Knowing Me, Knowing You | (S/P)

Chapter 40

⚜⚜⚜

Alexia

⚜⚜⚜

When I get upset, truly upset, I do it completely, with no restrain. And perhaps for that exact reason, I get over it considerably quick. Which explains why I'm at O'Hare airport waiting for Nathaniel's flight to land.

We had initially bought our tickets together and I just couldn't ignore that he was flying back today. He went MIA on me this past week. I can't really blame him though, considering I started this whole thing to begin with.

But there were so many things that I wanted to tell him. How I saved my dad's butt when his Italian interpreter didn't show up for an important business meeting, or about the Time Square +2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that I bought. But truth be told, I wasn't thrilled at the idea of hearing his angry voice, yelling, so when he didn't call me again, I didn't push it.

And I'm really trying. To confide in him. To stop feeling ashamed about things out of my control.

I am really trying. But a part of me still thinks that it might be possible that he'll pull away, that he will leave. Leaving the bed colder than he found it, my heart more bruised than he found it. I don't want to feel any of those things, but I can't do anything to fend off that fear. I know I must be braver to trust him unreservedly.

He has given me every reason to.

All I want is to make him know that I trust him and how much I appreciate his love and I suck at both.

When an inflow of people appears through the "Arrivals door", my heart starts beating frantically against my chest. When his eyes finally make contact with mine, I can see that he's surprised to see me here.

I cross my arms over my chest, stopping my fingers from fidgeting as he walks towards me.

When he's just a few steps away from me, he stops, dropping his bag to the floor, his shoulders slouching. I'm sure his crestfallen face is mirroring mine, and although he made me feel so miserable on Christmas, I'm so, so happy to see him. 

My god, have I missed him? So much that it's rendered impossible for my lips not to turn upwards just looking at him. I want nothing else than to fall in his embrace and kiss him.

He opens his mouth to say something, but I don't give him the chance to do it, running to his arms and snuggling into his chest.

"Eager, aren't we? Throwing yourself at me like that." He tries to sound amused, but the underlying tone of nervousness on his voice doesn't go by unnoticed. I snug closer into him, seeking the warmth that I've been missing all these days. 

"Why would you do that to me?" I step back, punching him slightly on the chest. "Not talking to you for a week and not seeing you for almost two was too much."

"I'm sorry." He reaches out, his hand fondling the side of my face. I can't help leaning into his touch, tears gathering in my eyes at the contact of his skin.

"No, I am sorry." I crane my neck, planting a kiss on the back of his hand. He pulls away, his deep green eyes boring into mine. I maintain his gaze, the conflict in his eyes making something inside me crash in shame, and then warm, and melt, and all I want are his arms around me.

His fingertips brush again my cheek. His lips press on my forehead. "Let's go home."

⚜⚜⚜