This Year’s Price Chameleon woke me gently, pressing her warm body against me and running her fingers over my arm before resting her hand on my chest. I stretched, enjoying the feeling of her skin on mine. “What do you want?” she whispered. I stiffened slightly before I could catch myself. I knew she’d felt my reaction. I’d known the question was coming, what it meant for both of us. I knew what she needed from me. She ne...

Tuesday Night When Chameleon came home from work on Tuesday, my birthday, we both tried to act as if nothing strange was happening. She shouted hello when she came in the door. We cooked together, being careful to tidy our own mess as we went along. Neither of us chose to open any wine. I drank a couple of cokes. She had a tonic water. Our conversation was light, and entirely focused on things external to our relationship...