"Sophie needs a new PE kit."
"Oscar’s got a birthday party on Saturday. You’re taking him."
"We need to talk about getting the boiler serviced."
We were basically housemates again who occasionally high-fived when a child finally fell asleep. The idea of sex was still there, lurking awkwardly in the background, but it was more like a task on a to-do list than anything remotely exciting.
And yet, Dan still expected it. Not in a pushy, horrible way; more in a completely oblivious way. He still thought a quick bum grab while I was unloading the dishwasher was seductive. Hestill thought an occasional "You look nice" was enough to set the mood.
Bless his dumb little man brain.
One night, after another transactional attempt where Dan casually mentioned that he made me a cup of tea and then looked at me like I owed him a lap dance, I snapped.
"Do you even want me anymore?" I blurted out.
Dan frowned. "What? Of course I do."
"No, I mean really want me. Not because I folded your boxers or kept the kids from climbing on you the second you walked through the door. But me. As a person."
Dan opened his mouth, then shut it. He ran a hand through his hair. "I... I think so?"
My stomach sank. "Wow. That was so convincing."
He groaned. "Emma, come on. I love you, of course I want you. But we’ve got three kids and barely any time, and I don’t know... I just figured..."
"You figured what? That sex is just something I owe you in return for good behaviour? Like giving a dog a treat when it sits?"
His eyes widened. "I definitely wouldn’t put it like that."
"But that’s what it feels like! Like I’m some kind of reward system. And it’s not sexy, Dan. It’s exhausting."
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Okay. But I thought that’s what you wanted? I thought you wanted me to help around the house?"
“Yes Dan, I do, but because you want to help and be a team, not because you want to get me into bed!”
Because the truth was, I wanted to want him. I missed the days when I’d look at him and feel an instant rush of need, when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. But now? We were both so busy, so bogged down by life, that I couldn’t rememberthe last time he made me feel truly wanted, not as a wife, not as a mother, but as Emma.
So I told him that. All of it. And for once, he actually listened. No defensive jokes, no clueless looks, just listening.
And then, to my absolute shock, he said, "So I need to romance you again?"
I blinked. "Romance me? You haven’t even properly flirted with me in weeks!"
He winced. "Harsh but fair."
"And also? It wouldn’t hurt if you actually helped without expecting anything in return."
Dan sighed. "Alright. Challenge accepted. I will romance you, and I will do housework without expecting payment in the form of sex."
I folded my arms. "And?"
He frowned. "And...?"
"And flirt with me! Make me feel wanted! Woo me, Daniel!"
He smirked. "Did you just say ‘woo’?"
"Yes! And I meant it! Woo the hell out of me!"
