Claire responded with a winky-face emoji, placed her phone back on the nightstand, and turned off the lamp.The room fell dark but not silent, the melodic echo of Calvin whistling Greensleeves in the bathroom filtering through.Upon his return, Claire stayed quiet.
"Now, where were we?”he asked, snuggling up against her once more.
"We were about to discuss whether you've changed since this time last year.Spoiler alert: you haven’t.”
"Claire, if I were the same person as last year, I wouldn't be giving you this."
He stretched his body over hers, turned the light back on, and placed a tiny box on the bedside table.The faint sounds of Christmas music from downstairs faded away, replaced by her intense heartbeat.
Well, shit… this is it.
"Calvin…” she sat up, turning to him.
"A little trinket.Something I thought you might enjoy.Open it."
Claire studied his face.The lamplight softened the angular lines of his nose and jaw.His eyes sparkled with a sweet glint of anticipation.Maybe it’s just earrings or a bracelet,she considered.He wouldn’t propose like this, with me borderline tipsy in his bed, wearing a plain T-shirt… would he?
With reluctance, she feigned a mixture of excitement and curiosity.She removed the ribbon and wrapping, finding exactly what she expected and feared: a black velvet box.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit…
"May I?"he asked, taking it from her now shaking hands.With a sly smile, he flipped open the box to reveal a monster diamond mounted on a diamond-encrusted platinum band.It bordered on vulgar.A stone so huge it looked fake.Her heart sank even more.
"That's…some trinket," she observed, her heart revving in turbo sport mode.
He reached for her hand."Let's try it on."
“Calvin, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” she said.
“We’ve got the rest of our lives to talk, darling.”He laughed softly, holding the ring between his fingers.“I’m about to ask you to become the little woman.Now give me that beautiful hand.”
He reached again, but Claire pulled her hand back before he could take it.
"They made the offer," she blurted.
Calvin blinked."They?Who?What offer?"
“The people at Avi."
"When was this?"he asked.
"Yesterday.Isaac—he currently runs in the New York office—said the job is mine if I want it,” she informed him.
"I see."He leaned back slightly."I had no idea you were still batting that idea around.Is this the creative director gig you mentioned a couple of months ago?They sell handbags or something?”
"The athletic shoe company,” Claire said quietly.“Remember?I showed you their Instagram account…”
Her voice faded at the blankness of his expression.Calvin stared at her as if she were describing the career ambitions of someone he barely knew.A heavy feeling settled in her chest.
Claire drew in a slow breath.“They’re expanding into athleisure and moving into the UK market.I’d be based out of the new London office.Isaac’s heading operations there.”
“London?”Calvin repeated.“So, Molly’s going to win after all.She never wanted to share you with me anyway.”
Claire rolled her eyes.“You’re not serious.This has absolutely nothing to do with Molly.”
“She’s been begging you to move to London for as long as I’ve known you.”
“Avi came after me, Calvin, not the other way around.”Claire folded her arms tightly across her chest.“And they need an answer ASAP.”
