A small smile began to spread on her face even as she remained focused half a beat longer on the tee. She knew that that her stroke was full and true, this time, and that the ball would travel far down the fairway.

She held her position, right arm crooked across her face, the shaft of the club resting diagonally across her back, at the end of a perfect follow-through. “You’re only thinking of booking that package now?”

They both saw the ball land softly, almost dead center in the fairway, about 180 yards away.

“I booked myself a 10:30 appointment for that package tomorrow morning when you were talking to your friends earlier, just before they drove away in their carts.”

Bette frowned. “But we’d literally just agreed on our bet then, right?  And you booked yourself an appointment already?”

Lea held her club aloft, and then set it down carefully. She turned to smile at Bette.  “I like to plan ahead.”

Have to like that chutzpah!

She stepped away from the box, motioning with her hand towards the box further away. “Your turn, Bette.”

“I can tee off from here, too, Lea.”

Lea shook her head. “Oh, no, no, Bette. Perfectly fine with me that you tee off from the jade tees.  You don’t know your handicap, and you haven’t been playing.  So it’s only fair that you tee off from there.  I’ll stay in the gold tees.”

Bette shrugged and pulled the solitary driver from her bag. “Okay.  But this is a serious bet, right?”

“Uh huh.”

As Bette walked past her, Lea added, “I’ll warn you, though, that I take only the most calculated risks. I never go into anything, even a bet, without doing some background research first.”

Bette set the tee down and lay her ball on it. So she thinks she can intimidate me with that, huh? She also took a few practice swings.  I wish I’d hit at least half a bucket more in the practice range earlier! This Lea chick is intense!

As she addressed the ball, she observed, “Only the most calculated risks, huh? Hedge fund background talking there?”

Lea kept quiet, apparently waiting for Bette to finish striking her ball before continuing their banter.