When they got home, Erik immediately headed into the kitchen. She followed after him, doing her best to keep her disinterested act. He'd left her alone for longer than expected. Therefore she wanted to make him do most of the work in this conversation.
Christine wasn't petty- but she wanted to be sure that he was ready to actually talk about this like a civilized adult. If he started raging, she would be going to the bed. He could have the couch for all she cared.
She cared a lot- but she was tired of him being a dick. They needed to be a united front and come together. She kept Meg's suggestion of couple's therapy in the back of her mind.
But she was less eager to spring it on him now that they were together. Maybe it wouldn't be as needed as Meg seemed to think when she suggested it.
Erik had been searching for the fridge for a few minutes now. She was about to clear her throat when he leaned up with his hands full, holding both meat and spaghetti sauce.
"Pasta is alright with you, right? I can't think of anything else at the moment." He uttered, peering at her with an incomprehensible look in his eyes.
She simply nodded. She wasn't going to humor him until he cut to the chase. She saw a flash of something akin to irritation before he turned away.
She could understand that. From his perspective it probably seemed like she was being a difficult for the hell of it.
He filled a pot with water and sat it on the stove, before bending down to grab a pan for the hamburger.
"I was an ass, Mon coeur. I admit that fully. But...you just sprung that on me. Without warning. I shouldn't have lashed out like that, though. Nor should I have gotten drunk. I shouldn't have done anything that I did." Erik trailed off, checking on the meat.
His shoulders were slumped and she could tell that he was legitimately remorseful. She couldn't help the way she softened. They'd both been in the wrong, after all.
She'd been the one to blow it out of proportion this last time. He'd been trying and she'd held a grudge over something so simple as calling her a bitch.
Not only that - but when she really thought about it, she had deliberately misconstrued his comment about being selfish.
"I know. But what happened afterwards was on me. I shouldn't have provoked you like that. I admit that I was also being a bit dramatic. So I think we're both sorry." Christine murmured. She wouldn't admit fault for her requests though. She just couldn't.
Erik seemed to realize this, peering at her. His posture returned to normal and he nodded hesitantly. He was silent, though, clearly contemplating what he would be saying next.
She walked over to help him cook, pouring the noodles into the now boiling water. If they wanted conversation to go well, they needed to meet each other half way.
"That's understandable, though. But you're right. We're both sorry. So...why don't we move past this and promise that we'll try to do better next time?" Erik finally questioned, turning around to face her.
Christine pursed her lips, considering the offer. Her mind circled around to Meg's suggestion but she promptly discarded it this time around. Perhaps Meg was wrong and she'd just considered it because she was desperate at the time.
They didn't need couples counseling. They worked through this easily enough. This was what worked for them. This was what had always worked for them. She just needed to have faith in the process.
Besides, she didn't want to put Erik through something that he'd be uncomfortable doing given his less than stellar opinion on counselors and therapists.
"That sounds like a plan, dear." She confirmed, leaning up to press her lips against his. She delighted in the way he immediately returned it, his arms around her waist.
She'd missed this most of all.
Nadir collapsed to the side and smirked at a giggling Meg. Really, that woman was insatiable. He loved it. How could he not? Though some part of him wondered what had brought it on. He didn't particularly care though.
He'd stopped caring in the middle of round two. They'd needed this. That was the only explanation he needed. As much as he liked Christine, her presence had truly hindered their ability to be intimate.
"Eager, weren't we?" He teased lightly, reaching out to tug the blonde into his side.
She squeaked when she was pulled against his body, but she wasn't complaining. It was obvious that she wasn't. She pressed a kiss against his neck and shrugged lightly.
"Me? You gave in rather quickly. So I'm pretty sure this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black." Meg teased.
He rolled his eyes and let his hand roam despite himself. He needed a few moments but he saw no reason to not try and catch up on lost time. They could worry about eating and drinking later. when they'd thoroughly exhausted themselves.
"Can you blame me, though? I'd like to see a man that could say no to you." Nadir mused, smirking.
It was always worth it to see that charming red blush spread across her cheeks. While it was rather difficult sometimes. - all one needed to do was say the right thing at the right time. Though that was his job and his job alone. He didn't need any other men making blush like this.
She slapped his chest playfully and shook her head. "You flatter me, darling." She uttered.
She was clearly trying to deflect his compliment. Always the humble one when it came to that sort of thing. Sometimes there was a such thing as being overly humble.
"Guess I'm just going to have to make you believe that." He drawled, rolling over to hover over her again.
Meg didn't speak again. She simply pulled him down on top of her and he didn't even try to fight her.
Why would he? He wasn't stupid.