Mark and I became instant friends when I moved in to the house across the street from him three years ago. He has a strong outgoing personality and likes to laugh, drink and be merry. Mark has spent many evenings in my basement drinking and shooting pool until the wee hours of the morning. From the start of the NFL season in September through the Super Bowl in February, Mark was at my house every Sunday and Monday night to watch the games and sometimes Thursday night as well if there was a game.
Mark's wife, Jen didn't seem to approve of these activities. Last weekend, while we were all playing poker and watching the game, there was a strange knock at the sliding glass door. We were fortunate enough to design the house with a walk out basement, which provided us with a door so that people could enter or leave without going through the rest of the house. When people are leaving at 3am, this is a huge plus so other people in the house are not disturbed. However, it was only 11pm and the evening was still young. Everyone was here that was supposed to be here, so there was an awkward pause in the room when the knock came again from behind the curtain at the patio door.
I jumped from my seat and turned on the outside light so that I could get a glimpse of who this stranger was at my door so late at night. I was relieved that it was not the police. It was Jen, Mark's wife. I slid the door open and she entered the room.
Jen is very thin and stands about six feet tall. She was wearing a pair of running shorts and a tank top. Her nipples were erect behind the tank top revealing a slight chill to the early October air. Her legs are very slender and tone thanks to the five miles she runs every day for her workout. We always thought she was a bit of a prude, but there was not a guy in our circle of friends that wouldn't fuck her if they had the chance. She ignored me as she walked past me towards where Mark was seated at the poker table.
"Let's go!" Jen said in an authoritative tone.
"What? We're playing! " Mark said with the look of shock, surprise and embarrassment on his face?
"Not tonight!" Jen said as she grabbed Mark's hand.
Mark apologized to the guys as he followed his bride across the room and out the door from which she entered. The door closed behind him and we all were equally embarrassed for Mark. We lifted our beers to toast our missing friend and finished the game without any more drama.
One week later, the five of us were back in my basement watching the Monday night game and playing Texas Hold 'Em.
"When time is your curfew, Mark?" I asked to bust his balls.
Laughter erupted from the table.
"Yeah. Fuck you! She won't be back here tonight," Mark said boldly.
"You're pussy whipped!" I said playfully.
"You have to be getting pussy to be whipped by it and I have not had pussy in two months," Mark stated confidently.
Mark went on to explain to the group that she's been upset about him staying out late and drinking on weekends. According to Mark, she's been withholding sex in protest of his late nights out. I could tell he was really frustrated with it. Apparently, he laid down the law to her before coming over tonight.
The betting continued around the table. Mark continued betting high. He did this sometimes to drive people on the edge to fold. I continued to match the bets. The final card was turned over.
"All in!" Mark exclaimed as he slid all his chips to the center of the table.
"You need to be all in that wife of yours!" I laughed as I slid my chips in to match.
The other guys laughed at Mark's misfortune.
