Cally: Quite unforgiving, aren't we?Are you coming out here?
Claire: I'll open it in the morning.I'm exhausted and already in bed.
Cally: Why didn't you say so?I'll be right there.
Claire: I've heard that before.
Claire quickly closed the laptop shut and buried herself under layers of high-end bedding, squeezing her eyes shut just as Calvin entered.She listened as his clothes hit the floor, leaving a trail across the bedroom.A moment later, the mattress dipped and he slipped into bed.
“You’re naked,” she muttered.
“I dressed for the occasion,” he said, spooning his body against her.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your window of sexual opportunity is now firmly closed.”
"Claire, darling, I said I was sorry."
"No, you didn't.You blamed the ‘damn contract’ but you never apologized."
"I'm sorry,” he said.“I’m truly sorry, my love."
The room fell silent.Calvin’s fingers disappeared in the layers of her hair.Claire’s body tensed at his touch but only for a moment.With each stroke of his hand, she relaxed more, her frustration at the night’s disappointments slowly dissipating.Staying angry at him had never been her strength.But when Calvin’s hand continued down the length of her body and slipped between her legs, she jerked and moved away from him.
"I hope you don't think I'm going to make this easy on you—because I'm not," she said.
"Lucky for you, I'm not afraid of a little hard work," he said.
"Sometimes I wish you were," she shot back.
"We're not about to reenact last year’s argument, are we?"he asked, his hand stroking her bare thigh.
"Depends,” she said, pushing it away.
“Well, hold that thought.Before we step into the ring to slug it out, I need to visit the loo.”
Calvin kissed the top of her head then rolled out of bed.With one eye, she watched his toned body hurry across to his bathroom.He shook his bare butt at her before disappearing from sight.
You know you’re not going to be able to have a serious conversation with him, right?He’s not wired that way when it comes to love.
An idea sparked in Claire’s mind, sharp and sudden.She grabbed her phone and quickly typed out a text, keeping one eye fixed on the bathroom door.
Claire: Any chance you can help me pull a last-minute prank on Calvin?
Her pulse jumped when the reply appeared seconds later.
Liz: ARE YOU KIDDING?It’s what I live for!What do you need?
Claire: Call him in a few minutes.Tell him something has happened.Something industry related.Make him lose his shit for a minute.
Claire watched three little dots bounce on her screen as Liz typed a reply.Pulling one over on Calvin?Easier said than done.The women had joined forces before, retaliating against an endless array of pranks Calvin pulled on them.This time, however, Claire’s intentions weren’t to get a laugh.
Liz: I know just the thing.Two words: Annabelle Atkins.
A string of emojis followed: demon face, laughing/crying, clapping hands, and the like.Was it borderline cruel?Maybe.Would it prove a historically accurate point?Most likely.
Claire: Liz, you are a master *bows to your greatness*
Liz: If anyone can make him lose his shit, it’s Annabelle.
