A friend of mine is a New England Patriots fan. So is his neighbor Todd. Last season they had a party for the Patriots game versus the Chiefs. I'm a Chiefs fan. They invited me over for their party. The Patriots were the home team, but the Chiefs were having a good season.
"Good to see you, please come in in!" Todd said as he greeted me at the door.
"You ready to lose?" I joked with him. I wore a Chiefs jersey and I knew I was entering an environment with all Patriots fans. I planned to have fun with it.
"Nice jersey!" Todd said.
About six couples showed up. I had met Todd and his wife Laura a few times. They had lived next door to my friend Mark and his wife Tina for a long time. I met the other couples for the first time. All of them were Patriots fans.
"Jason, you are outnumbered today!" Tina joked.
"It's okay. I'm good with it." I replied.
Everyone was drinking. The game was exciting. The couples were all in their thirties or early forties.
"Jason, sorry bud, but the Chiefs are losing today!" Todd told me at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots were up seven to three.
"There's a long ways to go in this one. I'm not worried, the Chiefs will win!" I told him.
"No way." Todd shot back at me. The others were all encouraging him to stand up for their team. After all, they were up early in the game and playing well.
"Watch and see!" I said.
"I'll keep watching, but what I'll see is the Chiefs losing." Todd stated.
"I don't think so, but keep on talking if it makes you feel better." I told him.
"Jason, you want to put some money on it?" My friend Mark asked.
"I don't want to take your money Mark." I said.
"How about five hundred dollars?" Mark asked.
"Whatever, do you even have five hundred?" I joked.
"Well, not on me, but of course I have it." Mark said. I knew Mark made a good amount of money so I wasn't really worried about it.
"So do we have a bet?" Mark asked.
"Sure, we are on. Five hundred it is. Winner takes the money." I told him.
"I want in on this too." Todd said.
"You want five hundred too?" I asked.
"Unless losing one thousand is too much for you?" Todd joked.
"Ha, that's nothing. I'm game for much more if either of you want to go more." I said.
"Mark is fine at five hundred!" Tina quickly answered.
"I understand Tina, you have shopping needs. We don't want to cut into your shopping money!" I joked.
"I'm not scared to go more." Todd said. "I believe in my Patriots and I'm not scared to back it up!"
"Okay, name an amount." I said.
"Let's move that five hundred to five thousand!" Todd said.
"Oh shit! That's a big jump!" I said in a shocked voice.
"Todd, that's stupid. Too much." Mark told him.
"The Patriots are winning. I feel it." Todd told Mark. "If you all are smart you would get in on this free money."
The other couples laughed it off and all declined on getting in on any bets.
"Okay then, we have a bet!" I told Todd.
"What is going on in here?" Laura asked as she entered the room. She has been in the kitchen and missed the conversation.
I watched Laura's facial expression turn to shock and then anger as the group told her of Todd's bet. You could clearly see that she was not happy with what had happened.
"Todd, can I speak with you privately please." Laura said.
"Not now, the second quarter is about to start." Todd said somewhat brushing her off.
"Now please." Laura said again.
"Fine." Todd said.
They left the room for a few moment. We could all hear them arguing in the other room.
"Todd, we don't have to do the bet." I told him as they returned to the room.
"No, a bet it a bet. We are on." Todd said.
"Okay, but just remember, when the game is over, I gave you a chance to back out." I told him.
The Chiefs has a great second quarter and led the game at halftime by the score of twenty to seven. Todd and Laura had another talk at halftime. She was clearly upset with him.
The Patriots made a run in the second half. Todd started the trash talking back up as the game got closer. It was a twenty three to sixteen lead for the Chiefs and the Patriots had the ball.
"Brady is going to win this for us! I bet you are the one regretting that bet now!" Todd told me.
"Well, I was actually feeling bad and was going to let you out of the bet, but since you are so confident, I'm holding you too it." I said.
"When the Patriots win, I'm holding you to it!" Todd said.
Laura sat on the coach too worried too even enjoy the game. The only reason I even considered letting him out of the bet was because I felt bad for her. She is a very attractive woman. She was wearing a Patriots shirt a black leggings. She looked sporty and cute. The leggings showed off her ass and I couldn't help but sneak some looks.
"Sorry Laura. I was trying to let you two out of the bet." I told her.
"I know. I can tell. Todd will have to deal with a very upset wife if he loses this stupid bet." Laura said.
"Fuck!" Todd yelled as Brady threw an interception.
The room went silent for a few moments. The game was over and the Chiefs won.
"Jason, I'll pay you tomorrow." Mark said.
We all mingled for a while. The party wrapped up and we all left.
I wasn't sure how I was going to handle asking for the money. It was awkward when we were all leaving. Todd and Laura had a nice home, but something told me they probably didn't just have five thousand laying around to just throw away. I left and didn't mention anymore about the money or the bet.
"Can we talk?" Was a text I received the next day. It was from Laura.
I agreed to meet them at their house that evening. When I arrived, Laura was dressed differently. She had on a little skirt and heels. I had never seen her dressed up. In fact, it was the first time I had seen her in something other than leggings or yoga pants.
"I'll get right to the point, we don't have five thousand dollars." Laura said.
"Okay." I replied.
"Todd is very sorry about the bet. He was drinking and the emotions got the best of him." Laura said. I could tell that she was very much in charge at this point. Todd was mostly looking down and not even speaking.
"I understand. So I have just one question. Todd, if you had won the bet, would you have made me pay up?" I asked.
"I guess I would have." Todd answered honestly.
"Todd, stop talking." Laura said as she was frustrated at his answer.
"Okay, so we are all in agreement. Had I lost you would have expected me to pay up. You lost and you don't have the money. You are now asking how to settle this. Does that sound accurate?" I asked.
"Yes. We are asking if there is anything else or another way we can work this out. We just don't have that kind of money at this time." Laura said.
"What are you thinking?" I said.
"I don't know. Is there anything you need? Todd is an excellent handyman. He can do repair work on your home or something like that." Laura said.
"I don't need any work done. I mean, I really can't think of anything." I said.
"There has to be something. Anything, you name it. Todd will agree to it and will work every weekend that he needs to make it up. Maybe even yard work." Laura said.
"Well, it's wintertime. So I don't need that. So how much of the five thousand can you give me now?" I asked.
"Maybe twenty five hundred. But that includes the money we set aside for Christmas as well." Laura answered.
"Well, that's great, I can't take your kids Christmas money and all your savings. I'm not that cruel." I said.
"We know we are in a bad spot. Is there anything you need or could use instead of the money? It is Christmas time, maybe you can find it in your heart to work something different out." Laura asked.
I could tell Laura was emotional. I had the feeling she dressed up to impress me in hopes I might find her attractiveness a reason to go easy on them. She seemed so mad at Todd. I could tell he was in the dog house over all this. I couldn't stop looking at Laura's legs either. I will admit, if their plan was to have her dress up to make me consider going easier, it was working.
"Well, now that you mention it, there is something." I said.
"Anything, you name it!" Laura said.
"Like you said, it's Christmas time. I have an office Christmas party on Saturday I must attend. I don't have a date." I said.
"Okay, so what are you asking?" Laura replied.
"Well, I need a date." I said.
"With my wife?" Todd blurted out looking not happy about the request.
"Todd, please, no talking. I'm handling this." Laura told him.
"Taking you on a date is not something you are doing." Todd said.
"Todd, you got us into this, so let me handle it now." Laura said.
"Hey, you asked, I'm just making a suggestion." I said.
"Okay, so you want me to be your date for your office Christmas party?" Laura asked.
"Yes. I work all the time. I'm single and I need a date." I said.
"What else?" Laura asked.
"What the fuck, you are considering this?" Todd blurted out.
"Todd, shut up!" Laura quickly told him.
"How about Todd also power washes my deck and siding this weekend?" I said.
"I meant what else as on the date, but yes, Todd will be happy to power wash your deck and siding." Laura said.