"Uhmmm… hospital beds are comfy"
"No, I'm comfy"—I hear his voice resonate inside his chest alongside his heart. The best lullaby ever.
"Uhmmmm… Hospital Gendry is a comfy Gendry and also very convenient one." I say as my hands wiggle under his hospital gown.
He chuckles "I've been stabbed, by you! Have you no shame in taking advantages of a wounded man?"—
"My man!" I say nibbling on his lips. "My future husband!" I say earning a delicious growl from him as he grabs my head and kisses me. That will keep him occupied.
"You know we have to talk about what happened"—Not so much…
"Can't we just talk about how we're finally getting married? I mean, seriously; who wants to hear how you popped the question and got stabbed? You should just say you got into a mean ass fight with some ninjas. You know, give you some street cred"
"I don't give a fuck that I got stabbed, I do however care that you actually thought that I was going to leave you"—
"Scratch that; stabbed is not the proper word. Stab makes people think about a pointy knife and intent. That was not the case"
"Arya…"—He says as I blatantly ignore him and cuddle further to his warm body. "Arya, eyes on me babe"—
"What Gendry? Can we please just forget this whole night happened minus the actual proposal?"
"Not on my watch and I'm not going to ask you again Arya. Look at me"—which I immediately do, I always do. I will forever do, till death do us part. "Why did you have that reaction to begin with? And no bullshiting me, I'm doped up but I can still tell when you're lying at me"—
"Can this get any more embarrassing?"
"Hey…"—He says lifting me up so I'm fully on his body, my head and hands over his chest.
"You're going to get the nurse mad, you shouldn't be supporting any weight on your back"
"And I suspect I shouldn't be having sex but that didn't stop us 20 minutes ago."—
"I blame to whole sexy doctor / patient porn plot. Ouch, Gendry don't pinch my ass so hard"
"Then start talking!"-
I sigh and retreat back into the comfort of his neck "Statistics" I mutter.
"Care to elaborate?"—
"We've been together for 5 years, I've have this ring on my finger for 5 years! Couples who spent a long amount of time engaged barely get married, roughly make it a year before getting divorced"
"We were not engaged"-
"Uhm, hello; big ass rock!" I say waving my hand around.
"That was me asking you to be my girlfriend. A promise ring if want to put a label on it. We got engaged yesterday, you know; that's what happens after you ask someone to be your wife instead of getting stabbed!"—
"It's the same ring. And stop saying stabbed!"
"You want another ring?"—
"Hell no! This one is perfect!"
"I know, you go all Gollum when you look at it, that's why I didn't get a new one… and you did stab me"—
"The point is that the statistics weren't in our favor and I was freaking out. That and you were also acting weird all week so don't blame me"
"Not to be repetitive but I asked you to marry me, you flipped out, had a complete melt down in the restaurant aaaaaaand you stabbed me. All which I predicted minus the stabbing. I was bracing myself Arya, you're not exactly stable with your reactions. I think this…"—He says gesturing towards the hospital room "…proves it"
"I was just freaking out, I thought you were going to break up with me"
"Yeah, that I'll handle when we get out of the hospital and I can properly punish your sweet ass. It pisses me off Arya to no avail that you'd think for a second that I didn't love you anymore"—
"I'm sorry" I say in a small voice while I hear Gendry mutter 'fucking pain in my ass'. We cuddle and I'm already half asleep when he speaks again.
"I'll make it my life mission to make you never doubt my love for you baby. Slept tight, we have a wedding to plan"—
…
(Flashback) Two days ago…
"I can't wear black, he'll notice!"
"Wear whatever color you want as long as it shows skin, lots of it! It's the only way he won't notice"—
I'm standing in front of the mirror with a towel on, completely late since I'm supposed to be ready to go to dinner with Gendry. Ready as in 20 minutes ago. The main problem is I don't know what to wear if I don't know what accessories to put on and I can't put accessories on without the main attraction; that being my huge black diamond engagement ring which has been missing since Monday.
"You're a girl, you can pull of the whole 'I took off the ring because it didn't match my outfit'"—
"I never take that ring off Hot Pie, it's never left my finger since he put it there"
"Well then pop out a tit if he notices. What should I know? Just tell him you lost the damn thing"—
"Babe, you ready?"—Gendry yells from downstairs.
"I have to go, I'll call you later"
"Maybe put on one of those glittery pasties on for distraction"—
"Bye HP!" I end the call franticly looking at my closet. Gendry is not high on tardiness so he'll have no problem in coming up here and putting the bed sheets on me if it means arriving on time. I'm not about to show the goods like HP said but he does have a point; Gendry tends to lose it if I show some skin. First because he turns into a horndog and second because he turns into a dog with rabies filled with jealousy. God I hope he doesn't notice I don't have my ring on, he's been acting so weird these past couple of weeks. He's gone distant and I swear he's talking more over the phone with Sansa and Jeyne than face to face with me.
"Ok… so skin it is."
I go for a cute little number I bought a couple of months ago that I only wore once, why? Because the only time I wore it we were supposed to go to a company party for Gendry but we never left the house; we fought for 41 minutes and fucked for 14 hours. You see it a simple outfit, all grey; top and skirt but I have to say it's quite feminine. The top; that I put on with no bra, shows my midriff and the skirt; which is tied to the side is long but has a front slit that shows both legs when you walk and gives a mighty good show when you sit down. It's simple, not flashy, and somewhat dressy, I already know his attention won't be on my hands. Finally I finish the look with grey strappy platform heels. I can hardly walk in them but high heels are a must, not only because they help me to at least reach Gendry's pecks but guess who has a shoe fetish? I'll give you a hint; it's not me and he loves it when I wear them in bed. I'm putting on my hot pink lipstick when Gendry walks in.
"Arya our reservation is at 8 we need to lea… woooooooooow, are you going out like that?"—Gendry says looking at me from head to toe.
"Why, don't I look ok?"
"No, you look uhm, isn't that outfit more summer… ish? You're gonna catch a cold"—He says gulping. I plan on getting my Gendry back tonight so I sashay over him playing with the lapels of his jacket. He zeros at my lips.
"Good thing I have you to warn me up don't you think?"
Some couples are incredibly mushy and enjoy collecting knitted sweaters, some take cooking classes to bond further and others have date nights once a week, Gendry and I fuck, a lot. I'm talking no holds bar, sweaty, gripping, desperate, anytime, anywhere sex. I mean we're obviously in love but our physical game is on point and the extra worry eating my brain other than the fact that I lost my ring? is that Gendry hasn't touched me in three days and that is enormous. The man literally wakes me up at 3am to have sex, he just do's me and then goes back to sleep, I tried to get things going yesterday and he just brushed me off saying it he was tired from work. Bullshit. Something is wrong and I do not like it.
Point in case? He zeros on my lips but he doesn't kiss me. "Let's go, I don't want to waste another ten minutes with you fixing your makeup"— Gendy mutters already out the door with a frown on his face. See what I mean?
The ride to the restaurant is tense, even with the radio on the silence is deafening, Gendry's knuckles are white against the steering wheel while I try to zoom out his cellphone blasting every couple of minutes.
"Aren't you going to get that?" I ask coming off sounding bitchier than I wanted but meh…
"Work stuff"—He clips not looking at me.
"So? Work has been important for you this past week" As in me not getting any.
"Work days"—
"Excuse me?
"Those were work days, this is the week end. My attention is on you and we need to talk"—
I freeze.
It is a universal truth that no good came after the words 'we need to talk' so I'm immediately on alert. We need to talk, we need to talk, what the hell does that mean? "So? Talk!"
"Uhm, dinner plans? Fancy restaurant? That's what we're going to do"—
"Why can't you just tell me whatever it is you want to talk about right now?"
"Because that's why we're going to dinner, so you can eat, drink and relax. Then we'll talk."
Last week I took a client, nice guy. He was mid-thirties, steady job, clean as a whistle. He was suing his ex-girlfriend on grounds for fraud after she dumped him for an old guy and a big bank account. She took him skiing to the mountains (his favorite place) to break the news, he was so shaken up that when he got his gear on he nearly killed himself. I'm good at my job so not only did I win the case but I actually squeezed in an involuntary manslaughter sentence but the point is I'm babbling. Why? Let's look at exhibit A: "Gendry, where are we going?"
"Les Tablettes ; I'd thought you'd liked it"—Of course I like it, I fucking love it. That's my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. You can tell me the world is coming to an end and I would care less as long as I have my mouth full with their squid and artichokes barigoule. Not seeing where I'm going? Ok, let's look at exhibit B:
"Ok…" I shrug nonchalantly as I slide my hand over Gendry's arm and very demurely land it on his thigh. If you didn't know, this is exhibit B. Before I make another move Gendry grabs my hand, kisses it and puts it back on my own leg patting it down in a stay there gesture. If we go at it like crazed rabbits we're touchy feely and Gendry is not touching me. At all. He even drives with his left hand since his right hand a permanent fixture on my thigh. I suppress a whimper as my phone vibrates inside my clutch. Exhibit C:
You guys are going out tonight right?. Text me once you get back home. SS*
Sansa and her motherfucking Cosmo Mags… Are you ready to take the next step? Is your boyfriend a marriagephobe? 5 easy telltales that your boyfriend wants out. All tests I have failed miserably. She's been up my ass the last month asking about my relationship with Gendry. Am I happy enough? Where do I see myself in ten years? Duh, with Gendry! But then the failed tests, my client's lawsuit and Gendry's refusal to a simple handjob? I'm not feeling too secure with my relationship. I mean, we're stable right?... Gendry's phone keeps ringing.
"I can get that for you…"
"It's not your business"—I wince. His tone is brusque. Gendry is no courteous knight and I am sure as hell no princess but he never speaks to me like that. Is just a freaking phone call, who is calling him so much? Can it be another… can it be another woman? We need to talk, we need to talk, we need to talk. Constant avoidance, no sex, change of attitude… holy shit. GENDRY IS GOING TO BREAK UP WITH ME!
"Arya?"—He says. I was so lost in my head that I didn't realize we arrived at the restaurant and that Gendry is already out of the car.
I take his offering hand as we walk inside, his stride faster than mine leading the way, women immediately zeroing on his tall frame. I never cared for it, Gendry is hot but Gendry is also mine. Is he really? My subconscious sneers. We need to talk, we need to talk, we need to talk… His hands are sweaty and his hair is more of its usual delicious mess as he drags his hand through it. He's nervous about something, Gendry is never nervous. Gendry is breaking up with me.
"Waters, table for two."—He instructs the hostess while we take off our coats.
"Allow me Madame"— the usher says helping me out of my coat but he barely puts a fingertip on me.
"Do you not see me standing here?"—Gendry snarls to the poor man who is already at the state border running for his life.
"What the hell was that for? That was totally rude Gendry"
"He was salivating all over you. That was rude"—He says taking the coat off my back. "For fucks sakes"—He mutters as the hostess tells us our table is ready. By now I can barely walk since he's dragging me through the restaurant.
"Gendry, slow down, people are watching!"
"Of course they're watching"—He says in a murderous tone looking at me from head to toes with a salacious undertone that does not go unnoticed. Ok, good news; he likes what I'm wearing. Bad news; he hates what I'm wearing. "Sit"—He grumbled practically throwing me at the chair.
We're seated at the center of the restaurant. I love it, it's very spacious and filled with light, candlelight's and chandeliers all around giving it a decadent vibe, rich not stuffy, people who enjoy a good meal surround us. After the waiter takes our order Gendry continues to fidget in his seat, constantly padding his cellphone over his jacket.
"Gendry take the call, it's clearly important"
"It's people wanting to know about my latest project"
"The oil rig at the Wall?"
"The Wall? No, I'm prepping one in Dorne"—
"You specifically told me that it was over The Wall" Silence fills the table for a couple of minutes.
"I must have mixed things up"—He shrugs but I call bullshit. I don't mishear anything and Gendry doesn't get things 'mixed up' with his job, he's the most compulsive control freak I have ever seen and I remember how he ignored me all past week because he had to sort out the gear and man-hours. I take my time to scrutinize my -not so loving at the time- boyfriend. Gendry is one of those chosen human beings who look good in anything and exude raw sexuality while doing it, tonight he is sporting a dark blue suede suit jacket that does wonders with the contrast of his blue eyes and his dark raven hair, a crisp white shirt and a gray tie that is already loosened giving him a vibe of wanting to relax, paired with simple black slacks and smart shoes but the clothes do not make the man. His broad shoulders that stretch the jacket to its capacity are the reason the lady on the back table is ignoring her husband. His brooding mood and bad boy vibe the motive waitresses are trying to bride our maître 'd into giving them our table, his long calloused hands the cause the woman (and man) next to us are doing double takes and giggling.
"Well you sure know how to stir up a crowd"
"Of course because I'm the one with no bra on"—He seethes.
"Ah, so you noticed"
"I'd have to be an idiot to not notice Arya, I'm 7 minutes far from knocking someone's teeth out"—
"Don't be a party pooper, just because you don't appreciate it doesn't mean someone else won't"
"What did you just say?"- Gendry's tone is murderous but our little exchange is cut short by our waiter and our food. Of course I pig out; clams, oysters, shrimp and squid while Gendry settles for a pain salad and vintage whisky. His damned cell phone keeps on ringing.
Ok, focus Stark. Is he really going to break up with you? He adores you, well that's what he tells you; not lately that is. Lately he's been coming late from work, he doesn't want to have sex with me and gives me the cold shoulder. Is that normal? I mean I guess, couples experience stress, that's ordinary. Especially after so many years together… unless… unless he found out that you're nothing special, that you're not worth the trouble and that he can totally score a gorgeous model in the blink of an eye.
"I can't find my ring" I blurt out before I even realize what I was doing. He freezes mid bite but at the same time he doesn't seemed fazed. I on the other hand…
"It's ok"—He shrugs. It's ok? It's ok? It's not ok! It's the symbol of our love. His promise to love me more than the previous day, a black diamond unique like me, precious for him to have and to hold and he says it's ok to lose it?! It's the proof of our love, of his love toward me. Without it does the promise of being together still stand? We need to talk, we need to talk, we need to talk… After downing half a bottle of wine in 15 minutes I grab his drink, it disappears in a matter of seconds while he's still playing around with his boring old salad. Since when does Gendry eat salad? He's a meat man, my meat to be exact which by the way is going stale from not being eaten.
He clears his throat. "Arya… I've been doing a lot of thinking for the past weeks"—
"Really?" I squeak and try to compose myself. I fail miserably. "About what?"
"About us, about us as a couple. Our relationship"—
The longer an engagement stretches out, the more questions you should be asking—are there really practical reasons getting in the way (you're finishing school, your guy's work schedule is insane for the next year) or is there more going on underneath, like one of you has doubts? If you find that you or your guy is hesitant to set a date, it's important to be honest with yourself and each other about what you want for the future. Sit down together over a glass of wine and talk about where you're headed as a couple. Still not sure what the hold-up is? Seeing a pre-marital counselor might help. OR go to the simplest option. Your guy is just not that into you. Can You Be Engaged Too Long? By Cosmopolitan Magazine.
First I was too young, then I had school, which lead to my internship, bar exam and job hunting but then… nothing. Is this it? After five years Gendry finally realized he was selling himself short with me? He probably stayed with me out of loyalty to Robb. Oh my God; I'm Smalls! I'm the safety pillow and now he wants to move on.
"Arya? You're killing me here Love"—
"Ugh?" Gendry is kneeling before me, he kept on talking but I didn't hear anything, I don't want to hear anything. Denial and retreat my only friends. "I have to go" And I'm off, already out of the restaurant into the cold night.
"ARYA!"—Gendry yells after me, he stumbles into a woman and is apologizing profusely, the woman is not. She's wearing heels but can easily hold his stare so she's obviously tall. Blonde wavy hair that reaches her ass and has a rack that makes me feel like a ten year old boy. Who am I kidding, next to her I am a ten year old. She looks perfect with Gendry, both perfect tens.
"SHIT!" I yell.
Yup, I fell. Of course I did.
Of course this situation wasn't embarrassing enough that I had to slip and land my dumped ass on a puddle of mud aaaaand I'm also crying. Great, this is like Arya Stark's Greatest Hits. I should just get everything out there "I like the new Taylor Swift album!" I yell
"Arya? What the hell?"—Gendry comes running after me standing me up and trying to clean the mud out of me.
"Don't touch me Gendry, go away!" I say trying to walk further but these damn shoes won't let me so I take them off.
"Arya? Wait a second? What the hell is going on? Why did you walk away from me?"
"Why?" I scoff while I keep on walking "Because I'm sorry if I want the last image I have of you to be something other than you dumping me"
"I wasn't dumping you! Did you not hear me ask you to… wait, who are you calling?"—Gendry asks as I whip out my phone from my clutch. I ignore Sansa's fifty five messages.
Who can I call? Hot Pie doesn't have a car, Jon is out of the question I mean Gendry just obviously shattered my heart but I do still love him, I don't want Jon to murder him… yet. "You're calling Smalls? What the hell are you doing calling your ex-boyfriend for?"—Gendry says yanking my cellphone from my hand.
"Give me back my phone you stupid bull" I yell clobbering him with my shoes. We make quite the spectacle. People are staring while were in the middle of downtown, me shoeless, crying and dirty while Gendry dangles my phone above my head looking like a wants to kill someone.
"Arya… Why are you calling Smalls after I asked you to marry me?"—
"You didn't ask me to marry me, you dumped me!"
"Dumped you? How is me getting on my knees and asking you to be my lawful wedded wife translate in me dumping you?"—
"Of course you dumped me! You were prattling around on how we've been together for so long and how I'm a pain in the ass and how you deserve a perfect ten!"—I yell while I stark to walk again. Fuck it, I'll walk home. Is it home still? I should probably go to a hotel.
"Arya… this will probably be the first time I think I will deem acceptable talking drugs because you being high as a motherfucking kite is the only answer to what is coming out of your pretty little head babe"—He says smirking at me casually following me as if nothing. Now this pisses me off.
"I. FUCKING. LOVE. YOU!" I say hitting him with my shoe. "How dare you mock me after throwing five years Gendry, five years down the drain! You knew I came with baggage, you knew I tend to be difficult and yet you chose to be with me Gendry and now you're taking it all away" By now I'm a crying mess so I don't pull much of a fight as Gendry takes me in his arms.
"I'm not taking Arya; I'm asking. Just say yes"—
"Yes to what?"
"To you being my wife"—
"But you just dumped me"
"No, I asked you to be the future mother of my children, you walked out on me and then…"—
"Oh my God, someone call the police!"—A woman interrupts our conversation. Gendry immediately holds me closer to him.
"Let's just go home and finish talking there"—He says with me quickly agreeing but we stop short as a police officer is walking towards us with his hands up in a warning gesture.
"Excuse me folks but I'm going to need you to stop right there"—
"Is there a problem officer?"—Gendry asks shielding me with his body weary of everyone looking at us.
"Son, that's a lot of blood. I'm gonna need you two to step away from each other and explain to me the situation"—
"What situation? What blood? Holy shit Gendry my shoe!" I yell. I hope you enjoy your purchase of Arya Stark's Greatest Hits; Platinum Edition.
"Did you stab me with your shoe?"—Gendry asks incredulous when we both acknowledge that in fact one of my very fabulous grey rhinestone strappy platform heels is lodged into Gendry's shoulder.
"I… I… I guess I did" I say flabbergasted as much as he is. Fuck, that's a lot of blood!
"Ok Miss then I'm going to need you to come with me"—The policeman says pulling my arm with unnecessary force specially in front of Gendry who's response to anyone laying a hand on me is basically the same. Before I blink the policeman is out cold in the pavement after Gendry punched him square in the face, his partner is running towards us gun in hand, I hear an ambulance and people are most definitely taking pictures and videos on their cellphone. All of that in the span of five minutes and then I'm finally inside the back of a police car.
"Sir? Please stay still we need to get you to the hospital"—The paramedic tries to tell Gendry who was already inside the ambulance, his stride fast and with purpose. He opens the door to the police car, yanks me out and gives me a kiss that given the circumstances should not turn me on so much.
"Is anything easy with you?"—He says after he pulls his lips away leaving me breathless like the first time he kissed me.
"I may not be no lady but I'm not easy"
"Marry me"—
"Gendry, I'm so sorry about tonight. I'm so stupid I…"
"Just say fucking yes Arya!"
"Yes!"
"Finally!"—He growls giving me another scorching kiss that was going to lead to some serious dry humping if we weren't ordered to stand apart.
"Here…"—He says putting my engagement ring back on my finger were it righteously belongs.
"You had it all along?"
"Of course, normally one has a ring the moment you pop the question"—
"You know I'd punch you if I wasn't handcuffed right?"
"Yes, go and make sure to call Robb to bail you out. Come straight to the hospital and bring the cuffs"—He says winking at me and strolling back to the ambulance as if was a normal day and he just kissed me goodbye to work.
Gendry Waters; my fiancé.
…..
End of Flashback (Present day):
It must be morning because I hear different voices but I'm way too tired and comfortable to fully wake up. Besides, said voices I know pretty well.
"I told you to ignore the womenfolk. You guys are practically already married! You should have just dragged her ass to the courtroom, sign the damn thing and fuck each other's brains out per normal"—
"Ygritte don't be so crass. Besides, just because you don't believe in marriage doesn't mean everyone else shares your view"—Sansa admonishes her while trying not to 'wake me up'.
"We're so sorry Gendry it's just that we spent so many days planning the whole thing that we were anxious to know how it all went. We sincerely regret ending up clogging your cell phone that night"—Jeyne pipes up. Ygritte is right; listening to Jeyne and Sansa will only ensure a pink wedding with unicorn as ring bearers.
"It's ok, I suppose Arya is going to need your help with all the wedding stuff but just so you know? Her word is final. Help her but the minute she comes complaining about you two wanting to steer her into something she doesn't want I'll take Gryt's advise and marry her in a courtroom"—
"Damn straight you should"—
"You know Ygritte if you're so firm on the whole thing why don't you at least do that and make an honest man out of Jon?"—Sansa puffs obviously pissed off that calling off a big wedding is a possibility.
"Jon Snow has been on my bed for years, his cock has permanent residency in my vagina. It doesn't get more honest than that"—
"Ooooooooooookey kids, that's our cue to go. Tell Arya we were here and again; congratulations"—Jeyne says ushering a bickering Sansa and Ygritte out of the room.
"I know you're awake Arya"—Gendry says nipping at my neck. "Wake up sleepy head. I'm getting discharged today"—
"I know but we can still sleep a while longer" I whine making him chuckle.
"I also know that but since I don't plan on getting stabbed again let alone spending time inside a hospital I thought we could make sure I was ready to go home"- He says this time pulling me under him reminding me that morning wood very much exists. "You still have the handcuffs?"—
"How does a sexy nurse have handcuffs?"
"We'll improvise. C'mon Stark I have to catch up with my fill of you"
Thank you all for stopping by and reading my little story. Again, thank you all for your support and feel free to review - follow and favorite :)
XOXO
New girl.
