"What is it, Liz?”he asked.
Claire fell back against the pillow and listened to his side of the conversation–mostly a string of profanities.He balanced the phone between his ear and his shoulder, shooting off a dozen questions while pulling his jeans up around his waist.Calvin ended the call and pulled his wrinkled T-shirt over his head all in one motion.
"What is it?"she asked, feigning ignorance.
“Fucking Annabelle Atkins again.Her PA is Liz’s best friend.Apparently Annabelle’s drunk and having an episode.This is the third time since Thanksgiving.”He patted down his pockets.“Any idea where my keys might be?”
“You’re going to Annabelle’s house?”she asked.“Now?Right now?”
“I’m the only one who can get her to calm down.Do you know she’s quit our production twice since she signed on?She never means it, of course.”He turned away, shoved his cell phone into his pocket, and disappeared into his massive, walk-in closet.He emerged a moment later, a Dodgers baseball cap on his head and a denim jacket in hand.
Claire sat up.“You’re unbelievable.”
“What do you mean?”he asked.“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing’s wrong with Annabelle Atkins.I put Liz up to it.I texted her when you were in the bathroom and told her to call you in a few minutes—to prove a point.”
Calvin’s face fell.“And what point would that be, exactly?”
“The point being that right in the middle of proposing, breaking up, and me announcing my relocation to London—on Christmas Eve, no less—you run off at the first sign of business, namely some prima donna actress having a holiday meltdown, which proves you’re not cut out for being committed to a marriage.You’re not truly committed to anyone or anything but yourself.”
She’d done it.Spoken the words which had surfed on waves of wine in her mind all night.Liquid courage, her father would call it.Only she didn’t feel courageous.Not when Calvin's stunned expression filled his whole face and took over his body, pressing down on his shoulders until his arms hung loosely at his sides like two deflated truck tires.
“Oh, you think that’s clever?”he snapped.“Some joke, Claire.Real fucking funny.”
Her heart galloped at a furious pace, but she didn’t stop.“It’s not a joke.It’s the truth, Cally… and you know it.”
He ducked back into his closet, returning this time with a pair of tennis shoes.His face reddened as he jerked at the laces.
“Where are you going?”she asked.
“I’m leaving.”
“I told you there’s no emergency.Call Liz back if you don’t believe me.”Claire tossed her cell phone across to his side of the bed.“Here, you can read the whole text exchange yourself.”
“You’re a right bitch when you want to be, aren’t you?”
Claire’s heart lurched, but she remained composed.“You can’t exert control over every single thing in life, Cally, and that includes me.If pointing that out makes me a bitch, then so be it.”
Calvin stared at her, his mouth agape.She’d never spoken to him that way.She’d never spoken to anyone that way, surprising them both.He pressed his lips together with force, as though fighting back an endless string of ugly replies.Claire’s stomach tightened, anticipating a shouting match.His mouth opened once more to speak but instead he spun around without a word and stomped out of the bedroom.Within a minute, she heard a door slam shut, followed by the roar of a car backing out of the drive at breakneck speed.
Well, that’s it.We’re officially over.
Her lack of emotion provided the proof.Calvin left… and she stayed surprisingly calm.Strangely at peace.She wanted a man who would fight for her.A who would push her to her limits, making her crazy one minute and deliriously happy the next.Someone who would love her beyond reason, giving her what she longed for: Real.True.Love.
With dry eyes and her heartbeat returning to a steady rhythm, Claire grabbed her cell phone and sent two short texts: one to her father and one to Molly.
Survey says: UK.Solo.
CHAPTERTWO
CLAIRE
“Claire?”A hand nudged Claire’s arm, and a soft, feminine voice coaxed her from a deep sleep.
Claire sat up, her head fuzzy from last night’s wine.It took her a minute to focus fully on Liz, but she found worry painted across her face.“What’s wrong?Where’s Calvin?”
Liz’s voice cracked when she spoke.“You need to get dressed.Calvin’s been in an accident.”
