Both Evan and Nick looked at us like we were crazy, but we didn’t care. The rest of the night we had Evan to entertain us with his bubbly personality. I could tell that it definitely helped Chris his mood. I couldn’t help but glance at Chris once in a while, not to appreciate his good looks though. It must be tough on him sitting across the man who his wife was so obsessed about. Then there I was as well who Nick was slightly obsessed about. This would definitely be considered as an awkward get-together. Yet Chris was a very kindhearted man so he didn’t blame anyone. He just accepted that his wife no longer wanted him. Just like that. Nick would never accept it if I suddenly decided to leave, but Chris seemed okay with it after a while. I couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing. Every woman would want the love of their life to chase them even when it seemed like there was nothing left to fight for. Now it just looked like Chris had given up.
“So it’s really over?” I asked when Nick and Evan had left us to have a small conversation with close friends that had suddenly arrived.
Chris glanced back at his glass of wine, swirling the liquid round and round while he considered what to say to me.
“I tried convincing her, but she has her mind set on our divorce.” He flashed me one of the saddest smiles I had ever seen, breaking my heart, “She wants her freedom.” He shot a glance at Nick who was actually smiling to his heart content, “We both know why.”
“If you love her you’d fight for her.”
I couldn’t believe I just said that. I fucking hated that woman with everything I had. She openly went after my boyfriend so I knew I had the right to hate her, yet here I was trying to convince her husband to fight for her. This had to be one of the most selfish things I had ever done since I just wanted her to leave together with Chris and never look back.
“There is nothing left to fight for, Em, I’m sorry.”
I frowned, “Sorry for what? Trying to fight for the woman you love with whole your heart. I’d say you’re a coward if you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry for her behavior. You and Nick make a great couple. I’m sorry she is giving you a hard time.”
Even when his life was hell he was still being the nice guy here. I knew we’d be great friends. He’d be another Brandon and people deserved a little Brandon in their life.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, “I’m just going to say this once… I don’t think a woman decides just like that to leave the man she married to chase another. It can’t be that she changed her mind overnight. Something must have happened for her to make that decision.”
Chris stared at me for a great while before he looked back at his glass and knocked down the last remains, “You’re probably right.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair, “There still might be a reason for me to stay after all.”
***
Walking out of the bathroom which was now damped and hot since I took such a long shower Nick started wondering if I had drowned, I made my way to the bed and started moisturizing my legs. Nick occasionally tucked on my fluffy towel, trying to get it off my body. I’d scold him, but I loved his playful side. He’d grin like a little boy and give me ‘I’m innocent’ look. I loved this man. I knew he’d fight for me, he’d do anything for me. So how could I not love him?
“So Chris mentioned he might be staying for a little while.”
I feigned surprise, “Oh… really? Because of Anna?”
“I saw you talking to him, Em.” He trailed his fingers up my moisturized leg, “I know you have something to do with this.”
I swatted his hand away when he trailed too high, “I told him that if he loved her he’d fight for her. That’s all I did. I didn’t ask him to stay, that was his decision.”
Nick grabbed onto my towel again and managed to pull it off me. He tossed it aside carelessly and grabbed onto my hips, pulling me down on the bed with him. He chuckled and spun us around so that he was laying on top of me.
“I just took a shower!”
He grabbed onto my leg and hooked it around his body, “Don’t worry I’ll clean you up after we’re done.”
I slapped his shoulder hard, “I have to work in the morning.”
“Oh and I don’t have to?” I knew Nick had much more on his plate than me. Smiling I cupped his face and kissed him, really kissed him. I felt his whole body tense when I did that, but he quickly recovered and kissed me back just as passionately. “Fine, you’re paying the water bill anyway.”
Chuckling he covered my lips with his again and kissed me just the way I liked it. Like nothing else in the world mattered to him, that all he could see was me. Those kind of kisses were the best kind.