LOVING YOU BENEATH THE SURFACE

DIFFERENCES

CHRIS’S POV

After a tiring flight, I decided to head for Kate’s place because I had previously informed her that I would be crashing at her place. Since she was so busy to have a proper date, I figured it would be easier for us to see by going over to her place, since she was home that Sunday. My plane landed around eight in the evening and it took approximately twenty minutes before I got to her place.

“I missed you so much” was the first thing that flew out of my mouth as soon as she opened the door.

She was in a woven pink sweater and white short. Her fixed nails were gone, which indicated that she would soon start working on another project.

“Take a shower, you must have been tired” she told me, and helped me with my bag.

My neck tilted at her statement and I bent to look at her eyes. It was strange that she didn’t jump at me or even return my line.

“You don’t miss me?” I was forced to ask and she let out a light chuckle before saying “It would be strange if I didn’t. Of course, I missed you”

My heart fluttered at her statement and I drew her closer for a forehead kiss which advanced into some few minutes of lip locking before I left for the bathroom to take a shower. I came out after ten minutes of a good bath and saw her glued to her tablet.

Since I didn’t want to disturb her, I went to the kitchen to dish my food but, to my surprise, all the pots were squeaky clean and hung on their racks. The sight was surprising and confusing to me because I told her that I would love to have her warm meal in order to wash away the stress I went through in Malta.

I didn’t have a proper meal throughout the conference and I had missed her food so much. It had been so long since she made a home meal because we always eat out during our dates. Disappointment washed over me that instant as I turned to question her in the sitting room.

“Babe, no food? I told you I would love your homemade meal”, I said softly, even though I was so annoyed.

She didn’t lift her head from the tablet and just responded “Oh! I wanted to make something simple but found out that I didn’t have any ingredients or food items at home. Just some random snacks and drinks. I couldn’t go out of the house because I was swamped with work. I will do something about that tomorrow evening. Just manage a few snacks at home”

That got my anger shooting through the roof! I was so pissed!

It was not about the fact that she didn’t cook anymore, but because she was even nonchalant about it. She didn’t see the need to feel bad about my disappointment and just took it lightly. Her work always came first and that was never a problem, but it was getting too much at that point. She had never been to this length before and it was becoming scary.

“Babe, can you hear what you are saying? I clearly let you know about this! I didn’t just show up out of the blue to demand homemade food”. I raised my voice a bit.

I was really trying hard to suppress my anger, but I just had to let it out. I couldn’t bottle it up anymore and it was getting tiring.

“You are getting it wrong. I didn’t do it on purpose. I can’t step out because of my work and you know how important inspiration is to me. Once I picked up the pen and realized that I was in the feeling, I couldn’t let go”, she argued and that only got me madder.

“Inspiration! Inspiration!! Inspiration!!! Can you even hear yourself? Do you know how many dates you have canceled in the span of the past three months? Do you even feel bad for me or my emotions? Do I have any place on your list?” I snapped at her and paused to take a breath.

It was much needed, I needed to blow the steam off my chest. I couldn’t keep pretending that all was fine when it was getting burdensome.

“Wait, do you even love me anymore? Is there someone else now? Should I just f**k off?” I continued, and she dropped her tablet in anger.

“Were you thinking about that all this while? You should have said so earlier. I didn’t have the time to cook and that suddenly meant I had someone else? Oh! please Chris. I don’t even have time for myself. Just look at all these, I have been battling with them over the weekend without sleep” she slammed, and a scoff flew out of my throat

“You decided not to have any sleep. Do you think you are the only one working? For God’s sake Kate! There is a time and place for everything! Do I even have any space in your heart anymore? I never for once doubted this love of ours, but at this point, I will have to think again”, I remarked, walked to where my bag was and left her house immediately.

I couldn’t bear myself sleeping in her house that night. I was pissed beyond control and I couldn’t pretend to be fine and sleep soundly by her side. Aside from that, I was terribly famished. I decided not to get any food because I was already salivating about her food, but my hope was dashed beyond repair.

“You can’t leave now. It’s too late now and you didn’t bring your car”. She tried persuading me and held my hand.

I flung her hand away and told her not to worry about me, I would surely sort myself out, so she could continue with her dear work. It took me more than thirty minutes to get a cab which stopped for me to get a food package at a restaurant before it took me home.

On getting home, I couldn’t even eat the food anymore. My emotions were all over the place that I dropped the food after three spoons to avoid indigestion. I just blended a fruit shake with ice and went to sleep.

I didn’t sleep for up to two hours before I woke up again to think about the whole scenario. Even though I was as tired as hell, I couldn’t sleep deeply. My heart was aching badly, I couldn’t push the thoughts aside.

That night, I took my phone and called Priscilla to discuss the issue with her. She was the only one I could tell to help talk to Kate on my behalf. Her work being the top priority was affecting us badly and I didn’t want a situation where everything we had worked for would go downhill.

“Oh my God! I will talk to her, so please be patient with her. I can understand all that you have said. She has always been a workaholic, but I didn’t expect it to get that worse. I am apologizing on her behalf”, she told me

“I am not saying this so you apologize. I just feel she will listen to you more than me. Thank you for listening”, I replied, and ended the call to take two cans of beer before I could finally sleep.

The company gave me two days off for the rest after the conference, so I didn’t have any need to go to work the next morning. I was sleeping peacefully until her call interrupted my sleep, but I declined it and placed my phone in silence before I continued my sleep.

About two hours later, I suddenly heard the door lock beeping, to my surprise, and I knew the only person who could do that was Kate. She was the only one with my house password. Even though I was aware that she was coming in, I just slept on my bed and faced the wall without any reaction.

“Baby, are you still so annoyed with me?” her soft voice called out, but I refused to give any reaction until I felt her hand around me.

“I am sorry about yesterday” she pouted with a cute voice and that melted my heart immediately even though I was not ready to give in easily,

“Can you let me sleep? I value my sleep right now”, I responded pettily, and she slipped under the blanket.

That got me surprised because even her presence there was alarming, she would have been at work by this time.

“No work?” I asked, still turning my back on her.

“I took the day off to be with you. I needed to give you the assurance that you would always be my best”, she responded softly.

That got me smiling, but I still didn’t turn until she wrapped herself around me and her bare skin rubbed on me. That was what I was thinking, she had yanked her clothes off and was in her underwear.

“You will have to get prepared to be fed today. Both your belly and your body will be fed to stupor”, she whispered.

Fuck it! I didn’t know when I turned and her lips grabbed mine into a lock.