Chapter 51
Feeling guilty at Sarah's response, AJ turned the car around and headed back to the track.
"AJ, you won't be sorry. We'll have a terrific time," smiled Sarah.
Pulling in and buying the tickets, AJ handed Sarah several. "Okay, what would you like to bet that I whip your six good at this kiddie ride?" grinned Sarah.
"You want to bet on go carts, Sarah?" asked AJ. "I thought this was for me."
"Well, in a way it was. I did have you in mind, honest. You see, I can't help myself! For some reason I need to win," responded Sarah.
"Darlin', I'm already going to ride these little cars," frowned AJ watching the go-carts race by.
"But can't we at least make a little bet on who the winner will be?" asked Sarah.
"What did you have in mind?" asked AJ, looking at the adults running around the track in the little cars having fun. AJ thought, 'Piece of cake.'
Smiling Sarah replied, "Loser, wears his Fuddruckers T-shirt to that restaurant 'The Landing' I want to eat at tonight. What do you say, AJ?"
"It's a bet!" he smiled, rocking back on his heels, sure he couldn't lose. Shaking hands, they headed over to pick out the go-carts they each would drive. Once the green light was given, they roared away, AJ heading for the finish line as fast as his cart would go. Sarah, on the other hand, was determined to win, and at every given chance used her cart to weave in and out in front of AJ's cart, causing him to slow down. Frustrated, but refusing to resort to Sarah's tactics, AJ would regain his heading and catch up with his little Marine. Just before the finish line, she swerved and hit AJ's cart, knocking him completely off the track, to pass him and finish as winner of the race. As AJ pulled in behind her at the finish line, he yelled, "Sarah, you cheated!"
"Not true! Watch the other drivers, they are doing the same thing. It's only part of the fun to upset the other driver," grinned Sarah. "Did I upset you, sweetheart?"
"Yes! I thought we were going to race around the track to the finish line, not try to knock the hell out of each other at the end," growled AJ, who couldn't believe he had lost another kiddie game to a woman.
"It's true, sweetheart, we didn't list any rules, but I just took it for granted you knew how to play," said Sarah. "After all, surely you've ridden go-carts before."
"Hey, wait! We have several more tickets, we can make it best two out of three," suggested AJ smiling.
"Now, AJ, you know you're too much of a gentleman, to run my cart off the track. You might as well give up now, gracefully, and agree I won," replied Sarah, taking him by the arm and leading him toward the car.
"Women! Planned this all along didn't you, Sarah? Knew I'd be afraid I'd hurt you and you took advantage," said AJ climbing into the car.
"I just assumed you knew how the game was played, sweetheart," she smiled. "If only we had gotten pictures of the go-cart race."
"Sarah, that was no race! That was a mini demolition derby," grinned AJ, now he had accepted the fact he had lost to her.
"Now, remember, sweetheart, you have to wear your Fuddruckers T-shirt to 'The Landing' tonight for dinner," grinned Sarah.
"Like hell I will! I was conned into the race and then lost to a pro! I don't think I will be wearing the bloody T-shirt out to eat tonight," growled AJ.
"AJ, I don't believe it, you're going to wiggle out on a bet!" teased Sarah.
"No! You order take-out food and I will wear the damn T-shirt while we eat in the hotel room," grumbled AJ.
"What if they don't deliver?" Sarah asked, pushing her luck.
"Then you'll have to wait until tomorrow to eat at 'The Landing', or I'm sure Webb can get the food delivered," said AJ glaring at her. "But I am not wearing that T-shirt to a nice restaurant. And that is final."
To be continued….