Page 74 of Totally Played
CALVIN: I know, right? Like, I am totally the fun one.
ASH: And the sexy one.
CALVIN: How many more days until we are in the same city again?
ASH: Four. I can’t wait to see you. Oh, I meant to ask, do you want to come to this charity thing with me while you’re home?
Red is attending a charity dinner and bought out a table, as you do when you have the means to, or at least more people who have the means should. It’s being hosted by Georgia U, and the money raised will fund future scholarships. The money Red paid for his table would probably cover a couple of students all the way through to Masters. This is the first time I’ve been in the country when it’s been on, so he said I owed him for all the times I denied him going to a Banana Ball game. I agreed under one condition. I could bring Calvin with me, too. That is, if he wanted to come.
CALVIN: Sounds fun. Do I have to wear a suit?
ASH: Do you have one?
CALVIN: Not really.
ASH: I’ll pick you up something.
CALVIN: Oh, how Pretty Woman of you.
I laugh out loud. No way is it anything like that movie.
ASH: You know she was a hooker, right?
CALVIN: Whoops. Yeah, it’s not like that at all. Okay, well, what is it like then?
Only one thing comes to mind. I chuckle the whole time I write my reply.
ASH: I am sure there are plenty, but my brain is just screaming at me that you are my Caroline and I am your Klaus. Sorry, babe.
CALVIN: I’m way prettier than Caroline Forbes.
ASH: You know it.
***
“Do you need help?” I call to Calvin as he dresses in my bathroom.
“Nope, almost ready. Promise you won’t laugh,” he calls back.
“Why would I laugh? Is it too big? I was sure I got your size right.”
“It fits perfectly. It’s just way fancier than anything I’ve ever worn. I look…”
He opens the door, a nervous smile on his lips. The event is black tie, and while I was picking up a new corset from my tailor, I had him pull something for Calvin, too. It’s a slim-fit dark navy suit with black lapels. Paired with a black silk shirt and gold buckled belt, it’s perfect.
“Gorgeous,” I reply, finishing his sentence.
“I couldn’t do the tie,” he replies sheepishly, the bow tie hanging loose around his neck. It somehow looks even sexier that way, like he’s about to strip it all off for me.
“Come here, I’ll help,” I say, and we move to stand in front of the standing mirror in the corner of my bedroom. I had it made special, with every other standard-sized mirror being too short to show my entire body unless I was on the other side of the room. It’s got a thin gold frame and rests in the corner diagonally opposite the large corner window. I’m a pretty simple guy, not really much for possessions, except for my wardrobe. The master bedroom had a small closet, so I had the wall of it opened up to be a pass-through into the much bigger room next door. That room I fitted out with customized cabinets, all in gloss black, and a glass top island in the center for my accessories.
I fix the bow tie in place and bend to kiss his cheek when I catch the scent of my cologne.
“Hmm, you smell like me,” I hum, nuzzling his neck.
“I hope it’s okay, I forgot to bring—”
“It’s perfect. It’s like I’ve marked you. Except…”
