Warning: I don't have a beta-reader (yeah that hasn't changed either) and, as English is not my main language, I'm bound to make mistakes. I hope it's not too bad and you'll bear with me.
If you don't like, don't read. Flames will probably be ignored; constructive critics and other reviews are always very welcome. Read and enjoy.
So here we are with chapter 18.
I'm really bad at updating lately and again I apologize. I have not abandoned that fic and it will be finished (the next 2 chapters are already written and I started the next one earlier today).
I'm currently changing jobs, so I have to finish up the old one and start preparing for the new one, so it's quite hectic. I also had several personal projects linked to my house and I just didn't have the time… and mostly energy. I won't promise when I'll update next, but I certainly hope it won't take as long.
Disclaimer: Don't own, just playing around so don't sue… Belongs to CBS Studios, Sony Pictures Television and many others.
"We have every right to create our own destiny, but none to interfere in someone else's." Martin Rubin. ;)
Street relinquished control of the conversation about their Saturday at sea to a visibly excited Luca. He made a conscious effort to avoid staring too obviously at Chris, who stood in front of her locker. Street readily admitted that the day had been quite pleasant—exactly what he needed to clear his mind. They had a great time, starting the morning with a leisurely stroll along the seafront before joining their friends for a delightful boating excursion along the coast. Later, they all enjoyed a pleasant dinner together before Street drove Melissa and Lauren home.
"Man, it was so good…" Luca told Tan with a laugh. "We had so much fun, didn't we Street?"
"It was nice… Great weather, for sure." He conceded with a grin, turning more obviously to his friends on his right and glancing at Chris.
She listened intently, and from the expression on her face, he could tell she was far from pleased with the conversation. He had ignored her phone calls and texts while he deliberated on what needed to be done, and even though he didn't want to hear what she had to say, he had read all the messages.
"I didn't think you had sea legs, Luca." Tan joked happily. "I would have thought you only liked to have firm land under your feet."
Hondo and Deac burst into laughter at Tan's comment, and Street couldn't help but grin.
"He wasn't half bad." He chimed in, and his friend puffed up.
"I was much better than you on that boat, Street," the older man proudly declared. "I would have thought that a guy born in Long Beach would be more comfortable on the ocean."
"You make it sound as if I was seasick," Street frowned while Luca laughed. "I want to remind you that I helped with sailing while you just relaxed with the ladies…"
"Yeah, yeah…" He quickly conceded, and the laughter in the room grew even louder.
"Next time… if there's one, you'll help along." He warned his roommate, and the other man nodded. "That said, I must admit you did good."
"Thanks, I loved it. If boating wasn't that expensive, I'd love to do that more often," he said with a smile. "Melissa liked it too… And so did Lauren… you guys talked a lot together. It was hard to miss how well you two hit it off…"
"She is very nice, and she was very eager to help," he said with a fond smile.
"I bet she was," Chris grumbled under her breath.
She kept her eyes resolutely on her gear, avoiding eye contact with her friends and mainly Street. He had ignored her the whole weekend. Her feelings about that were a mix of heartache and anger... maybe a little despair too. When Luca had announced at the end of last week that they were spending the day at sea with the two young women, she had felt shell-shocked. She wasn't sure if Street was just pressing her buttons or if he genuinely had enjoyed his time with Lauren. Luca was beyond delighted. Before Street had joined them in the locker room, he had boasted about how well the matchmaking was working. His words had made her heart sink.
She hadn't needed to hear how well it had gone. Street's silence was already eating at her. They needed to speak, but it was complicated when he was ignoring her the way he did. However, she knew better than to try to initiate a discussion at HQ. The issue was too personal, and she was worried she would not handle it well if it went south. She had to work hard on her features right now, so they wouldn't betray her current state of mind.
"So, are you two going to Hondo's party together?" Tan wondered and Chris felt how her mouth tensed at his words.
"Yeah, that's the plan." Street confirmed and Luca laughed cheerfully next to him. "Don't jump the gun, Luca."
"Of course not, I leave you lovebirds to define the rhythm." He said with a teasing wink and more laughs were heard.
At his words, Chris slammed her locker door shut with more force than she had intended. The men startled at the unexpected sound, and she looked at them apologetically.
"Sorry, guys. It slipped out of my hand." She explained with a contrite tone. "So, I'm heading to the shooting range. I want to test the tricks they taught us on Saturday. If someone want to join… I'll share."
They watched as she left the room, and Street looked at her retreating form with a tense jaw. It felt so wrong to be at odds with Chris like that, and he felt all kinds of petty. If he were honest, he hadn't done anything worse than her not telling him about Julian calling. He realized that, but a part of him was still not ready to get over it. While he listened to Luca's joyous babble with a fond smile, he pondered when they could best talk, and how it needed to be soon.
Tan walked into the shooting range a little warily. He had texted Chris during the weekend to find out if she had made a decision about accepting their invitation to go out for dinner at the end of the week. He knew Julian had also texted or called her, but it didn't seem like the young man had received a better answer than he had. Tan knew better than to pressure Chris; it was unlikely to get the desired result. He watched her closely as she quickly discharged her weapon, and he moved next to her once she had placed it on the counter. Just as she pushed the button to retrieve the target, she spotted him and let out a heavy sigh. Tan gulped uneasily as he approached closer. She clearly didn't seem to be in a better frame of mind than she had been earlier in the locker room. Whatever was bothering her was not in his advantage for him.
"Hey." He said, a little unsure about what else he should say.
"Is this about your texts and Julian's phone calls?" She wondered, and he gulped apprehensively, giving her the answer she needed.
"Calls? Like in plural?" She grunted when he finished talking, and he shook his head. "Sorry I didn't know. Bonnie has been bugging me continuously, because she wants to organize the dinner on Thursday night… if you are available, of course."
"Have you talked to Julian?" She asked him outright, and he nodded. "And?"
"He apologized… It was like you and Bonnie said." He admitted with a sigh. "He never realized his strange sense of humor was making me uncomfortable. I should have said something earlier. He has been apologetic since then. I almost feel bad now…"
"So, you guys are good?" She pushed and he sighed, nodding once more. "You really suck at communicating at times, Tan. Not everyone is a mind reader. If you can't be honest with your family…"
"I know and now we both feel bad." He repeated, wondering why it always took so long to speak his mind with his family, and now it seemed with his in-laws as well.
"Sorry for the lecture…" she murmured and he shook his head.
"No, you are right, and I know it." He admitted after a minute, and she nodded. "We're planning to have a guys' night out. I was considering asking Street or other friends to join us."
"Probably not Street." She said, trying to keep her emotions at bay. "He's not too fond of Julian himself."
"Oh, I wasn't aware…" Tan frowned, taking in the information. "Just maybe the two of us then… I guess that's the way to get to know each other better anyway."
"Exactly, face the situation by yourself. You don't need someone else there." She stated forcefully. "You need to bond over something… especially if he moves back to Southern California… He'll probably become a regular feature in your family life, seeing how close he is to Bonnie."
"Yeah exactly! I need to spend time with him and give him a real chance." He agreed, already thinking where to go to spend a relaxed evening. Maybe his favorite sports bar would be the perfect place, or they could go indoor climbing. "But… You are coming to dinner with us, right?"
At his question, she sighed and pursed her lips. He knew what was coming next, but he had to ask.
"I haven't decided to be honest." She said with a grimace. "But I'm glad you guys managed to have a good and honest exchange. That's the most important thing."
"Yeah, if anything this whole matchmaking scheme from Bonnie cleared the air between us. And that was vital." Chris nodded, looking down at her handgun. "I'm sorry to push you, but…"
"I'll give you an answer tomorrow, I promise." She decided and he sighed in relief. "I just… I need a little bit more time, Tan. I'm sorry."
"I understand." He quickly said, and she offered him a small smile. "I hope you'll be there."
"We'll see." She mused, her smile widening a little. "Now, do you want to learn the little trick they showed us on Saturday?"
"Sure, so you decided to go… You weren't so sure when we talked last." He wondered as he looked at her intently.
"Yeah, my plans… I didn't have anything better to do…" She shrugged awkwardly. "And what beats shooting at things to feel better?"
Tan laughed uneasily, sensing the lingering pain in her tone, and he couldn't help but wonder what had happened. However, he didn't dare ask her directly. He knew he would eventually find out, but for now, he would give her the space and time she needed.
Deac looked at Hondo as his fingers flew across the display of his phone. The party at Hondo's house was only five days away, and so far, Hondo had managed to keep the theme a secret from almost everyone. As far as Deac was aware, only Chris knew, but she had kept it to herself. Hondo believed that a little surprise was always nice, but Annie hadn't agreed with him. She had convinced Deac to talk to Hondo and find out the details. When he had tried to suggest that Annie discuss it with Nichelle instead, she had glared at him with an empty expression, and he had caved in. And now he was facing his friend. Hondo looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a questioning look.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Hondo asked, staring at him suspiciously.
Deac took a deep breath. "Your party."
"Ah," Hondo said knowingly, a large smirk on his face. "The party. So, what about it?"
"Annie has been pestering me to ask you what it would be about." He sighed heavily. "I told her if you hadn't given us the theme in your invitation, it was not an oversight."
The other man chuckled. "Obviously."
"So, you're not going to tell me…" He asked, his eyes almost pleading.
"I suppose she already asked Nichelle…" He laughed out loud when Deac confirmed his suspicions and he shook his head, clearly amused. "Well, she'll have to wait like everyone else. I mean we never said the theme would be shared before the party, did we?"
"No, we didn't." He agreed and grinned. "I asked, you didn't tell me. I consider the matter is settled. Did other people ask you?"
"Almost everyone outside of 20 Squad did… you're the exception." He burst out laughing at Deac's crestfallen expression. "It's okay, we all know Annie and love her for that."
"Like I said I did my part." He raised his hands, satisfied despite not obtaining what he had come for.
"Do you want it in writing?" Hondo joked, and Deac theatrically rolled his eyes. "You know in case you have to prove…"
"Oh, shove it." The other man laughed.
"Okay, you know I have your back…" Deac pushed, and his friend nodded before turning on his heels to leave. "Wait… What did you think about this morning?"
"This morning?" Deac asked, not following what he was referring to.
"Luca's successful matchmaking… or whatever that was…"
"Oh right… He called Annie as soon as he got home on Saturday. I've heard about nothing else for the rest of weekend." He admitted with a sigh. "For me, they spent the day out together. I wouldn't read too much into that. But you know Annie and Luca… how they jump the wagon easily, they're ready to pop the champagne. And of course, now that Julian is back in LA, they're trying to pressure Chris into going on a double date with Bonnie and Tan."
"Oh…" He glanced at his friend, lost in thoughts. "Do you think this is why she was a little off this morning? I wanted to talk to her, but she's been avoiding me quite efficiently the whole day."
"I don't know… maybe." Deac shrugged. "I know Tan went to ask her again, but she hasn't agreed yet. He told me Julian had also tried… and so far, she's not committed to anything."
"That's not her style." Hondo pondered. "Usually, she's very straightforward. I wonder why she's stalling like that."
"Your guess is as good as mine. We talked a little, but she totally ignored me when I subtly tried to steer the conversation in that direction."
"Subtly?" He raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Yeah, I'll try to see if I can catch her before she leaves. It might be difficult as I need to see Hicks and Stevens about an operation with the DEA. You know how those meetings go… you know when they start, never when they end…"
"Have fun…" Deac winked at him mockingly, and Hondo chuckled. That was not the word he would have used.
Luca was still smiling broadly, and it was really getting on Chris' nerves. When she had offered to demonstrate what she had learned during the weapon training on Saturday, she had not expected the older man to show up. Street was still very obviously ignoring her, and it didn't help her mood that he was giving her the cold treatment.
"That's a cool technique. I like it. Even an old fox like me can implement that," he said, looking at his handgun and smiling. "Who would have thought? That little change they made with the grip could be the difference between life and death."
He looked up at Chris. "You're a good teacher. You should do that more often."
"You mean sacrificing my weekend and then teach you guys what I've learned while you were having fun on a boat." She deadpanned, and he rolled his eyes at her dramatics.
"Oh wow." Luca raised his hands as he chuckled. "I didn't mean it like that. And I remember clearly that you offered to help earlier…"
Chris sighed loudly at his words. She was being unfair. He had no clue she was seeing Street and his matchmaking was making her life miserable. She should not take it out on him, but she felt so… raw that it was difficult to stay composed.
"Yeah, I did… I'm sorry," she apologized with a sad smile. "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep much this weekend."
"Any worries I could help you with?" He wondered, genuinely concerned by her wellbeing. She shook her head with a poor, little smile. "But to go back to my earlier comment, you would be so good with the cadets at the Academy," he continued. "Not to mention you're an actual role model for all the female applicants. You could really help."
"I have helped…" She reminded him, but he clicked his tongue impatiently.
"Yeah, but not on the technical training. You have a whole set of little tricks you use to compensate during harder intervention, those could be useful to everyone, men and women."
"I'll think about it." She promised with a small headshake.
"I feel bad that I haven't offered you to join us in Santa Monica this Saturday." He stated with a tense grimace. "It would have done you good. I'm sure Street and Lauren would have loved to have you there."
"Yeah… I don't know." She said simply, feeling once more dejected. "I doubt Street missed me…"
"Well, of course, he sees you all the time… And Lauren is pretty cool. They really hit it off this time." He stated with a bright smile. "I know I'm annoying because I'm pushing them together, but they really clicked. Like I knew they would. They spent a lot of time just the two of them talking… I think this is going somewhere…"
Chris forced a smile, trying to hide the twinge of pain in her heart. "That's great to hear. I'm glad they're getting along." Deep down, she couldn't deny the pang of jealousy that accompanied Luca's words and she watched as the older man nodded enthusiastically.
"He needs a girlfriend. He's been a real monk since he broke up with Molly." He declared and Chris frowned. "That can't be good."
"He seemed perfectly happy to me lately." She casually said, looking at Luca with an intensity belied by her tone.
"Yeah, well…" He scratched the back of his head, not sure what to say. "You know Street. He's not the type to easily share what's on his mind."
"I know…" She grudgingly admitted. "Still, he seemed… content…"
"Yeah, of course... Not saying he wasn't..." Luca trailed off, not wanting to delve deeper into the topic. "Anyway, I should go. I'm spending the evening with Melissa," he quipped, and Chris grinned at him. "Don't say anything. Street already teased me about it several times, saying I'm abandoning him way too often, leaving him all alone in the house… As if I don't know he likes to have time to himself without me pestering him."
"Don't exaggerate." Chris smiled fondly. "You know he loves you."
"Yeah… And a part of me feels bad, but Melissa has those free tickets for a musical and Lauren is having an important interview tomorrow, so… She asked me and I said yes…"
"I suppose you'll spend the night…"
"Of course." He winked naughtily at her. "I'm not going to drive home that late when there's an inviting bed in my girlfriend's house."
"You have to sleep in the guestroom, damn that sucks." She teased him, and he laughed, wagging his finger at her.
"Now you sound exactly like Street, be careful." He laughed harder when he saw her fake innocent expression. "Well, I have to run, but this time I thought about taking my change of clothes with me this morning. I can drive directly to Melissa's place."
"Good! Enjoy your evening." She smiled and waved at him as he turned around to leave. "Perfect…" She muttered under her breath. That was exactly what she had needed.
Chris was sitting in her car, contemplating her options. She had been staring at the house for a good half an hour now, and it was becoming ridiculous. She let out a heavy sigh. She knew she had two choices: either go home or knock on the damn door. She didn't want to be a coward, so she made up her mind to face the music and try to make amends. Phone calls and messages could only do so much, and they deserved better, she had realized once she started her engine in the HQ parking lot. Now she had to follow through. Opening the car door, she stepped out onto the curb. She had parked at a reasonable distance where she could keep an eye on the place without Street easily spotting her. Clutching her bag tightly, she walked resolutely towards the house.
Street let out a sigh as he sat morosely in front of the TV. He tapped his foot nervously and leaned forward to check his phone on the coffee table. Chris hadn't tried to contact him the entire evening, and it was strangely unsettling. She had looked tired and tense earlier, and he would be lying if he said he didn't care. The weekend had brought clarity to his thoughts, and now he knew he needed to take action. He still wasn't sure why he hadn't initiated a discussion with her earlier that day. But then Luca had been so talkative, going on endlessly about their day, or at least his own version of how the day had gone, and it had unsettled Street. Chris had disappeared too quickly, and he hadn't mustered the courage to check on her or take her up on her offer. When he had left HQ a couple of hours ago, he briefly contemplated going to the apartment but ultimately decided against it. Chris was tired, and considering their last private conversation, he cowardly chose to stall.
But tomorrow, he had decided, he would talk to her. He had already started rehearsing in his head how to broach the subject, explain his behavior, and express his feelings on the matter. He would... A loud knock interrupted his train of thought, and he furrowed his brow. When he stood up, a smile tugged at his lips. Only one person could be on the other side of the door, and he opened it without hesitation. They stared at each other for a moment, both suddenly hesitant and lost for words. She subtly moved forward, and he took a step back to let her in.
She thought he looked good, and for a moment, it took her breath away. A day at the ocean had given him a slight tan and a healthy glow. Now, wearing a dark tank top over black sweatpants, it was even more noticeable and appealing. No doubt Lauren had appreciated that too. As she coughed uncomfortably due to her train of thought, he frowned.
"Do you want something to drink?" he offered, immediately concerned. "I still have some of the German lemonade you liked so much."
"Yes, please," she answered, smiling lightly as he rushed to the fridge. She placed her bag on the coffee table and followed him. By the time she reached the kitchen island, he had already poured the cold beverage into her usual glass. She nodded in gratitude and uttered a thanks. It felt good, even comfortable, after those dreadful days. But she felt hesitant to break this newfound peace. She worried that mentioning the other man's name would once again put them at odds, and she desperately wanted to avoid that.
Street observed her. She still looked extremely tired, her features drawn, and her eyes puffier than usual. It seemed like she had barely slept in the past few nights. He hated it when she overexerted herself and didn't take proper care of her health. Taking part in the training on Saturday had probably been too much for her. He had been restless since their fight, but the physical activities on Saturday had exhausted him to the point that he had slept like a log until late the next morning. Now he studied her carefully, noting the noticeable tension and how she nursed her drink, taking uncharacteristically small sips.
"Why did you come Chris?" He asked out loud, and he saw her wince.
"I wanted to see you." She simply provided, taking another swallow as she leaned heavily against the counter.
"You saw me less than two hours ago." He reminded her and she gave a humorless laugh.
"I wouldn't qualify our interactions today as seeing each other." She quipped and he shook his head. "But then, I guess… We literally only saw each other, didn't we?"
And then they were silent again, simply looking at each other. This time, the silence felt more relaxed. Their few exchanged words had seemingly broken the tension. The only problem was that now that the moment had come, Chris was unsure if she wanted to delve into the details of what had happened. But she knew she needed to come clean. She had to explain her point of view so he could understand, and she hoped, forgive her.
"So, this is how it's going to go." He pushed, tilting his head as he studied her. "We are going to stay silent for the remainder of the evening."
"Will you listen if I explain?" She wondered, placing the now empty glass on the island.
"Of course. And to be honest I'm rather curious about the whole thing… Because I can try as hard as I want, I still don't understand the whole situation. So please, enlighten me."
They stared at each other, and with a deep sigh, Chris gestured towards the living room. He nodded, and she sat in the comfortable armchair she liked so much, while he chose the large couch next to her, waiting in bated silence. When she still didn't say anything, he decided to taunt her a little, using anything to get a reaction and, hopefully, an explanation.
"So, when is your date with Julian?" He pushed and she squinted her eyes at him. "I heard he arrived Friday… It's no secret that Bonnie tasked Tan to invite you to a double date."
"I haven't said yes yet…" She declared, straightening on her seat. "The idea was for you to listen in, like I did when you… went to yours. If you're not there, what's the point?"
When he remained silent, she sighed with a frown and looked down at her hands. She knew she had to start somewhere, but still she was dreading it.
"I always thought that we needed each other equally, but now I realize it's not the case." She finally said with a sad voice. "It's been a few days and I'm a mess while you're perfectly fine."
"I'm hardly fine." He quickly countered. "But Chris, just please, please explain everything to me because it can hardly be worse than what I imagine..."
"I never ever meant to hurt you. And I did and I felt terrible I hadn't realized you would feel like that." She insisted, and he sighed heavily. "I mean it… I didn't realize because… Julian doesn't matter. He never did, he means nothing to me. You have to know that."
She pushed further, intent of making him understand. When Street hummed at her tirade, she took a steadying breath before resuming her rant.
"And I think I just got caught up in the game."
"Caught up in the game?" He leaned forward and their hands were almost close enough to touch. "You have to explain that one to me."
"I think at one point, probably just before our party, I started enjoying playing along with their schemes," she groaned glumly, remembering that time. "We began to have our doubts about what they were up to. Their attempts at matchmaking since Tan's wedding... Julian... Lauren... They were trying to push their agenda, and we were dodging and playing them in return. It was funny... And Julian is just one part of that."
When he grimaced, she shook her head, worried she wasn't finding the right words to clarify the situation.
"I must admit he intrigues me because he's pursuing me when I've made it obvious from the start that I was not interested at all. And I think that my curiosity got the best of me." She finally continued, and he frowned at her comment. "But however much I enjoy all that, I'm not ready to lose you over this nonsense. You will always matter more, and I couldn't stand the idea of that happening. Losing you would crush me… And I hate that you spent your Saturday with Lauren. I hate that you had fun with her, when I was miserable… And it sounds terrible to say those things out loud, but I don't know how to say them differently."
"Your curiosity got the best of you?" He pushed after they had stared at each other for a moment.
She nodded. "I guess I wanted to see what he's really about…"
His unamused chuckle made her look at him guiltily.
"I know what guys like him are about." He said in a tense tone. "His ego is picked… you have become an interesting challenge. That you would choose me over him… He probably wants to see if he can change that, hence the sneaky tactics…"
Chris frowned at his words, wondering how much of that was true. The other man was clearly the competitive sort, but at times he had sounded, maybe not shy, but quite insecure and she wondered again if all this was just pretend. Street sighed loudly as he watched the emotions play over her pretty features. He tenderly took her hand in his and slowly caressed it.
"I told Lauren that I was seeing someone and that I was not available." He told her with a small smile when Chris turned hopeful eyes on him, and she exhaled perceptibly at the news. "She was very understanding and not really surprised. After that, she managed to relax, and we had a great day… Of course, Luca and Melissa read something else in our long discussions and newfound coziness."
"I bet they did." She grimaced, recalling all the details Luca had given her while they were at the range.
Street simply pulled her closer, and she took the cue to sit on his lap. She immediately melted into his embrace, her head resting on his shoulder.
"When we talked earlier, I realized how much I overreacted and how unfair I had been," he admitted sheepishly, and Chris shook her head. "But I was stupidly angry and unreasonably jealous. I have no excuses…"
"Well, I'm not much better with jealousy…." She said in a small voice, and he pressed a kiss against her temple. "Are you still angry?"
"No, and I should never have been angry in the first place. But I still don't trust that creep, and I don't really understand your way of thinking in that matter. But I'll get over it, don't worry," he assured her. "I love you too much to let something like that drive us apart. You're warned, I'll fight anyone to keep you by my side. And I'm not proud of needing the weekend to calm down… I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay…" She sighed contentedly as she held him close, not willing to let go just yet. "So does Lauren know I'm your girlfriend?"
"No, I just said I was seeing someone and as it was very new, I hadn't confided in Luca and the others just now." When she couldn't hide a yawn, he frowned. "You look absolutely exhausted. That's not good…"
"I couldn't sleep properly… The bed smelled too much like you…" When he grunted in disbelief, she hugged him tighter. "And I certainly didn't want to change the sheets. And while it was a little heartbreaking, it was also very soothing."
"Okay… not arguing about that and I suppose what is done is done… Now on more practical and Immediate things I can, did you have dinner?" He wondered and when she shook her head awkwardly, he tsk-tsked disapprovingly. "Did you at least bring an overnight bag?"
"No, I didn't think you would invite me to stay." He clenched his jaw unhappily before kissing her forehead, his lips lingering there.
"Well, I can only apologize for my terrible attitude."
"No, please… We were both in the wrong and hurt the other in the process. I have at least as much to apologize for as you do." She stated, and he groaned in annoyance. "But the only thing that really matters is that we're on the same page again and that there are no remaining misunderstandings."
"There aren't, but let's not discuss Julian anymore tonight. Tomorrow will come soon enough." He declared, and Chris agreed with a smile. "So let me feed you… What about a grilled cheese sandwich?"
"Oh yes, please I'm starving." She admitted. Strangely, now that things were good again and her mind at peace, she realized how hungry she actually was.
He stood up with a joyful smile, keeping her in his arms.
"So, what do you prefer to do while I cook?" He wondered. "A nice, warm shower or just resting on the couch? You can grab whatever you need from my clothes… We'll see about tomorrow morning…"
"Yeah, we will…"
When he pressed a kiss to her lips before going to the fridge to retrieve what he needed, she smiled and finally allowed herself to relax completely. The shower could wait, she decided. She just wanted to stay with him and enjoy the evening together. When he turned around, he frowned thoughtfully when he saw her hop on the bar stool in front of him.
"Don't want to relax?" He wondered as he cut two slices of bread and he chuckled when she shook her head. "I'm not going to mess with your sandwich…"
"Of course not." She simply stated with a smile. "But I'm not going to leave you all alone, cooking for me in the kitchen while I rest…"
"Grilled sandwich is hardly cooking." He countered with humor and studied her. "Is one going to be enough?"
"Of course…" she replied, her voice filled with assurance.
"Because if you tell me right away, you would like two, it'll be it easier to prepare…" He pushed, closely watching her. He loved how she worried her lower lip as she was thinking about what she wanted. "Or I could make a grilled ham and cheese sandwich… Or add a side of soup…"
"What kind of soup?" She asked, immediately interested.
"I made tomato soup yesterday."
"Homemade?" She pushed and he nodded with a grin when he saw the spark of interest in her eyes. "That would be lovely…"
"Of course…" He chuckled knowingly, and she laughed with a satisfied expression. "So, one sandwich with ham and… what kind of cheese?"
"I don't want to impose… whatever you have…"
"But you like a blend of Swiss and Parmigiano Reggiano best…" Street pushed, and she blushed slightly. "
"You know me too well… Let me at least help you. I can grate the cheese…" She offered and she watched him as he cut two more slices from the fresh loaf of country bread. "One should be enough…"
"No, it won't…" He decided resolutely ignoring her slight frown. "I'm ready to bet you barely ate today. Go grab the grater, I'll bring the ingredients. It will be done in no time."
"This food smells heavenly…" She looked hungrily at the golden-brown sandwiches on her plate and the hot soup in the bowl. She studied the perfect dinner in front of her. Most restaurants in the area wouldn't be able to offer such quality.
"So, dig in." He said as he sat down next to her with a chuckle. "Want me to cut the sandwiches in strips so you can dip them in the soup?"
"Come on, I'm not eight years old…" She chided him, but as she was about to cut them diagonally, she hesitated.
"Admit it's a tempting suggestion." He pushed his mouth suddenly very close to her ear. "It would be a perfect way of eating this."
She groaned and playfully rolled her eyes at his remark. Giving in to the temptation, she cut the first sandwich into five strips and dipped one into the soup before taking a bite. The flavors danced on her taste buds, and she closed her eyes, savoring the delicious combination.
"And now you're glad I prepared two sandwiches," he remarked, a playful glint in his eyes. When she nodded, spooning more soup into her mouth, he couldn't help but smirk. "It's good to know that my culinary skills are appreciated."
"Yeah, yeah…" she muttered, her cheeks slightly flushed, as she grabbed the second sandwich. She was almost finished with the first one when he leaned in close again, his voice low and intimate. "You've got a bit of soup on your chin."
Her heart skipped a beat as he gently turned her face towards him, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Slowly, he closed the distance between them, his tongue delicately tracing the soup stain on her chin. Chris swallowed hard, her eyes widening in surprise. The simple act stirred a fire within her, intensifying the longing she felt for him. She couldn't resist the overwhelming desire that surged through her, and she grabbed his face, pulling it close to hers. Their lips met in a passionate and fervent kiss, their tongues intertwining in a dance of longing and connection.
"All gone…" he managed to say, slightly breathless, as their lips parted. "Now finish your food. I like seeing you enjoy it this much."
Chris swallowed the last bite of her food and pushed her plate away, her appetite satiated. She could feel the warmth of Street's gaze on her, his eyes filled with affection and desire. Sensing the intimate atmosphere, she took a deep breath and spoke up.
"I'm done now," she announced, her voice slightly husky.
A smile curved his lips as he reached out to take both of her hands in his. "Good. So, what shall we do in this house all by ourselves?" he asked, his tone laced with anticipation.
A mischievous glint danced in her eyes as she teasingly suggested, "You could tell me about your fun day with Lauren."
Street burst into laughter, the sound filling the room. "You really go for the jugular, don't you?" he chuckled. "Well, she is a very lovely, young lady."
Chris groaned playfully, rolling her eyes. "You know I'm just teasing. I don't really want to hear about perfect Lauren," she admitted with a smirk. "I've already gotten an earful from Luca about how wonderfully you two clicked, just as he predicted."
Street's grin widened, and he shook his head in amusement. "Ah, Luca and his matchmaking skills. Well, I can assure you, Chris, that you are the only one who truly captures my heart and attention. Nothing compares to the connection we have."
"I sure hope so…" she said breathlessly, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.
Street nodded, his eyes filled with sincerity as he listened to her. Suddenly, he felt a twinge of guilt for his earlier jealousy, and he wanted to make it up to her. But before he could say anything, she hit his chest playfully, a touch of pettiness in her action. However, instead of wiping the smile from his lips, it only grew wider.
"Don't smile like that!" she warned him, a mixture of annoyance and fondness in her tone. But as she raised her hand to hit him again, he gently closed his hand around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. He brought her hand to his mouth and pressed a tender kiss against her skin.
"I think we've had enough of Julian and Lauren for one day," he decided resolutely, his voice filled with determination. "It's time for bed… I'll tidy up here, while you take a shower…"
She raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Directive much?" she joked, a small smile tugging at her lips.
He simply nodded, a lighthearted expression on his face. "Very well," she replied, matching his playful tone. "Want to give me a t-shirt for the night or can I just take one?"
"Just take one, you look ready to drop." He caressed her face, his touch gentle and comforting. His thumb grazed her lower lip, and he felt a surge of tenderness towards her. "Go," he encouraged, his voice filled with warmth.
Chris nodded, a grateful smile on her face, and she turned towards the door. But before she left, she glanced back at him, a hint of longing in her eyes. "Are you going to join me?" she asked, her voice soft and hopeful.
He paused for a moment, contemplating her words. "I think we've had enough emotions for today," he replied honestly, a touch of exhaustion seeping into his tone. "We're both too tired... I think cuddling will be more than enough for now. But if we wake up early enough..."
"Sounds promising… I promise I won't take too long." She smiled at him.
He smiled at her, his heart swelling with love and contentment. "I'll be waiting," he promised, watching as she disappeared into the bathroom. As he heard the water running, he chuckled joyfully, grateful that their world was back in order.
He took a moment to tidy up the kitchen, putting away the dishes and wiping down the counters. His thoughts wandered to the events of the day, the misunderstandings and the reconciliations. It had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but ultimately, they had emerged stronger than before.
Once he was satisfied with the tidying, he made his way to the bedroom, slipping under the covers and settling in for the night. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room, casting a warm and intimate ambiance. He closed his eyes, feeling a sense of peace wash over him, knowing that Chris was just a few steps away.
Minutes later, he heard the bathroom door open, and the sound of soft footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips, as Chris climbed into bed beside him, wearing his t-shirt. The sight of her in his clothes stirred something deep within him, a sense of possessiveness and intimacy that he cherished.
She nestled close to him, her head resting on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. In the quiet of the room, they found solace in each other's presence, their breathing falling into a gentle rhythm. The day's events were behind them, and all that mattered was the love they shared in that moment.