It was Friday night and my wife had made sandwiches for me and the poker club. Ok, not much of a club, just myself and three buddies. I'm Greg and my friends are John and the two Matts. Matt L. or Mattel, as my wife calls him, because she says he sounds like an action figure with all of his bragging. The last player is Matt R., who has more room to brag than Matt L. does, truth be told. We're all comfortable with each other and meet to blow off a little steam with a friendly low stakes poker game once or twice a month. There was just a charged feeling in the air tonight. Something was moving, but I wasn't sure what.
The Jack and Coke I was drinking instead of my usual beer was singing in my blood. I knew damn well to keep a clear head when playing for money of any kind, but I was in a mood to celebrate. The promotion at work would start next month and I was married to a fine looking, if strong willed, woman. Good friends to share my good friends to share my good fortune. Things were still tight, but by this time next year, they should be much greater. By the sixth hand I was beyond buzzed, and started getting reckless, which was out of character for me. The more I lost, the more determined I became to win it all back on the next hand. I ran out of money in the fourth hour. Five thousand lost and Matt L was sitting there holding most of it. The other two had dropped out of what was fast becoming a grudge match, fueled by my frustration and alcohol.
"Well Greg, it looks like it's down to cash out or deal. " Matt said as he looked across the table at me with pity and glee and more than a bit of disdain. I knew he liked to boast, but this was a side of him I'd never seen before. He was being heartless, and he knew he had backed me into a corner. The problem was he didn't give a shit at the moment. I could feel shame and fury rising within me, but I wasn't in any shape to deal with the emotions.
"Double or nothing, one hand. You win, you get 10k." The check, written to cash, landed atop the chips. "I win and I get the entire pot you have in front of you." My voice held a blistering heat just beneath an icy veneer. He sat there looking from the check to me and shaking his head.
"No, this has gone too far, Greg. You're drunk and we're gambling with our friendship here. I can be sadistic, I know, but this is too far, even for me. I won't do it." He said. I could see that John and Matt R were breathing a sigh of relief when I smacked my hands down on the table.
"No. You gutless pussy. You aren't walking out of here with my money and not giving me one more chance to win it back." I hissed through clenched teeth. The alcohol had me thinking I was Bret Maverick and Superman rolled into one.
"John, deal the cards. Matt, set your ass down and play the fucking hand." I demanded.
John took the deck and started shuffling as Matt sank back down into his seat. We were playing draw, and I ended up with a natural full house.
"How many cards, Greg?" John asked as he tapped the deck. I just smiled and stood pat.
"How about you Matt?" John said as he shrugged and turned toward Matt
"I'll take two," he said. Tossing two cards onto the table in front of John. John nodded and sent two cards sailing across the wooden table top to land in front of Matt. He offered a nod of thanks as he plucked the two cards from the table.
"That's it Greg. Show your cards." John said as he nodded towards me. I sent up a silent prayer as I revealed the full house. A prayer that became a curse as I watched the cards that matt held land one by one like leaves of gold to reveal four threes. Matt's face grew into a pompous smirk as the gloating jerk kicked into high gear.
"I know that has to hurt your monthly budget, buddy. I tell you what, I'll give everything back if you can convince that haughty bitch of yours to give me a blowjob." He leaned back in his chair to the point I hoped he would tip over. He had my back to a wall. Either way, I was in deep shit with my wife. Normally I would never let him talk that way about her, but he had me by the short hairs and he knew it. Sighing, I got up and went to talk to Jane. This was going to be the worst conversation we have ever had.
I walked up to her and almost whispered her name. The temptation to flee filled me as I considered letting him keep the money and sell my boat to cover it. Unfortunately, we were in the wrong season. Before I could lose my nerve and leave, she turned.
"The night over with, hon? Mattel and the guys gone for the evening?" She asked, looking at me with a bit of smolder in her eyes. My mouth suddenly went dry, and I swallowed hard. I was about to pour cold water on that fire burning in her eyes.
"Not exactly. I've done something stupid, Jane. The Jack and Coke hit me hard and I let Matt goad me into betting far more than usual. I've lost more than we can afford, way more." I said hesitantly.
