Chapter 38

Tiffany and Howard finally reach a good place but begin to feel the rug being pulled out from under them by outside forces in the name of susanne and Bernice. What's supposed to be a fun outing quickly turns into a nightmare with Tiffany and Howard stuck in the middle, slowly being pulled in the opposite directions.
Tiffany and Laurence are excited about going to the beach with Howard and the others and they begin to discuss their relationships. Howard comes to pick them up and the three head out together.
Bernice got a call from susanne who thinks that they're coming together because he told her that he was going to meet up with someone. They're not, though and in her slight anger and annoyance, Bernice calls to invite Andrew to the beach as well.
Soon enough Howard, Tiffany, and Laurence arrive and Jeff excitedly greets them while Bernice just eye them. They decide to check in first since they're tired from the travel and see Andrew who complains about being kidnapped by Bernice and threatened with the budget.
Everyone is on the beach where susanne is throwing a barbeque party. Tiffany and Andrew are near the beach chairs, kengsington and Laurence are grilling some of the food, and the remaining four, Howard, Jeff, Bernice, and susanne conversing and reminiscing on the past. When kengsington and Laurence are done, they take a seat nearby as well but susanne, never one to be the most discrete, notices that Laurence came to her party last time and notes that kengsington taste has turned plain lately. The atmosphere turns quiet and even Howard looks awkward and
Tiffany comes over to defend Laurence. She takes a seat next to Howard and susanne proposes a toast.
They suggest a game of dodgeball, a game the four of them used to play when they were younger, and divide the team as the newcomers and the old team. But since the old team is at a disadvantage, kengsington offers himself to join the other team. Bernice is excited and begins to hang onto Howard and Tiffany can only hope that someone won't cry after getting hit in the nose.
Susanne explains the rules, which is pretty much boys protect the girls, hands are allowed to touch the ball but one point will be deducted if the ball hits the body and three points if it hits a girl. Obviously for the other team has Howard blocking Bernice and Tiffany assures her team that she'll be okay and can fend for herself if everyone just watches Laurence.
The game begins and Laurence behind him and the guys poke a little fun when he calls her his girl. Howard also tells them that they won't be able to get any points from Bernice, who looks as happy as she can be, resulting in Tiffany throwing the ball hard to Howard.
Tiffany temporarily stops the game to wonder why they aim at the weak girl and Howard says that they'll aim at her the tomboy then and Tiffany tries to get Andrew to protect her but ends up getting hit. After a while she falls into the sand and Howard comes over to help her but she slams the ball right between his legs. Feeling regretful she asks if he's alright but he was only joking. They begin to chase each other around on the beach and everyone seems pretty much confused by them. Susanne tries to assure Bernice that they'll get her later.
Susanne suggests that they change up the game with the girls protecting the guys but Tiffany isn't afraid. So the game starts with new rules and Bernice aims for Tiffany the entire time. Howard worriedly looks on but Tiffany doesn't back down from her. Eventually Howard steps in and tells susanne to take it easy since he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. Susanne says that they have to play seriously and believes that Tiffany isn't the kind of person who gives up easily.
Howard suggests that they take a break but Tiffany is determined to make it through. Even when Andrew suggests that they give up, Tiffany doesn't want to lose to Bernice. So they continue the game until Bernice finally hits Tiffany in the head. Howard immediately rushes to her side to make her she's okay which only makes susanne and Bernice curious.
They call an end to the game and decide to rest. However, it's not over for susanne and Bernice who say that the losing team should have a punishment. So instead of going back to the hotel, they decide to sit and chat for a little while.
Susanne suggests that the winning team make the losing team play Truth or Dare and that's something everyone can agree with. But it doesn't seem like they really want everyone else to play since susanne pinpoints Tiffany as the one who should take the punishment since she lost the most points. Bernice looks ready to attack but Howard suggests that he give out the punishment instead since there's something he doesn't want to hide from them anymore and hopes everyone will understand, especially Bernice.
Expecting something she stands up but Howard goes over to Tiffany and in the spirit of Truth or Dare, asks if she'll be his girlfriend, announcing it as her punishment. Jeff just looks totally excited. Tiffany is a bit embarrassed commenting that no one does it that way and Howard jokingly asks if that means she doesn't want to be but she does and so Howard introduces her as his girlfriend to everyone.
Everyone is pretty much supportive besides the obvious two, even kengsington and Andrew congratulate them. Howard tells them to keep it a secret for a while but then susanne starts talking loudly drawing everyone's attention to the upset Bernice. She begins to try to make Howard the bad guy in the situation and Bernice yells at him that she has always liked him, asking him if he knew and if he remembered about the promise to take care of her forever.