Chapter 4

I called Steve and confirmed they were going to be at the bowling center at nine. He said they were already there, including Trish and Cindy. I hung up and smiled at Tamara. "It's show time!"

I pulled into the parking lot at the bowling center right at nine and parked next to Jerry's Explorer. I leaned over and gave Tamara a kiss. She said she would come in at nine-fifteen. I handed her my keys and went in.

I walked up as Jerry was singing one of George Straits' tunes. Trish hugged me and then I hugged Cindy. When Steve started to hug me, I blew him a kiss.

Steve said that it looked like I was odd man out again. Jerry had an extreme crush on Trish and she liked Jerry but was floundering in an on again/off again situation. Cindy had a crush on Jerry and was settling for Steve whose divorce was final this past week. Maybe CBS would pick this up as a sitcom. Steve handed me a beer and I sat with my back to the door.

When Jerry finished his song, he shook my hand and welcomed me to Heartbreak Hotel. I told him not to quit his day job. I asked if anyone else was coming which caused Trish to smile and say I would just have to share her and Cindy with the boys.

I didn't have to see Tamara walk in; I saw Steve's face. He reached over and nudged me to turn around. He said, "You ain't gonna believe who just walked in and she's looking hot!"

I started to turn around when I felt two petite hands on my shoulder. Steve's eyes were like saucers. As there wasn't an extra chair at the table, Miss Tamara said, "I would join you but there doesn't seem to be a place for me to sit."

I could see Steve stumbling all over himself to offer her his chair when I wiped my moustache and said, "As long as I'm around, you'll always have a place to sit." Trish nearly lost it as Jerry spit up his beer.

Tamara turned my chair around and said, "Okay, Mr. Smarty Pants, show me you mean it."

I picked her up and placed her on my lap. Steve was going bananas. She jumped up and said, "That is not what you offered! Now put up or shut up."

Trish, Cindy, and Jerry are howling at me finally being called on one of my sexual innuendos. And poor Steve, he is looking like someone pulled his pants down in crowd.

I looked at Tamara and said, "If you really want me to, then kiss me like you want to have my children."

She leaned down and kissed me. Her tongue was halfway down my throat. She pulled herself up and straddled my lap. When we broke the kiss, the whole group was sitting there stunned, completely speechless. Tamara and I couldn't keep up the charade anymore. We started laughing as she settled onto my lap and I began to explain.

"Tamara and I are dating now. We are exclusive and we are going to see where this goes."

Trish was the first to speak, "I thought she was married?"

I started to speak but Tamara silenced me and answered, "I was married. I got separated about two years ago and my divorce was final about three months ago."

Steve finally found his voice and asked, "Didn't you two just meet last night?"

"Yep, and we spent the evening together. Last night, when you thought I got dumped, I was leaving to meet her at her house," I said.

Cindy and Jerry were still trying to figure out what had just happened. Trish was still giggling and Steve was looking like a whipped puppy.