We get to the miniature golf course. This place is impressive. It must be over fifteen thousand square feet of themed obstacles to get through, spanning what would be the equivalent of a few city blocks.

I let out a slow whistle. Dillion claps his hand on my back. "Welcome to Treasure's Cove, my friend."

"This place is amazing! Is that an actual pirate ship in the middle of the course?"

"That it is!" Mr. Fischer says, finally joining us. He leads us to the booth where we pay to get our putters.

"Good Day, young lady." The teen girl, behind the booth, smiles.

"How many will play through?"

Cat's father looks back at us. I raise my hand, but I seem to be the only one. Cat's mom comes up behind Dillion and pushes him forward. "I think you boys should play, while Cat and I get a smoothie. Cat's a little tired, and so I think we'll sit this one out if you don't mind? We'll catch up with you later on the back nine."

Dillion glowers at his mom, and she gives him her sweetest smile back. "It'll be fun."

"Okay, it's settled then." Mr. Fisher turns back to the girl. "Three to play through. Thank you!"

The girl rings up the sale, hands him 3 putters, 3 different colored balls for each player, scorecard and a pencil.

"Come along, Cat." Her mom takes her arm and leads her away. I notice Cat's hesitation about leaving us, or should I say, me alone with her father.

"It's okay, Cat. Rest up. You'll catch up with us soon." I try to give her what I hope is a reassuring smile.

Her dad hands out the putters and the balls to Dillion and me. I couldn't help but notice that he kept the scorecard for himself. Dillion looks like we have drafted him into the military or something. I elbow him. "Cheer up, this was your idea, remember?"

"Yeah, don't remind me." Dillion shakes his head, looking forlornly down at the 2 red balls in his hand.

"Okay boys, let's not forget the rules." Mr. Fischer says taking a coaching stance at the first hole. 

"There are 18 holes and a 6 stroke limit per hole. You don't get it in six strokes, too bad. We move on. You get a one-stroke penalty if the ball falls into any water hazards and should your ball get stuck against an object, you can move it out one ball length only. We good?"

I slowly nod my head, yes, and Cat's father looks pleased and turns to take the first stroke. I lean into Dillion, "Wow, you really weren't kidding when you said he takes this seriously."

Dillion looks over at me. "You have no idea."

Mr. Fischer got the ball in, hole in one. He turns back and looks at us, with a glint in his eye that was hard to describe, predatory, maybe? 

"Who's next?"

Dillion grins and waves his hand for me to step up to the green. I take a deep breath and moved forward. I remembered Cat's warning but if I missed on such an easy hole that would crazy right?

Placing my ball down. I make my address. I putt and my aim is true, hole in one. Cat's father smiles at me. I can't say in a friendly manner but more with excitement as he now sees me as a definite challenger.

Dillion comes up and lazily hits the ball. He takes three strokes to get the ball in the cup.

"Bogey!" Mr. Fisher yells, and I can see Dillion stretch out his neck and shoulders like he's already tense, and we just got started.

The first three courses had little in the way of obstacles it was pretty much a straight run or a simple banked stroke, so we played through them rather easily. When we got to the fourth hole, we realized things were going to get interesting.

Mr. Fisher announced he was in the lead by 1 point. I was counting strokes so deliberately screwed up the last stroke, so we weren't running neck and neck. Dillion was behind two points.

Dillion shoulders me, "What are you doing? You deliberately screwed that last hole up?" Dillion complained.

"I'm doing what Cat asked. What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're not even trying to win."

"What's the point?" Dillion says. "I've never beaten my father at golf mini or otherwise."

"It doesn't mean you should stop trying to have fun," I admonished.

He paused a second like he was considering my words. "Eh, it's not really that big of a deal, but I guess I could try harder."

"That's the spirit," I say, punching his shoulder.

"If you two are done goofing around back there? Alex you're up."

My head shoots up. He took his stroke already! Damn it, now I'm not sure what the score is as I missed how many strokes he had used to make it in.

I put my ball down. I purposely hit the brick and bounce the ball out of bounds, and I hear Mr. Fisher chuckle. "Looks like your luck has left you, Bragin."

I make the next stroke. "A birdie, impressive." So this should have taken 3 strokes to get par. I make some quick calculations in my head and Dillion steps up. I see him sporting an unfamiliar expression. He addresses the ball, he takes aim and erupts when he gets a hole in one. His father stood there stunned. So did I, if I were honest. It was a tricky shot since you had to hit it through a barrel.

"Hole in one. Nice job, Dillion!" I say patting him on the back, and he grins at me. He looks up but his Dad has already moved on and I see his smile fall.

Dillion huffs. "Why do I bother?"

"You bother because it's not about him. You bother because miniature golf is about having fun and playing the best game you can and you just got a hole in one on a course that should have taken 3 strokes which means you may be just one putt behind your dad."

I see the smile return. "That makes me feel better, thanks!"

We play through the next couple of holes. Not knowing what par is on any of these holes puts me in at a serious disadvantage at knowing the score, but Cat's father's gloating jibs and smug smiles tell me I'm still behind him on the scorecard.

"Bragin, Bragin, Bragin... I guess you'll be braggin' no more."

I hate to admit he's getting under my skin. "It's just about having fun remember," Dillion whispers in my ear.

I take a few deep breaths. We were at the 9th hole, the octopus's lair. Ahead we could see we'd be playing around shark-infested waters, past waterfalls, and through a cave. I hit the ball which makes a loud knock sound as it bounces off the barrier and ricochets into the cup.

Mr. Fischer looks dumbfounded. "How did you...?"

Dillion sneaks a peek over his Dad's shoulder. "Oooh!" His fist comes to his mouth. "Albatross!" He comes over and holds his hand up for me to give him a high five.

Which I ignore. The hole... I played 3 strokes under par. I didn't know this hole would be worth 5 points.

"You're seriously going to leave me hanging?" Dillion complains.

"Hey, guys! How's it going?" Cat asks, soon joined by her mother.

"Never better," Dillion says, grinning. "Your fiancé just tied up the game on the ninth hole. So, I guess it's still anyone's game, huh... Dad?"

Mr. Fischer frowns and moves on, not even waiting for Dillion to take his turn, so he can write his score down.

"Alex!" Cat looks super frustrated with me. "What did I tell you?"

"It's not my fault, Cat. Your dad has the scorecard I don't know what the holes are worth. I didn't know this one was worth 5 points!"

Cat glances at her mother. "On it!" and Mrs. Fischer immediately springs into action.

"Where is she going?" Dillion demands.

"To get a scorecard, Doofus. How else can we keep this catastrophe from happening?"

"Seriously, Cat? Dad deserves to get beat. You haven't been here to listen to him tease and taunt Alex at every freaking hole."

"No. I will not have my entire Spring Break ruined because you guys can't handle losing. It's not worth it, Dillion."

"I'm not even competition, okay I was... for like 3 holes but not now."

"You guys coming?!" I hear her Dad bellow.

"Yeah, Dad!" Dillion walks on even though he didn't even try to play through. I'm guessing he's just going to make up a number when catches up to him.

Cat grabs my arm to stop me from following. "Alex, please. Being good at golf is the one thing my Dad has. He takes an immense amount of pride in it. Please, don't take it away from him. Who cares if he gloats? Let him win?"

She leans into me and gives me that look. You know that look that girls seem to master at a young age that can make a guy melt into a boneless pile of goo?

"Pleeease! I promise I'll make it worth your while later if you do."

"As much as I would love to take you up on what you are suggesting, I have to tell you I really am trying to lose, but I am like national tournament level good at golf." Cat's eyes grow wide as she takes in this new information. "It is really hard for me to play bad, even when I'm trying."

Cat thinks for a second. "Simple." She beams at me. "Just do whatever you see Dillion do."

"Brilliant plan... one flaw. I play before him and if I don't play moderately well, your Dad will know I'm trying to throw the game."

Cat lets out a long sigh and her mom returns out of breath with a card in her hand. "I got it!" she announces triumphantly.

"BRAGIN!"

"Coming!" I yell back.

"I have to catch up, Cat. Your dad probably already played through."

"Okay, my mom or I will hold up the number the hole is worth just try your best... well... no, not your best... you know what I mean. Try not to win."

I kiss the tip of her nose. "Message received, Tiger."