Drinks 'n Dares

Tall, Dark and Hardly Appropriate

Chapter Seven - Tall, Dark and Hardly Appropriate

Claire's POV

I hated Mondays. I really did. Tuesdays I didn't mind so much because of our monthly Drinks 'n Dares night. Though what with the Jon affair I probably shouldn't like them so much anymore. Wednesdays and Thursdays I could give or take and Fridays I liked because I knew it was nearly the weekend. I liked Saturdays, but they were also by busy-bee day. The days I ran errands, did chores and caught up on any extra editing work. Sundays though, Sundays I loved. I loved them more than was probably healthy considering it was just a day of the week. But I did. Every Sunday I slept in until almost noon and then had a nice relaxing lunch before frittering away the day either around the house, out in town, or with the girls. Either way they were my perfect day.

So when my cell went off at eight that particular Sunday morning to say I was less than pleased would be a colossal understatement. But just in case it was an emergency or a call from Jon saying he had a solution, I dutifully reached for my cell on my bedside table. It took a few goes but I finally managed to snatch it. I flipped over onto my back and held the phone to my ear.

"Code red! CODE RED! Wake up Claire I need you here five minutes ago!" Carla's voice yelled down the phone line.

I shot up in bed and asked quickly, "What's wrong? Is your flat on fire or something? Do you need an ambulance?"

"What I need, is for you to meet me at my place ASAP. Kira's already here, but it took a few calls before I could get through to you."

"Yeah," I yawned. "I must have slept through that. But what's going on. Is Kira alright?"

"Yes, yes," she said impatiently. "Now just get dressed...into some gym clothes mind you, and get down to my place pronto."

"Not until you tell me why Carla, what is it that's so important you had to wake me up on a Sunday?" I asked groggily.

"Well...long story short...there was this guy." She kept on talking but I didn't hear her because I'd flopped back onto my bed in frustration. Of course it was a guy. There was always a guy. Conner might be Carla's dream crush, but until that came true she was eying every male in the city. With a sigh I brought the phone back to my ear.

"Start over Carla, I'll try to actually listen this time."

"Well thanks ever so much." She sighed. "Okay so I was coming back from my tai chi class and the guy who was walking in front of me was talking on his phone and I could have sworn he was speaking Italian. Anyway, you know how I get. So I was following him a little, out of curiosity, and he went into this gym. And I got in there and it turns out he was speaking some other language, not Italian."

"Bummer." I deadpanned.

"But when I was inside I noticed how many cute guys there were around. I mean, there were your typical overweight guys as well but a lot of the guys in there were ripped." I could just hear her grinning on the other end of the line. "And so I signed up for a one-month trial membership."

"You what?" I asked. "Carla...you hate sweat and sweaty activities and anything to do with sweat. Gymsbreed sweat. You realise that right?"

"Oh please, I hate it when I sweat. I've signed up for two non-sweating, calming, relaxing courses and a cardio course. Besides, other than the smell it's kind of sexy to see all these ripped guys working up a sheen. Especially the ones without tops on."

"Oh my God Carla, you are shameless. You really are." I shut my eyes. "But I fail to see what any of this has to do with me."

"Well that's the point. I want you and Kira to sign up with me. Please, please say you'll come."