, it's not the $100. You know I really like these guys, and you know how I feel about your previous relationship with Terry. So I need you to do this for my self respect with my friends, not for the $100."
"Todd, why would you get yourself into this? Why didn't you just say, I'm not taking the bet?"
"Because I can't refuse a dare or I would lose face."
I thought for a minute. I am a poor poker player, but the idea had just a little bit of appeal to me. I found all 3 guys very attractive, and I'd love to see any one of them, including Terry, naked, or at least bare chested.
I said "Here's the deal. I'll do it on one condition: you have to sit next to me and guide my strategy for drawing cards so I don't end up naked in the first 5 minutes."
Todd smiled "Thanks, Linda. This means a lot to me. I'll be right at your side."
I got out of bed and pulled my nightie over my head and walked to my dresser to get some clothes on.
Todd said, sheepishly, "Uh, Oh, Uh, one more thing. You have to play in what you are wearing right now."
Shit, now what? I put my nightie back on, and said "on the condition that I can put on socks and slippers, so that I have at least a fighting chance."
Todd said "I'm sure Terry will agree to that."
I put on socks and slippers and Todd and I went downstairs.
At the table, Terry, Dave, and Ray were all smiling. Terry pushed a $100 bill across the table.
"Well, Todd, you did it. Here's your $100. You won it fair and square."
Terry turned to me: "As a consideration of the fact that you are a lousy poker player, we have all removed our socks and shoes to make it more fair."