‘Wanna bet?' I didn't say. Arching an eyebrow, I actually said, “Well,

I'll withhold sex from her until she tells me."

“Matty!" Mari exclaimed unhappily.

"I'm joking," I told her.

"It's NOTHING,” Belle insisted.

“Well now it's clearly turning into a great big SOMETHING,” I grumbled with a sigh.

Belle bit her lip, but Mari explained, “She's been whining to me about how you two don't spend as much time together anymore."

“MARI!" Belle howled.

“What? Not Like he doesn't already know."

I sighed and said gently, “Yes, I already knew. Well, not that you've been whining to Mari about it, but I could tell you wished we had more time alone."

Mari offered, "You know, I can sleep out in the Living room."

“What? No, of course not," Belle said immediately. "This is YOUR first chance to sleep in bed with him overnight, too."

“But you've been dreaming of this moment for years," Mari countered

“and I'm pretty sure having me on the other side of him wasn't in the script."

“Yeah, well, not everything goes exactly the way you imagined it."

“THAT'S for sure."

“But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy it for what it is," Belle insisted. "That's Life: Accept what is, what has to be, and don't get your panties in a twist about the rest."

“But it still BUGS you."

“Of course it does."

“Then why don't you do something about it?"

“Because.”

“Because what?"

“Oh we are NOT having this conversation again."

“But he's RIGHT HERE.“

“And you're messing up my script right now!"