“It’s hard to explain. Intimacy? Iguess that would be the best way to describe it. Of course we have physicalintimacy in spades, but I’m talking about more emotional stuff. He doesn’tshare. He doesn’t communicate very well. I know that he cares about me, but Ihave to read between the lines,” she huffed and I was shocked to see her eyesfill up with tears. This situation was far worse than I’d thought. “I’ve neverfelt this way about anyone, but I feel like sometimes even when I’m with himI’m on an island all alone,” she sniffed.
“Oh sweetie, I’m sorry,” I saidsoftly. I didn’t know what else to say. We’d talked about Sal until our facesturned blue. But we couldn’t change how he was. She either had to accept it ormove on.
“Yeah well, we’ll just have to see.Enough of that,” she said as she tried to laugh, waving her hand as though todismiss the subject.
When Cole got home it was late intothe evening and Kat was just on her way out.
“Seeya,Cole. Nice horse you’ve got there.” She laughed and cocked her head towardChief who had joined in our festivities and had quickly charmed her.
Cole just chuckled and lifted his chintoward her as she headed out the front door.
“Hi, babe.” I smiled and got up togreet him with a soft kiss.
“Hey,” he replied, his fingerstrailing through my hair and grasping the back of my neck. This was how Colealmost always greeted me and I loved it. “How’d you two get along?” he asked ashe reached down to pet Chief.
“Me and the dog or me and Kat?” Iteased.
He rolled his eyes. “You and the dog,babe.”
“He’s sweet,” I admitted. “We gotalong just fine. Did you eat?” I asked, opening the fridge to peruse itscontents.
I was surprised when he closed thedoor on me. “Yougonnathank me, babe?” he askedsuggestively. I knew he was only teasing, but based on what I’d shared with Katearlier the implication pissed me off.
“I would have if you included me in thedecision,” I replied somewhat curtly.
His brows shot up, my response hadclearly surprised him. “What?”
I sighed and leaned against the fridgedoor with my arms crossed over my chest. “I appreciate the gesture. Iappreciateallof your gestures, butwe’re living
togethernow. If this is really going to gosomewhere then you can’t continue to make decisions for me,” I explained. “Weneed to make decisions together.”
“Like what?” he demanded, clearlyunhappy with this line of discussion.
“Like the dog. He’s great but I’venever had a dog before. I’ve wanted one my whole life. I would have loved tolook online, to be a part of the process,” I explained. “And like paying for myapartment for months without talking to me about it. That’s not something youjust do behind my back.”
“Behind your back?” he replied curtly.“Jesus that’s a bit dramatic don’t you think?” he demanded, leaning against theopposite counter and regarding me with narrowed eyes.
“Did you intend to tell me about it?”I countered.
He regarded me in silence.
“I’ll take that silence as a ‘no,’which is exactly my point. Look, I don’t want to fight. I wanted to talk calmlyabout this, something we don’t seem very capable of doing,” I sighed wearily.“But you didn’t shack up with some house mouse, Cole. I’m not going to just goalong with every decision you make. That said, I also understand that you havea controlling nature,” I said with a raised brow. “What I’m trying to tell youis that there’s a limit to how much I’m willing to be controlled,” I explained.“You want a strong woman that can stand by your side, then this is what youget,” I told him firmly.
We regarded each other for a fewmoments. All the anger had gone out of me, but I wasn’t so sure about him. “Okay,”he said finally, his tone considerably calmer.
“Okay?” I asked skeptically.
“You’re right.” He shrugged, though Icould tell it wasn’t easy for him to say. “I don’t want some doormat. I likethat you have an opinion even when it means you’re a pain in my ass,” he saidas he smirked. “So, I’ll work on talking to you about shit before I makedecisions, okay? I can’t promise it’ll be about everything, but I’ll work on it.”
I nodded. It wasn’t like I wasexpecting a miracle.
I felt like we’d just overcome a hugehurdle in our relationship with this conversation. Not only because we solved aproblem by talking things out, but also because we understood each other. Iwalked the two paces to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, looking up athim with a smile. “Thanks, babe.”
“Yah,” he nodded simply. I could tellit cost him a bit to admit fault, no matter how roundabout of a way he’d doneit. “Igottaadmit though, I’m confused. Do you wantthe dog or not?” he asked with a wrinkled brow.
I grinned. “I want the dog.”
Chapter Sixteen
