Kevin woke up Saturday morning full of nervous energy.
The previous week was uneventful- neither Beth nor Mark made any more challenges to The Rule. Kevin had hardly seen Beth since she stuffed him under her desk. And while Chrissy admitted she and Mark had done some light flirting as they passed each other in the apartment, that was all that happened.
But now it was Saturday morning. There was no longer any more work to get in their way, and as far as Kevin and Chrissy knew, Beth and Mark didn't have any plans.
Chrissy woke up a few minutes after Kevin did. He watched her gently squirm and stretch, slowly waking up. Her eyes gently opened and were immediately surprised that he was looking at her.
"Hey," she said with a smile, her voice a little groggy.
"Hey," he said, smiling back gently.
She slid over under the covers, snuggling close to him and kissing him tenderly. He kissed back, and they held each other gently, enjoying each other for a few moments. The bed was endlessly comfortable in the sort of way a bed can only be on a Saturday morning when you don't have any plans.
She broke the kiss, looking deep into his eyes. "Mmm," she moaned gently, practically purring with comfort. "What are you thinking about?"
Kevin looked deep into her eyes before answering. "I'm thinking about... how cold your feet are."
She smiled mischievously, and Kevin felt her feet immediately move up his body, trying to find more warm places to be.
"No, don't!" he said, as she managed to shove a foot between his thighs.
"Sorry, baby. When you agreed to date me you agreed to give me all of your body heat in perpetuity."
Kevin laughed. "But I just don't understand how they're still cold! We've been in bed all night."
She snuggled back into him, her foot moving back down and finding his feet. "It's a gift."
"Maybe you should start wearing socks to bed."
She pretended to look shocked. "Never! They could never warm me like you do." They kissed again, both lips curled up in a smile.
They took a moment to look into each other's eyes, before Chrissy glanced at their bedroom door. "Today's the day, huh."
"Yep," said Kevin, simply. He looked at the door as well.
"What do you think they're up to? You think they're awake?"
Kevin checked his watch. 9:07. They tended to get up first on the weekends. "Yeah, more than likely."
Chrissy studied the door as if it would give her answers. "What do you think's going to happen when we go out there?"
Kevin looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well... I think one of two things are going to happen. One, they'll not be home, and this whole conversation will have been for nothing."
Chrissy nodded.
"Or, two, we'll get out there and, like... Mark will have installed a sex swing above the kitchen table, and they'll both be wearing leather body suits."
Chrissy snorted at the mental image. "Leather? I hope not. A little dated, I think."
"Tsk, you artists, always worrying about the visual aesthetics."
"You just want to see Beth in leather pants."
Kevin opened his mouth, trying to think of something witty to say, but the visual image derailed his train of thought.
Chrissy laughed at him. "Boy, this is good to know. Anytime I want you to shut up, I just need to casually mention Beth's ass."
"You could have the same impact by finally telling me your cup size."
She rolled her eyes. "Guys and their cup sizes. It's a custom bra! They're huge, okay?" She grabbed them through the old T shirt she wore to bed. "See? They are what they are. Doesn't matter what letter I say, does it?"
Kevin blinked, watching her grab them. "I'm sorry, were you saying something?"
She hit him playfully.
"Ouch! Fine, fine. It'll forever be a mystery."
She laughed at him before they got quiet for a moment, looking at each other. "Um, so. Ready to get up?"
Kevin felt his heartbeat quicken. "Let's do it."
They both got dressed in their usual attire- Kevin in his t-shirt and jeans, Chrissy with her baggy sweatshirt and pants. They looked at eachother, sharing a smile.
Kevin put his hand on the door handle. "Ready?"
"Ready."
Kevin opened his door, revealing a sight that neither of them could have foreseen.
The kitchen table was set in an almost extravagant fashion. The apartment's nicest plates and silverware (not that they were that nice) were out at each of the four chairs. A tablecloth that Kevin and Chrissy had never seen before was draped over it. In the middle of the table, there was fresh fruit, pastries, a silver bucket holding a bottle of champagne on ice, and a jug of orange juice. Even more unexpectedly, Beth sat at the table, looking at them both with a warm smile.
But far and away the most unexpected thing was the sight of Mark, shirtless but in an apron, cooking.
"Good morning, sleepyheads," said Beth, a hint of happiness shining through her usual monotone.
"You're awake!" exclaimed Mark. He flashed them his cocky smile, but it somehow was warm, too.
Chrissy and Kevin stepped further into the kitchen to get a better look. "What...?" began Chrissy, totally caught off guard. Neither Kevin nor Chrissy had ever seen the kitchen like this. And they certainly had never seen Mark cook before.
"Now I can start with the pancakes," said Mark.
Beth rolled her eyes. "Oh, god. You guys, he's been talking about these pancakes for three days now."
"You're going to love them!" he shouted over the clicking of the stovetop burners starting up. "The key is to make them thin, like a crepe. Not too thick like how the average diner makes it. Watch, you'll see."
Beth reached over, grabbing the neck of the Champagne bottle and pulling it out of the bucket. She twisted off the cork's cover as she spoke. "If he's going to keep talking about the thinness of pancakes, I'm going to need a drink." She expertly popped it open, before grabbing one of the champagne flutes off the table. "Mimosa?" she asked them both.
Kevin and Chrissy were still a bit shocked, but Chrissy spoke first. "Um... yes, please."
Beth poured in the champagne, expertly tipping the glass for the perfect pour. "Good girl. Saturday, no plans- the perfect time for a mimosa." She poured in the OJ. "Kevin?"
Kevin couldn't help but take a second to inspect her. Did they step through the doorway to another dimension? He decided he was going to go with the flow. "I'd love one."
"Right answer," she said, making another and then finally a third for herself. She handed it over before lifting her glass. "Cheers."