does she?” Sam thought the situation was hilarious. She nodded again towards Lewis as she mentioned him.
Why does she keep nodding towards Lewis? Jake wondered. Then, Ely’s voice boomed over the loud speaker as he began announcing the teams. That’s when the realization of what she was implying struck him. She thinks I’m gay. Come on. Tabloids were always printing that crap and this woman actually believes it. How ignorant. Oh no. What if she tells Aunt Patsy I’m gay? She’ll probably have a heart attack. Jake raised his voice over the noise of the crowd.
“I’m not gay.” He boomed just as Ely took a breath. Three rows must have heard him.
“Good for you, man.” Someone called back.
“Yeah, right.” Called another voice.
“Who cares?” Was yet another.
Jake felt his face turn red, so much for going unnoticed today. He looked at Sam to see her reaction. She had loosened up a bit but had slumped down some in her chair. She turned to him with a huge smile. “I’m not gay.” He repeated quietly.
“If you say so.” She answered.
“I need a drink.” He muttered then he turned to Lewis. “You want a drink?”
“Yeah, let’s get some beer before kick off.”
Not offering them drinks would be rude, right? He contemplated the situation. I didn’t give them the tickets. So, technically they’re not my guests. However, if you were sitting next to Jake Jameson in seats you know he purchased would you feel like his guest? It’s all about perception he thought. “Would any of you like a drink?” he hoped it hadn’t sounded the way he thought it sounded. Can they tell he hoped they’d say no just so he wouldn’t have to carry all those drinks back? Barry jumped up.
“I’ll go with you guys.” He said. “What can I get you?” He asked his girlfriend.
“Diet Coke.” She answered.
“And you?” he asked her son.
“A beer.” He tried. “I mean a Coke’s fine. How ‘bout some food, too, like hot dogs and nachos?”
“Ok.” Barry nodded. “Anything for you, Sam?”
“Soft pretzel, with lots of cheese and a Coke, please.” She reached for her purse.
“Don’t worry about it. I got it.” Barry answered. The three men made their way up the steps to the concessions.
“I’m Jake, by the way and this is my friend Lewis.” Jake put his hand out and Barry shook it while they waited in the concessions line.
“I’m Barry.”
“What’s wrong with your friend?” Jake asked.
“What?”
“Your friend is not very friendly.” Jake explained.
“What friend?” Barry asked squinting to see the menu prices.
“That girl you’re sitting next to.”
“Nothing’s wrong with her. Why do you ask?” Barry answered absentmindedly.
“Well, for one thing she just about tore my head off when I asked her where she got the tickets. Then she thought I was gay.”
Barry stared at Jake blankly. “I never even saw you talk to her. I was talking to her.”
“No, not your girlfriend the other one.”
“Oh, my sister. Yeah, she can be like that. Particularly with men.”
“Is she gay?”
Barry laughed. “No, she’s not gay. She’s just had bad luck with men so now she’s scared.”
Jake thought about this. Poor girl’s probably looking over her shoulder wondering when her abusive ex will attack. “Who is she scared of?”
Barry laughed again. “No, you don’t get it. My sister’s not scared of any man. She’s scared of all men. I’d actually feel sorry for a man if he tried to hurt my sister. She can be ruthless.”
“So what exactly is she scared of?” They were inching closer to the front. At this rate the game would start before they had even ordered.
“My sister’s been married twice. I actually think what she’s most scared of is that she’ll meet a guy and he’ll propose.”
Now Lewis laughed. “Well, she can relax then with Jake, ’cause he’ll never propose.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jake asked defensively.
“Come on, I’ll bet my boat you’d never propose. You’re just not that type of guy.”
“You’re on then.”
“I’m on for what?”
“You just bet me your boat that I’d never propose.” He smiled at Lewis. Lewis had a really nice boat.
“So.”
“So, I’m going to propose to his sister.” He pointed to Barry who laughed.
“Well, that’s one way to make her face her fear.” Barry chimed in.
“I’ll bet my boat that by the end of the game you will not have proposed to his sister and what do I get if I win.”
“I’ll take your wife out and show her a good time.”
“That’s so wrong, man.”
Jake lowered his voice so only the three of them could hear. “You know your wife would want a night with Jake Jameson.”
The smile suddenly melted off of Barry’s face. “You’re Jake Jameson the movie star.” He said quietly.
Jake put a finger to his lips. Damn this guy hadn’t recognized me and I blew it.
“Here’s my card in case you’re ever in the market.” Barry handed him his realtor business card.
“Thanks.” said Jake as he took it.
“So” said Lewis bringing them back to the topic. “What do I get if you lose?”
“I never lose a bet.”
“Still, it’s not a real bet until both sides take a risk.”
“Ok, if I lose then I have to do something really embarrassing on national TV.”
“As long as I choose what it is.”
“Deal, because I’m not going to lose. This is the easiest thing; all I have to do is pop the question.”
“No, that’s
