Our Way
I chuckle as I walk across the road. This man kills me.
“This isn’t funny.” He growls.
I try to open the car door but it’s still locked. “Open the door, Nathan.”
He opens the door and we both climb in. I look over at his poor, tortured face.
I’ve put this poor bastard through hell. “Take me home.”
He starts the car.
“To my place.”
He stops what he’s doing and glares at me. “Oh, so you are going to carry on about this?”
“No, I’m going to get some clothes to bring to your house, you moron.”
He watches me as if scared I’m about to run. I guess the old me would have.
“I understand why tonight bothered you.” I lean over and kiss him. “I never have to see Henry again. I get it, and it’s over now.”
He frowns, as if surprised. “You do and it is?”
“Yeah.” I smile as I run my hand over his two-day growth. “You know what, Nathe? We have to stop carrying on like idiots and start talking to each other. If this is it for us—and we both know that it is—and we want to plan a future together, we won’t make it unless we communicate better and grow the fuck up. No more tantrums, no more leaving, no more jealousy, no more spying on people in restaurants.”
His face falls.
“Yes, I know about you in New York. No more secrets, and no more fucking bullshit, Nathan.”
He smiles softly, as if he’s hopeful, too.
“Do we have chocolate at home?” I ask.
“No.”
“Well, you better stop at the store then.” I sit back and pull my seatbelt over my shoulder casually as if I have this conversation every day. “Hadn’t you?”
He stares at me for a moment, and then a slow, sexy smile crosses his face. “I love you, Eliza.”
“I know.” I smile as I pick up his hand and kiss the back of it before cupping it around my face. “And I love you.”
We did it. We got through an argument like adults.
He pulls out into the traffic and I smile as I look out of the window. And just like that, I feel the tectonic plates slide into place. The bullshit between us is over.
We can finally start afresh and look at each other through untainted glasses.
We love each other so much. We have put each other through so much.
And for what?
The games end now.
* * *
I walk out of the elevator like I’m a rock star. I’m at Nathan’s office, and after our little fight last night—or should I say, lack of fight?—I have a spring in my step.
I have hope f