"Don't forget," Kenna warns Bash as she hands him a sealed travel mug as he's in his early morning dash around the house to get ready and out for work. "After work, our café at 3 PM."
"Do we have to do it?"
Kenna rolls her eyes. "Bash, Dr Narcisse suggested spending time with each other and I know you end early today because it's Henry and Catherine's wedding anniversary and they always end the day early."
Bash sighs, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek when she shifts her face to the side. "Can I please kiss you?"
Kenna turns back to him. "Our café, 3 PM. Promise me."
"Yes, I promise you," he says, finally getting a kiss from her. "I love you."
"Really?" She asks dubiously. "You haven't told me that in a year."
He sighs, backing out of the kitchen. "Nope, we're not starting an argument this morning," he says with a smirk. "We're supposed to fix things not argue."
"Get out," she says lightly, sighing against the counter when he finally leaves, the front door shutting behind him.
By four o'clock, Kenna's livid.
He's forgotten about their tea date because they both hate coffee and she's been waiting for an hour, giving him the benefit of the doubt that they were probably celebrating at work.
But an hour and forty-five minutes are pushing it.
She stands, taking her already paid for tea as she hadn't wanted to order for him until he came and she downs the rest of her cold tea, chucks it into the bin and leaves the café.
Just before she opens her car door, a hand is pressed against it and she turns to give Bash a hard glare.
"Get off," she demands.
"Kenna-"
"Get your hand off," she whispers, staring at the bouquet of flowers in his other hand. Her favourites. "I gave you a time and I expected you to uphold it."
His hand leaves her door and she forces it open, getting inside and starting it, locking the doors as well. She's pissed off, she needs a breather and she doesn't want to lose her cool in front of everyone here.
She drives off.
...
It's past eight when she gets home, having spent time with Mary, Francis, Anne and James before Francis begged her to go home and hear Bash out. It's not his fault, apparently.
"My car ran out of charge," he informs her, suddenly regretting the decision to splurge out on a Tesla of all cars. "In the middle of a busy road and I forgot to charge it or tell you to before I got home from Spain."
She listens because she's patient like that. And she loves him terribly and a part of her did worry about all the possible scenarios that could have prevented him from arriving on time.
"Francis had to pick me up," he continues. "I bought more tea on the way home."
He retrieves chamomile tea and starts preparing it as she washes her hands and sinks onto a seat, placing her handbag onto the floor by her foot.
"I'm so sorry, Kenna," he eventually adds, sliding a peace offering in the form of chamomile tea towards her. "We can have our tea date here?"
Kenna blinks back tears. "This isn't working, Bash."
"Kenna, these things take time-"
"I don't think this will get fixed," she says sadly, eyes down on the tea.
"Let's sleep on it. Please?" He begs her, taking her hand. He knows she's tired and fed up and so is he but he doesn't want them to give up without a fight.
She sniffles. "You're free tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go out for tea."
"I'd like that."
...
Tea is lovely, they sit in silence over hot cups of tea, smiles on their faces. His hand reaches out for hers and he rubs circles with his thumb on the back of her hand. Eventually, they leave the café with their travel mugs, arms linked as they walk down the Seine.
It's a cold, Autumn day, the wind biting at Kenna's neck and Bash stops them, wrapping his scarf around her neck before leaning his forehead against hers.
"I did tell you to wear a scarf."
"I wasn't expecting us to walk," she retorts, inhaling his scent, enhanced from his scarf wrapped around her neck and bottom of her chin.
"No cars," he says lightly before entwining their fingers and continuing down the river.
She laughs. "No, not after your stupidity. When will you go and fetch it from the showroom?"
"Tomorrow," Bash says. "I told them to retune it a little for me."
Kenna nods with a wistful sigh. "About what I said last night... About us not getting fixed... I'm sorry."
"You were angry, I understand," he replies, kissing her softly. "I want us to last, Kenna. It's going to be hard but we'll get there because it's us and we always make things work. Nothing's broken, we're just... it's a blip. It happens."
She swallows hard, looking down at their entwined hands. "I want us to get fixed. You're the only one who puts my needs above his own and I get it when you want to be at work for long hours or when you're tired and need time to yourself. I'll be less needy..."
Bash frowns. "Darling, you're not needy."
"Don't humour me," she mumbles. "I have attachment issues. If I can be fine with my independence after all of my disastrous relationships, then I won't be as annoyed when I don't see you for weeks on end."
"I'll try harder to be at home more," he replies softly. "We're both to blame and we'll both fix it."
Kenna decides that she quite likes this tea date as she presses a long, loving kiss on Bash's lips.