“Rise and shine my sleeping beauty.”
“Hey, good morning.”
“Good afternoon. Well, almost.”
“What time is it?’
“Almost noon. After last night I thought I’d let you sleep in.”
“Mmm bonus points for you.”
“Lucky me, what do those bonus points get me?”
“You could join me and find out.”
“As tempting as that is and it’s incredibly tempting I should really feed you first.”
“I’m fine with skipping the meal and going straight to the desert.” I try to pull him down to my level.
“Sounds delicious but my answer is no. The last time you ate was dinner before I picked you and Nick up. So, enough lounging in bed. I must get some food in you, my little vixen.”
“Fine but let me shower first. I smell like sex.”
He stood up but leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I love the smell of sex on you.” He walked to the door. Be down in twenty or I will enjoy punishing you.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
He smiled. “Feel free to try me. Now hop to it. You’re wasting precious time.”
He walks out of the bedroom and I groan. We’re seriously going to have to have a talk about his control issues. I got up and took a quick shower. Just as quick I dressed in one of his shirts with nothing but my panties on underneath. I brushed my hair and headed downstairs and into the dining room.
“Perfect timing.” He said with a grin. “I ordered pizza and it just got here.”
“Sounds good.” We both sat down and dove right in. He grabbed the pepperoni and I snatched up the meatball. After our appetites were about sated I had to say something. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “You have a thing for control.”
“Oh, baby, you have no idea.”
“We’re going to need to talk about this.”
“Why? What about it?”
“I don’t tolerate being told what to do all the time. I’ve had enough with someone trying to control my every move. It’s not something I care to put up with again.”
“You like it when it comes from me.”
“No, I’ve been tolerable of it, but it grates at me.”
“You’re right we do need to discuss this as I won’t give up control. It’s who I am.”
“We need to draw a line somewhere. I think I can handle it to a point in the bedroom but all other aspects of my life are off limits.”
“I can definitely get with being in control in the bedroom. Everything else is up for debate. It’s what you need.”
“The HELL it is!” I yell. Who the fuck does he think he is?
“Kristina, the way you always overthink things and to be honest you weren’t exactly taking good care of yourself. You need that voice of reason.”
“I have enough people chirping in my damn ear. Between Nick, Mike and my dad I have plenty thank you very much.”
“It’s not enough. As much as I can’t give up control because its who I am, I just want to look after you and take care of you. Let me take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to. You deserve to have someone to care for you for once.”
I got up from my seat. “I’ve been good on my own and I can continue to be good on my own. And as good as the sex is between us and it’s damn good, this isn’t going to work.” I took off upstairs.
He was hot on my heals. I reached his bedroom and grabbed my clothes from yesterday and went into the bathroom and shut the door in his face and locked the door.
He knocked on the door. “Kristina, what are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
“Come on out here so we can talk.”
“We did talk but nothing has changed.”
I rushed to get changed. I threw his shirt in the laundry and threw on my clothes. I can change when I get home. I don’t want anything from him.
When I walked out of the bathroom he looked at me and what I was wearing. “Where are you going?”
“Where do you think? Home.”
He grabbed my arm. “Kris, baby, please stay. Let’s talk.”
“We tried that and got nowhere. Please let go.”
“I’m sure we can work through this.”
I sighed. “I don’t know. You clearly can’t change your way of thinking and I won’t give up my right to make my own choices.”
“Maybe go home and think about what we talked about and what we can do to fix it. Maybe we can talk tomorrow with clearer heads.”
“Maybe.” I went to walk out and he followed.
“I’ll have Tony take you home.”
“I’m good, I can get home on my own.”
“Kris, please for my peace of mind just let him drive you home. I sure as hell know you won’t let me take you.”
I didn’t even respond. I just kept walking. I took the elevator down and there was Tony waiting outside the car with the door open for me. “Thanks Tony, but I’m good.”
“I insist Miss. Thomas.”
“And I said no. I pulled out my phone and saw that my Uber was about to pull up.
He saw me getting in the Uber.” Mr. Black won’t like this.”
“Mr. Black is just going to have to get over it now, isn’t he?”
Tony looked unsure what to do. I’m sure he has his orders and I obviously wasn’t making it easy for him. Just as the car pulled away my phone buzzed with a text.
Nathan: Are you seriously trying to give me a heart attack?
Kristina: This is exactly what I mean.
Nathan: You can’t even accept a ride home.
Kristina: And you can’t resist handing out orders.
Nathan: It wasn’t an order it was an offer.
Kristina: And one that I declined. But your need to control everything making it that you can’t see that.
Nathan: I’m sorry I just want to make sure you’re safe. Now, I’m asking not telling you to please let me know when you’re home.
Kristina: Now that I can do. Was that so hard?
Nathan: You have no idea.
I actually got a laugh out of that. I’m sure that wasn’t easy for him but that’s all I’m asking for. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail because I really don’t think I can go through with saying goodbye to Nathan.
I get home and as soon as I walk in the door Nick is already there on the phone. “Yeah, she’s here.” I hear him say. Of fucking course. I already know who he’s talking to.
I grab the phone from him. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
“I was just wanted to give Nick a heads up.”
“No, I told you I would let you know when I got home and yet you couldn’t wait.” I didn’t give him a chance to respond I just hung up and handed the phone back to Nick.
“Baby girl don’t be mad at him. He called me to let me know that the two of you had an argument and you left upset. He said that you refused a ride and that he was sure you’d need someone to talk to. He called to ask me to meet you.”
Fuck I feel so lost right now. I head into my room. “Where are you going?”
“To change.” Seriously does everyone need a play by play? I change into sweats and go back into the living room. I’m still livid.
“Sit down baby girl, lets talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I slump down on the couch.
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Fine. I don’t want to.”
“What happened. It’s obvious the guy feels terrible.”
I let out a sigh. He should. “Good, but I don’t think it’s enough.”
“What did he do?”
“He’s a damn control freak.”
“Okay, I’m going to need more to go on here. I’m not following. I think we already established that.”
“Yeah, we did but I don’t know. When he basically wants to control everything…you know me…I push back. I hit my limit. I tried to tell him how I feel and how I can’t another controlling man in my life he said that he can’t give up the control. It’s who he is.”
“We knew that already. We both saw that from him.”
“I think what made me snap was when he said that I needed someone to take control.”
“Well…”
“Nick, seriously?”
“What?”
“You agree with him?”
-I can’t argue with his logic.”
“Fuck you. His logic is bullshit and so is this conversation.”
“I’m just going by your track record when it comes to making decisions.”
“Below the belt Nick.” I got up to walk away.
He grabbed my arm. “Shit, Kris, I’m sorry. You’re right. That was. Look, I can see that he really does care about you. He wants to take care of you. Let him.”
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.’
“I know, I do. I just think he’s good for you. For the first time in years I finally saw you start to bring down those walls you built. You seemed legitimately happy.”
“Yeah, and look where that got me.”
“It got you a guy who cares and who is truly remorseful. You just need to stop being so goddamn stubborn.”
“Fuck.”
“You know I’m right.”
“Maybe I didn’t give him a real chance. I may have jumped the gun.”
“You think?” Sarcasm at its finest.
“Maybe a little.”
“So what are you waiting for? Call him.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Let him stew a bit.”
“Oh that’s cold.”
“Serves him right.”
“You’re going to really make him work for it.”
“Yep.”
“So what did you want to do?”
“Order Chinese and watch a movie?”
“Sounds good to me.” I could do with getting my mind off this crap with Nathan.
“What did you want to watch?”
“Something mindless.”
“Spoof movie marathon it is.”
By four the Chinese food arrived and we were ready to watch some stupid mindless television. I honestly wasn’t paying much attention to the TV which was kind of the point. Though my mind kept drifting off to thoughts of Nathan which was not the point. I’ve been consumed by thoughts of him, no I’ve been consumed by him. Throughout the night he would send me texts just waiting for me to reply to one finally.
Nathan: Hey.
Nathan: How’s your movie night been?
Nathan: How was the Chinese?
I looked over at Nick replying to messages on his phone and I know he’s letting Nathan know everything so he can be updated. Traitor.
Nathan: Please talk to me.
Nathan: Baby, come on. You can’t ignore me forever.
Nathan: Baby, I know you’re upset but we can talk about this. I know we can work it out.
Nathan: Please just give me a chance to make it up to you.
I’ve had enough. I’m ready to turn in. This has been too mentally exhausting. “I’m going to bed. You can crash here if you want but I’m done with today.”
“Goodnight baby girl.”
“Goodnight.”
I get to my room and there’s another message.
I shut my phone off without replying. Part of me feels bad for giving him the cold shoulder but a part of me still needs that space. Maybe if he’d actually give me some space first.
I tossed and turned all night. I was so restless. I know it’s because I couldn’t stop thinking about Nathan and our fight. I honestly do miss him. I miss his touch and the connection we share. At the same time I don’t know if we’re really a good match. He’s use to having all the control and I refuse to give it up ever again. Where does that leave us?
I decided to turn my phone on and see how many more messages Nathan has left me.
Nathan: Morning beautiful.
Nathan: I hope you slept well.
Nathan: I didn’t get much myself. My thoughts were too consumed by you.
Nathan: Baby, please answer me.
Nathan: At lease let me know you’re okay.
Ugh, I feel like I can’t breathe. Okay I’ll give him credit for his concern and tenacity. I’m almost ready to break. I get up and head out into the kitchen instead. I smell the heavenly aroma of hazelnut coffee. My favorite. “Just what I need. You are the best friend ever.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
“Never.”
“I’d ask how you slept, but from the looks of it not very well.”
“Nope.” My phone buzzed again.
Nathan: I’m glad you are alive and well. I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well either.
“Would please stop telling him everything?”
“Someone has to ease his worry.”
I take a deep breath and let it out. “I guess. I’m sorry you ended up dealing with it.”
“It’s cool. Just remember who the best is. And I’m sure one day I’ll need something from you and you’ll owe me. Big time.”
“Yeah, I definitely owe you big time. I appreciate it.”
“So how much longer are you going to make him suffer?”
“I’ll ease his suffering either after breakfast or lunch. Depending on when I’m feeling forgiving.”
“Well let me feed you and then you can get to making up with lover boy.”
We had a good breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs. I actually managed to relax a bit and started to feel better. Nick always had a way of keeping me calm and helping me see reason. Just after we finished eating my phone buzzed with another message.
Nathan: Enough with the radio silence already. You either respond or I’m coming over there.
“Just call him. I think he’s suffered enough.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“I’ll clean up here. Go call him.”
“Thanks.” I gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I walked into the other room and dialed Nathan’s number.
“Baby, finally.”
“Hey.”
“I’m so sorry about yesterday.”
“No, I’m sorry. I overreacted. I know I didn’t give you a chance.”
“I was just as much at fault. I should have taken what you told me into consideration better.”
“We do need to talk.”
“I won’t argue with you on that. I’d like to talk to you in person. I think it’s better.”
“I agree.”
“Dinner tomorrow night?”
“Sounds good.”
“See you then baby.”
“Yea, see you then.” I hung up the phone and felt a bit lighter. I didn’t know how we were going to solve this but at lease we’re taking the right steps.
“It sounds like things went well.”
“So far.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
“Yeah, me too.”
My phone started ringing but it came up unknown. I decide to just let it go to voicemail. It’s usually just spam.
“Anything important?”
“Unknown.”
“Hmm, spam?”
“That’s my guess. If it’s important they’ll leave a message.”
“That’s what I always say.”
“You heading out?”
“Yeah, I have a couple of clients today. Then I need to get my own workout in.”
“Okay. Have fun. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Later baby girl.”
He left and I went into my office to get some of my own work done.
