Note: Wrote chapter 3 last night, but will post when I can. Hope you like this second chapter. Also up on Ao3. Username over there is FonzFan82

The next day showed up and it was now for her date with Joe.

"Cupcake, did you hear the news?"

"About what? Or should I guess?"

"You can guess if you want," he answered.

"Bowling competition or is it something else?" Stephanie asked.

"You guessed it, Cupcake. Are you interested in checking it out?"

"Looks like you're reading my mind."

"Does he know about it too?" Joe asked.

"Yes. He does."

She knew he was talking about Ranger.

"Is he wanting to give it a shot too?"

"Ranger said he's going to think about it and then decide then for himself. Are you interested too?"

"Yes, I've done the same thing by wanting to give it a shot. So this means you want to do this in two teams or just the opposite?"

"Since we all heard about the competition that's next Saturday, I'm thinking we could do it as a team for three of us," she answered.

"Hmmm. I seem to like the suggestion. Maybe it can be a competition for him and I to fight over you as the wife."

"That's stupid. You don't need a bowling competition to do that. Too childish."

Joe saw she made a very good point and then said, "You're right. It is childish. Just ignore what I said."

"I already have. I don't think Ranger would agree with you to fight over me."

He nodded.

"There will be other teams besides the three of us going for the trophy."

"I know. I don't think I'll tell Lula and have her join."

"I see your point, Cupcake. She will just eat and not concentrate on the competition. You can still tell her in case she has heard of it," he replied.

"I haven't talked with her lately, but I happen to think she wouldn't be interested in coming up with vacation time."

Joe didn't see that one coming.

"Maybe Ranger has been talking with her."

"I doubt it. They hardly ever talk. I also doubt they would be friends in the future."

Joe couldn't think of anything to say at the moment, so all he could see that even she was getting tired of talking about Lula, too.

So they dropped the subject.

"It didn't take me very long to think about trying out for the competition. Have you signed up or anything?" Joe asked.

"Not yet, I haven't. I thought waiting makes sense unless all three of us agree."

"Oh. Remind me again on what time the tournament will be."

She told him the time.

"Great. I'll try to remember that. I do like your idea on having the three of us on the same team."

"I thought you wouldn't be interested, Joe."

"Somehow I was. I'll wait and see what Batman wants to do first."

Stephanie couldn't complain that he called Ranger that, and Joe has heard her call Ranger.

At least Ranger doesn't have to call him Cupcake any day. She spends most of her time with Ranger, so it wouldn't surprise him one little bit.

"Stephanie, you've known me longer than him. I know we shouldn't fight about this, but you should take Cupcake instead of Batman."

She didn't say anything, and it didn't make sense to her what he'd just said.

"Are we talking about bowling competitions or cupcakes and bats?"

"Bowling."

"It doesn't sound like bowling to me. Will you please stop calling me that? It's driving me crazy since you're saying it more than once in this conversation."

"I'll try not to call you that when the tournament begins to embarrass you in front of so many people."

"You're right on not trying it on Saturday next weekend. You don't want to see me leave in the middle of a game when you call me that."

"If that happens, you'll miss the chance to win a trophy without him and myself."

"That's the chance I'll have to take. At least I will still get to know about it."

"Of course."

"Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?" he asked.

"Don't use the word 'cupcake' between now and then until the weekend. Understand?"

"I'll do my best."

He almost said that, Stephanie noticed. It was a good thing that he stopped himself instead of her. She'll keep an eye out on that for him.

There was no way she would want to become embarrassed if that really did happen.

'Just wait and see,' Stephanie said silently.

Joe didn't pay any attention to what she was thinking. All he knew was about the competition that's coming up, and that's it.

Then he paid for lunch and they left.