Chapter 127
NATHAN
I was mentally exhausted, my only thought being that she would regret ignoring my messages and calls. Where the hell was she? She didn't come home, and James didn't find her when he went to pick her up from work.
I managed to solve the problems I could in Tokyo as quickly as possible to come back, and she simply disappeared.
When I arrived home, I was ready to have someone track her phone, but the security guys informed me that she was coming up. It was almost one in the morning in New York. She must be kidding with me, trying to annoy me as always.
I waited for her to come up, sitting on the living room couch. We were going to have a serious talk. Even though I wanted to avoid arguments now that we had reconciled, she couldn't do this.
The elevator opened, and she walked out, leaning against the walls. Was she drunk? Throwing her purse and what seemed to be a blazer on the floor, she took off her shoes and walked towards the bedroom, slightly dizzy, bumping into things along the way. How could she be drunk on a Monday?
I followed her down the hallway, and she didn't even notice my presence.
When she reached the bedroom, she collapsed face down on my bed. I watched the scene, incredulous and irritated. What the hell had she done?
She didn't move anymore, so I waited, expecting her to at least undress, but she passed out. Damn it, Collins. I approached her and turned her body over; she mumbled.
I unbuttoned her shirt and took it off, then it was the skirt's turn. She was wearing the lingerie she had mentioned in the morning. Black lingerie with lace, stockings, and a garter belt. That made me even more furious. I couldn't help but get aroused. She shifted and opened her eyes slightly.
"Damn... I'm dreaming..." she murmured with a slurred voice and passed out again.
"You're not that lucky."
I wasn't sleepy. The time difference always left me disoriented, and I had slept almost the entire flight back. After grabbing a sheet to cover her, I put on some workout clothes, since I wouldn't be able to talk to her in that state.
It was already past two in the morning when I finished my workout. I took a shower and went to sleep in the upstairs bedroom. Even after expending so much energy, I was still angry, and I wouldn't be able to sleep next to her.
I managed to sleep for a total of three hours. When I woke up, I went downstairs to get some water and heard a noise coming from my room. I went to check. I hurried when I realized she was vomiting in the bathroom.
"Are you okay? Do you need help?" I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
"Nathan?" I heard her mutter "shit" shortly after.
"Answer, are you okay?"
"Yes... I'll be fine."
I slumped into the armchair and waited for her to come out. She took a few minutes, then came out wearing a robe.
"I thought it had been just a dream earlier."
She looked at me apprehensively. I didn't know what made me angrier, her not telling me, or being so irresponsible.
"Why are you awake?"
"I couldn't sleep, I felt nauseous, so I thought it was better to take a shower." She said, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms over her chest.
She didn't come closer, and her behavior was strangely cold.
"Do you feel better?"
"Yes."
"Great... So, can I now ask what you did?"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw you come in."
"I just went out with the girls."
"And don't you think you should have let me know?"
"They are my friends. Do I have to ask for your permission every time I want to talk to them?"
The same sarcasm as always. It annoyed me even more.
"I said, let me know! Fuck, you like turning everything into hell. But what should I expect from you? You didn't even reply to my messages or calls. And you're right, I wouldn't have let you go if I knew you were going to come back in that state."
She was still calm or just trying to test me.
"Give me a break, Ryan... You can't control what I do or don't do. We've had this conversation several times. I'm already grown up."
"You completely lose your mind when you drink. Doesn't that worry you one bit?"
How could she be so reckless with her own safety? Damn it. She made me feel helpless, as if I couldn't do anything to keep her safe.
"Shit... we're not having this conversation." She circled the bed, heading towards my closet, and turning her back to me.
"Acting like this only shows your immaturity," I said.
She stopped and turned to face me again.
"Screw you! Do you really think you can demand anything from me right now?"
Finally, she let her anger explode, and there we were, arguing once again.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I don't want to talk to you right now."
"You don't have that option." She ignored me and entered the closet.
I got up and followed her. She was very angry, but I had no idea why. Unless...
"Is all this because of the trip?"
Had it affected her that much?
She continued to ignore me as she searched for something to wear.
"Kate? Please, I thought the goal was to make this work this time."
"Sure, and you started off on the right foot."
"You can stop with your sarcasm for a minute and talk to me."
"You annoy me," she said, forcefully closing a drawer she had opened and leaning over the closet, resting her hands on it with her head down.
"Great, I feel the same way."
I heard her laugh, but I couldn't tell if it was genuine or just sarcasm. Then, she turned to face me, seemingly calmer.
"Alright... Do you really expect me to be okay with the fact that we hadn't seen each other for months, and you just went on a trip right after we got back together? And now you want to criticize me for going out with my friends when it was you who left me alone?"
She seemed genuinely hurt. I felt bad.
"Damn it. I thought you wouldn't be so upset because, after all, it's my job."
"I'm sorry. Shit... I swear I tried to be understanding, but it feels like your job is more important. I shouldn't be upset about it. I don't have the right. I know."
"My job isn't more important. You know, I can barely concentrate on work when you're around, or when you were away. But yes, I hope you understand that my job is important and demands a lot from me."
"All of this drives me crazy."
"About going out with your friends..." I approached her and pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. "I hope you never drink to the point of getting sick again. Understood?"
She gave a shy smile. She hadn't forgiven me for the trip yet, I could see it in her eyes.
"Hey. I missed you."
"I missed you too."
I felt the freshness of toothpaste on her breath.
"I'm sorry."
Finally, she hugged me. It felt good, only now did it make sense to miss this so much. She made me feel a strange sense of satisfaction, as if she filled a void that had always been there. The smell of her, her hair, was enough to make me want to take her to bed and spend the rest of the day.
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