Stefanie knew what was going to happen as soon as she saw her husband's name "Jon" come up on the caller ID. "Hello," she answered, probably speaking a little louder than she needed to as the bar she was sitting at alone was not that crowded.
"Please don't be mad," he said anxiously, as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "but I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. Something huge just came up at work. I'm so sorry."
She couldn't decide what she was most annoyed about; that he had waited over an hour since the time they were supposed to meet at the bar he picked out that she had never been to before letting her know he was standing her up; that he was standing her up at all even though this was supposed to be their romantic night out in apology for all of the extra hours he had been putting in lately; that she really had nothing better to do right now than to sit around and wait for him; or that he took her so much for granted he thought a simple "I'm sorry" would be enough to keep him out of trouble.
"Jon, this was supposed to be our night. You promised this wouldn't happen. Is there a chance you can sneak out for just a little bit?" She finished the drink that she had been nursing for the past hour, and ordered another from the bartender. She wasn't much of a drinker, and couldn't always handle her liquor, but she decided she might even have a third drink tonight, she was so disappointed.
"I'm sorry Steffi, there's no way. I might not even make it home tonight. I'll explain later, but I really have to go now." She took another deep breath, and swallowed down almost half of the fresh drink the bartender placed in front of her. "You still there, Steffi?"
"I'm here. Go. Do what you need to do, but this better not happen again. And I just want you to know, I look incredibly hot tonight."
"I'm sure you do baby. I'm sure you do. I am so sorry I won't get to see you. Try and have fun tonight without me, ok." He hung up without waiting for her answer. That really hurt, and she picked up her drink to finish it.
She really did look good. Her shoulder length blond hair, usually worn in a pony tail, was especially done up in an updo for tonight, to highlight the skin she was reveling with her spaghetti strap, scoop neck, black cocktail dress. Since it had been so long since she and Jon had made love, she had decided she would titillate and tease him over their proposed date of drinks and dinner, so she decided against wearing a bra to contain her full breasts, and they strained against the material of the dress. The dress was shorter than she usually wore, and she had found herself constantly tugging it down as she sat and waited on the barstool. She didn't want to reveal to anyone but Jon that she had made a special purchase for tonight, and if the skirt rode up too far everyone would be able to see that lace tops to her stockings that she wore connected to a garter belt. She was wearing a pair of black, strappy high heels that were a good two inches taller than she was used to wearing. She was planning on giving Jon the time of his life tonight, but he apparently didn't want it.
She looked at herself in the mirror, thought she looked a little sad, and decided that she would try and make the most out of it. She would have one more drink, which was really, really her limit, especially on an empty stomach, and then go find a nice restaurant that Jon wouldn't like and have a nice meal all by herself. Of course the thought of dining alone made her sad again. She decided to just order the drink and stop thinking about it. She was looking at the way that her new diamond earrings caught the low lights in the mirror when she noticed a man standing behind her, staring.
She wasn't sure how long he had been there. He looked to be in his late thirties, and looked tall and strong. He had short brown hair, deep brown eyes, and wore glasses and a goatee. As she ordered her third and final drink, he stepped up beside her and gave the bartender money, not even asking if he could buy her a drink. She thought this a little bit rude, but was still flattered. The bartender delivered her drink, and she turned to say, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, beautiful. My name is Herm, but everyone calls me Bud. I couldn't help but overhear your phone conversation earlier," Steffi turned a soft shade of red, her pale skin being prone to blushing, "and you sounded like you could use a drink. And, maybe a friend. This is a nice place that I like to come here often, and I am almost positive that I have never seen you in here before."
"Hi Bud, my name is Stefanie, but everyone calls me Steffi. No, I've never been here before. My huge disappointment of a husband decided we should meet here, before he decided to stand me up. Now I have nothing to do tonight."
"Well Steffi, I will not continue to hit on you now that you have told me you are married, but maybe we can be friends. If you are looking for something to do, me and some of the guys were just about to start playing our regular game of poker. Would you care to join us?"
Steffi surveyed the room, noticing really for the first time the sparse number of men in the bar. And that she was the only woman. There were five other men gathered around a large table in the back, and aside from her and the bartender, there was no one else inside. "I don't really know how to play poker," she said, not realizing that didn't answer Bud's question, "and I think I need to go get some food in me to absorb some of this liquor."
"We're a pretty friendly crowd. Why don't you come sit in on a few hands and maybe you'll find that you like it. You can play for a little bit and then go get some dinner. Just a few hands? Please." Bud tried to give her sad puppy dog eyes, but on his weathered face it looked especially comical, and she burst out laughing.
"Ok, I'll play a couple of hands, but someone needs to explain the rules to me." She took Bud's hand as it was offered and he led her over to the table. Bud introduced her, but the alcohol was really taking effect and she didn't really remember anyone's names, not even the two striking black guys sitting across from the seat that Bud pulled out for her.
She watched a couple of hands, and was so taken by the attention, the conversation and the atmosphere that she didn't think about the fact that she magically had another drink in front of her. After that, her inhibitions were lowered and she was easily talked into doing a shot. Almost as soon as that was done, there was another drink. Bud suggested she try playing a little, and she quickly agreed.
She won two of the first three hands they played, and as the guys grumbled about beginner's luck, she finished another drink. By the time she won the next two hands she was halfway done with another drink. She didn't realize it then, but she had already consumed way more liquor than she ever had before. That may have been part of the reason her luck turned.
Or maybe it was because the guys had been letting her win, knowing she was consuming alcohol and hoping she would have enough fun to want to keep playing. She was having fun, and would get up and dance a little when she was winning, not noticing that she was turning the guys on when they got little peaks of her stocking tops and garters. For whatever reason, she didn't win a hand for the rest of the night.
Most of her chips went to Bud, who went on an incredible hot streak. Soon she was out of chips, but had a good hand, and wanted to know what she could do about it. "Well, we would usually play strip poker rules at this point, but since you are such a nice girl, I will make an exception. If you win this hand, you get to keep all the chips and stay in the game. Bur if I win this hand, you have to come sit in my lap for the rest of the night." There was another shot on the table, and Steffi did it to help her decision making.
"It's a bet," she said decisively, convinced she couldn't lose. She turned over her full house, and was shocked to see that Bud had four of a kind. If she wasn't so drunk, she might have noticed that some of Bud's cards were the same as some of hers, but she didn't. She was so drunk she actually didn't mind not playing any more. Bud's lap looked so warm and cozy, and she had to admit that he had a certain rugged charm about him.