Watching the ball roll down the lane, knowing it was going to curve a bit too far to the right to pick up the spare, Rachel, turned around and slowly headed back to her seat. She was glad she joined the bowling league, but her game had suffered since she pretty much hadn't picked up a ball in almost three years.
But now that she and Rick had been married for almost a month, they decided to pick up their old hobbies again and not feel that they have to do everything together.
Both were runners, so they did that every morning together, but Rachel loved bowling while Rick was really into inline skating, so they decided to pursue their interests as "alone time", but either could join the other if they felt the inclination.
After their second game, a few of the women decided to go to the bar and get some drinks. Rachel rarely drank much, but whenever she bowled she got the craving for a beer or two. Standing at the counter, an extremely large man walked from the end of the bar to where the women stood. "What'll it be ladies?"
"Hey Harry," one of the women replied, "I'll take a beer."
The rest ordered likewise. When he handed Rachel hers, he gave her a smile and nod and took her money. Giving a small smile back, she couldn't help but shudder inside as the hefty man turned around to ring up the drinks. He had to be well over four hundred pounds, she just couldn't understand why some people would do that to themselves. Being a personal trainer, her inclination was to hand him a business card, but she didn't want to appear rude, besides, she was off duty.
"Oh well," she thought as she and her teammates walked back to their lane.
Over the next few weeks, Harry and Rachel would chat a little about bowling, life and mostly insignificant things as they got to know each other. As time went on, her opinion softened, but not by much. He did have a handsome face with nice eyes, but with the scraggly beard, unkempt hair and some fairly good sized tattoos on his arms and most likely on other parts, he was the antithesis of everything she found appealing.
A few weeks later, after getting two gutter balls in a row, Rachel decided to take a break and get something to drink. Approaching the bar, Harry saw her and had her bottle in front of him ready to go. Exchanging pleasantries, he handed her a small piece of paper. Looking at it, she immediately recognized it was a phone number. "Why doncha' give me a call sometime."
Stunned she looked at him and felt a little creeped out said, "Sorry, I'm married."
Shrugging as he turned around to deposit the money into the register, Rachel made her exit from the bar.
Surprised and oddly a little flattered at the attention, but dismayed because he seemed to actually think she might take him up on the offer seriously confused her. After all she was five feet one inch and about a hundred and twenty five pounds and was in excellent physical shape while he probably wasn't quite six feet and closer to four hundred and fifty pounds.
Dropping the number in her purse so she could take it and show Rick and have a good laugh, she immediately wiped it from her mind so she could focus on the game.
Arriving home and filling Rick in on the number, she dug in her purse but wasn't able to find it. After describing Harry, Rick was particularly amused. After that, Harry's name, as far as Rick was concerned was, "My Competition" and he would ask about him when Rachel returned from her weekly bowling game.
After a few weeks, Harry eventually asked, "Hey, how come you haven't called?"
"Already told you, I'm taken."
He just smiled, handed Rachel her drink and took her money, then waited on another customer.
Getting a little annoyed that he was continuing to hit on her, while she did enjoy the attention of men, she really wasn't sure want to think of Harry. Of course she'd have enjoyed more if the man in question was at least somewhat attractive to her.
This continued for the next several months, they would have some pleasant, light conversation, then sometimes he'd ask her to call him or ask for her number, other times would say nothing of the sort.
The more they got to know each other, the more she began to like him. He was very intelligent and seemed very confident and appeared to be the type who knew what he wanted and wouldn't back down, unlike Rick, who could be assertive if need be, but most of the time was a conciliator who often sought compromise, much like most of the men in her life.
Harry on the other hand was a "damn the torpedoes full speed ahead" type which she found strangely intriguing since she really hadn't been around this type of guy before very much.
Even so, if Harry was as hunky as Rick, and Rick was out of the picture, she still wouldn't be interested in him as anything more than an acquaintance. Sure, she really didn't know him, but he seemed to be the "old fashioned" type where the man is in charge and the woman is more of an accessory. Nothing like the partnership she shared with Rick.
Walking through the snow to the alley, Rachel just wanted to be out of the cold. Finishing her first game, she was annoyed with her performance, but to be honest, she did have a lot on her mind. The next two games went just as bad and she was extremely distressed that she couldn't focus on her game.
Afterwards, as everyone headed out to their cars, Rachel wasn't quite ready to go. Stopping in the bar she was met with a fresh bottle and a smiling Harry.
Sitting, Rachel appreciatively took the beer and nodded her thanks.
"So, how'd ya do today?"
"Awful" she replied. "I just wasn't able to focus today."
"Really? What was wrong?"
Not sure why, she told Harry about Rich having to attend some meeting for work at the last minute, out of town, and that he probably was about to land so he'd miss their anniversary on Friday. She didn't understand why it bothered her so much, but it did.
"Hey, I'm sorry to hear that. Have you considered just getting together with some of your friends that night and hanging out?"
"Nah. I think I'll just stay home and relax, maybe watch a movie or something. It's a shame, 'cause I made some nice dinner reservations downtown just before he found out and now I'll have to cancel them."
"Listen," Harry said, "I'll be happy to escort you, it's no fun to stay at home."
He looked sincere, and she agreed staying home would be lame, so she nodded her head and
reached for one of her business cards. "Give me your number again and I'll let you know Friday."
Looking at it, Harry remarked, "personal Personal trainer, huh?"
"Yup."
"Interesting," he said smiling, then moved over to help some other customers.
Friday arrived quickly, and Rachel was glad she decided to go out rather than stay at home. She had arranged her schedule so she wouldn't have any clients allowing her to devote the day to her husband. Since that didn't work out, she spent the time working out and cleaning the house.
The time dragged on and at about two she decided to call Harry to see if he was still willing to go out.
"Sure," Harry replied. "I traded off today, so you can come over whenever you like."
After getting the directions to his apartment, she showered, and then picked what cloths clothes to wear.
She decided she'd go with the short black dress with matching thong, see through bra, fishnet stockings and high heeled shoes she had bought for Rick for their anniversary dinner, and after. "No since letting go to waste," she said to herself as she got dressed.
She arrived at the apartment at almost five, as she parked and got out of her car, she noticed the dress had moved up quite high on her legs. Suddenly wondering if her outfit was too much, she decided it wasn't. After all the restaurant they were going to was very fancy, and she wouldn't stand out, other than being with someone as large as Harry.
Nervously, she knocked and was surprised to see Harry wearing sweat pants and a big t-shirt.
"I'm sorry ... am I too early?"
"Nah, no prob."
"Thanks," she hesitatingly said as she removed her coat. " Umm, you should know that the restaurant requires a jacket and tie."
"Sorry, the only jacket I have was when I was a hundred pounds smaller and I'm not sure where my tie is."
