The names in this true story have been changed.
*****
Steve and I have been friends since our freshman year of high school. We played basketball and tennis together, were part of the same social circle, and after high school became best friends. He was part of my first (failed) wedding and I was for him. Life changed in many ways but through my 28th birthday, but not Steve.
Steve and started playing in weekend golf tournaments throughout the state during the spring and summer. They would be held all over, from the mountains to the beach, and it was nice to get away from Friday to Sunday and have a relaxing time twice a month. Neither Steve or are married or have kids, and the benefits of being young executive types means we can take off for and early weekend pretty much whenever.
The only real problem about these trips was Steve's obnoxious on again off again girlfriend Melissa. She was an amazon of a woman, about my size and about as fit and built. She would be with him one week, gone the next. The worst thing is that being with her amped up his alpha male attitude, and since I've always been a little more quiet and reserved he started to pick at and tease what he called my soft nature.
So the weekend of the next tournament arrived, and since Melissa was supposed to go I planned to meet them at the beach motel around four o'clock for check in. I was packing up to leave when Steve called. He told me he was on the way down. He also mentioned that Melissa wasn't coming (yes!) and for me to pack light as he had some clothes packed up that I could wear. I was happy to not have to deal with that obnoxious woman and headed on my way.