A day later…
DIANE
oh god what now
i have found the glitch in the matrix
i know exactly how to break him
did you walk past him half naked again?
no no
nothing that obvious
so he's been in the garage all afternoon working on that beast of a car, right
banging around with tools
listening to classic rock
it's loud
but then i realized something
the only way to get from the garage to the kitchen is through the mudroom hallway
which opens right into the living room where i'm "innocently" doing my daily yoga 😇
amari oh my god
you're evil!!!
let me guess
you picked the most scandalous poses known to man
you know me so well
i waited til the clanking stopped
i knew he was coming in for a break
so i got into downward dog immediately
and i made sure i was facing away from the door
so when he walked in...
front row seat to the peach in these lululemons 🍑
stop it rn!!!
did he say anything?
did he choke on his own spit??
NO
this is the BEST PART
i heard the door open
his heavy boots on the floor
and then it was just silence
he stopped walking, Di
i held the pose for like 30 seconds
my arms were shaking but i didn't move
i could literally FEEL his eyes on me
it was like a physical weight on my back
omfgggg
he was definitely enjoying the view then
was he literally just standing there?
yup
when i finally "relaxed" and rolled over onto my back to stretch my legs
he was just standing at the doorway
had grease on his hands
sleeves rolled up to his elbows
sweating
he was looking down at me while i was spread out on the mat
he didn't even look embarrassed
he looked intense
like he was debating whether to get a glass of water or just drag me into the garage
and what did you do???
i just smiled and said "hey, Arthur"
kinda breathless but looking him right in the eye
he cleared his throat, nodded once, then walked to the kitchen
didn't say a word
but Di
watching him walk away
realizing i have him wrapped around my finger like that
i'm so turned on right now it's actually a problem
Noah could never make me feel like this
i feel not just wanted
but also powerful
i think i'm gonna do another set
while waiting for him to come back out of course 😈
and this time i'll make sure he sees something else
i'll take off my jacket this time
you
are actually insane
do some splits this time
and send updates immediately
Later that day…
are you seeing this rain???
it's basically apocalyptic out there ⛈️🌊
yeah it's insane
the hallway lights just flickered
feels like the thunder's shaking my bed
i guess i'm stuck here
which is good news for me bc forced sleepover with julian 😈
BUT i feel terrible leaving you alone in that big creepy house during a storm 😭
are you gonna be okay??
i'll be fine, Lils
don't worry about me
just enjoy the sleepover
you sure?
and dad's home, right?
i think i saw his car in the driveway earlier
yup
he's here
i saw him downstairs
so you're not totally alone
just avoid him if he gets grumpy about the power going out
he hates storms
got it
see you tmr then!
you too!
That night…
Arthur
i just got an alert for a charge on the joint AmEx Eleanor: $2,400 to Summit Racing Equipment?
you said you were paying for that junk heap yourself
I am
I just grabbed the wrong card from my wallet in the shop
I'm transferring the $2,400 back to the joint account right now
make sure you do
i'm not carrying the debit for your mid-life crisis on our family credit report
keep your "personal" finances separate like you insisted
i don't want to see it
It's handled
Stop harping on it
fine
but since you're evidently flush with cash in that private account of yours, i need you to handle something
transfer $10K to the travel account immediately
the suite upgrade cost more than expected and i need to host a dinner for the committee tomorrow night
i don't want my card declining
No
excuse me?
I replaced the money I spent by accident, which is fair
But I'm not dipping into my savings to fund your parties
If you blew your budget on upgrades, that's your problem
you do not say "no" to me, Arthur
do you have any idea how hard i'm working to keep this family's reputation afloat while you play mechanic in the garage like a common laborer?
transfer the money now
This conversation is over
I'm turning off notifications, so don't bother calling
ARTHUR
You are going to regret this
Meanwhile…
babe
are you awake?
this storm is actually insane
i think the power is gonna go out any second
not gonna lie...
i'm kinda scared
i'm all alone in this big room and the thunder's shaking the walls
i need a distraction
can you call me?
help me take my mind off of it?
Hey, yeah it's raining here too
Just try to close your eyes and sleep
that's the problem
i can't sleep
my heart is racing
It's just the weather, Amari
i need you to help me relax
tell me what you'd do if you were here right now...
under the covers with me
i'm cold, Noah
imagining your hands on me
warming me up and touching me everywhere
please talk to me, babe
tell me how you'd touch me
make me forget about the storm
Stop, Amari
You know I don't like talking like that
Especially when it's late at night and we're both tired
Lust is not a cure for anxiety
And there's really no reason to be scared
Fear is just a lack of faith
If you're anxious, it means you aren't trusting that God is in control
seriously?
i wasn't asking for a sermon, Noah
i just want my boyfriend to want me
i'm touching myself right now imagining it's you
doesn't that do anything for you?
i need release
i need to feel close to you
Don't tell me that
That's private
And honestly?
It's disappointing
You're letting your flesh control you because of a little thunder?
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you" - Psalm 56:3
Try reading that a few times
It will bring you actual peace, not just a temporary high
wow
i'm LITERALLY offering myself to you
and you quote Psalms at me?
do you even like girls, Noah?
like actually?
That's enough
I'm not going to argue with you when you're being like this
And I have an early prayer breakfast
Go to sleep
Pray for strength
Good night
right
whatever
enjoy your breakfast
Afterwards
fuck Noah
i'm so done begging a boy to act like a man
oh god
what happened?
wait let me guess
he quoted the bible at you again
yup
Psalm whatever the fuck
basically told me my horniness was a lack of faith 💀
oh no he didn't 💀
anyway, i'm over it
i'm taking matters into my own hands
wait what does that mean?
amari what are you about to do???
Arthur's still out in the garage
i can hear his music
i think i need to check on him
make sure he's okay in this big scary storm 🥺👉👈
no wayyyyy
girl, that is his territory
you'd be crossing the line fr
i know
that's the point
no more stretching in the hallway
i'm going in head first
and i dressed for the occasion
oh my god
tell me more
my shirt's kinda damp
my pants too
so i'm just in my underwear with a jacket on
girl
yoga pants already has him weakkkk
you're gonna kill the man
he's going to have a heart attack on the spot
good
i want him to choke on his drink when he sees me
about to walk out the door
wish me luck
wait
before you go
i need to see the weapon
oh damnnn
and i'm keeping it unzipped