“First to talk to the husband, and second something else instead of a jog because I’m not sure I’m up for it,” she shared. “I was thinking about suggesting a walk down at the beach tomorrow.”
“I’m always up for a walk on the beach.” He chuckled. “But why wait?”
She smiled. “You are way too amiable. You know that, right?”
“Oh, don’t say that,” he replied in horror. “I don’t know too many people who would take that comment as a compliment.”
“Come on. You’re easy to get along with, probably way too easy. It’s seems to me you never really argue about anything.”
“Well, I do actually. I just realized that some of the stuff that you do matters a great deal to you, whereas my work is more easily juggled around to different time frames, or I can shift to a different type of work.”
“But you shouldn’t have to,” she replied, as they crossed the street back over to the station side.
“It doesn’t matter whether I have to or not,” he countered. “If I choose to, no force is involved.” She frowned, and he held up a hand. “Don’t even start.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You’re looking for a reason for me not to do what I do.”
“I’m not looking for a reason. I’m just considering whether you need to be saved from yourself.”
He snorted at that. “Don’t even start, and, by the way, you don’t get the right to psychoanalyze me either.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t think that’s what I was doing.”
“Well, maybe you should take another look,” he stated quietly. “Just because I’m shifting things around so I can spend time with you, when I know that you can’t do it yourself, does not make me weak, abused, or somebody who needs saving.” She shot him a sideways glance, and he shook his head. “I know you. Even if you didn’t put words to it, I felt the meaning.”
“I don’t want you to have any less of a relationship than one that’s all in,” she stated.
“I’ll tell you what relationship I want, if and when I decide to change it,” he replied shortly. “Don’t start telling me what I need.” And, with that, he fell silent, but inside he was furious.
Finally, after a few moments, she said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He shrugged. “You never mean to.”
“And see? That is just what I mean.” He turned and glared at her. She raised both hands in surrender. “Fine, I just won’t say anything more.”
“Perfect. Now, let’s get in the car and drive.”
He sat in the passenger side of her vehicle, and she got into the driver’s seat. She turned to look at him and murmured, “Simon, I really am sorry.”
“Don’t say another word,” he bit off, as he turned and buckled in. “Come on. Let’s go take care of business.”
Chapter 3
Kate drove steadilyto the running path parking lot. She didn’t know what possessed her to have him do a reality check on their relationship, since it was potential suicide on her part and not at all what she wanted, no matter what he was thinking. But then again, if it wasn’t what she wanted, why did she keep doing this? Because what the hell? A breakup was not what she was looking for and would be devastating.
But, by the same token, she just felt he could do so much better with somebody who could be there in the time frame he needed them, instead of somebody on the run all hours of the day and night like she was. There was no peace with her job, no calm evenings in. Oh, sure, there were a few of them, but, at any minute, she’d get a call and be off and running.
Yet it was the work she wanted to do, and she wasn’t willing to change it.
She certainly wasn’t asking him to make any changes, but she also knew that he wasn’t getting a fair shake in this relationship. It wasn’t even that he was giving more than she was, and that alone bothered her. Normally it didn’t. Normally there was nothing to even be discussed, but, for some reason, she wasn’t terribly impressed with the imbalance in their relationship. She just didn’t know how to shift it or how long it could last if she didn’t. Surely it wasn’t fair to have something so unbalanced go long-term.
As she kept driving, he finally spoke up. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, so stop.”
Surprised, she looked over at him. “What?”
“You,” he said, “just stop thinking about it.”