no more holiday

Craig was laying low. So to speak. He hadn't seen Chloe yet. He called. Told her he had to get everything in order back at the flat with his flatmates, courses, and even work. He did a couple double shifts down at the pub. After all, there were bills to pay.

It was good to get a clean perspective on things. Maybe. Or the fact he was still hung over from being with Kadan. Every step he took he thought of Kadan. It was a genuine happiness, and he wanted to keep it with him as long as he could. Truly, he did not want those memories to fade.

But there were assignments to catch up on. And of course the flatmates who kept jabbing him for info about where he had been. What was he really doing? He never seemed to be home anymore.

He wanted to get along with them. Although, the brute footballer, Jamie got in a row with him. Craig ended up with a black eye. He didn't even know what he'd done so wrong. Perhaps the laundry, or Jamie just didn't like Craig.

It was a shock to him, but he had to face it. Not everyone was going to like him. He knew for sure he hated Jamie. And he most definitely needed a break from him.

"Its not that I didn't want to be here, immediately. I did." He promised as he soon as he saw Chloe in the doorway of the cottage. "There were some things I just had to do."

"Yeah, like a welcome home beating." She tried to touch his right eye, he winced. She took his over night bag from him.

He really felt like he was home now. The place smelled of of something sweet in the oven and there were fresh flowers.

"I wasn't sure you were ever coming back." She turned to him while they were in the livingroom of with her arms crossed.

"I wasn't gone that long, now was I?" He squinted.

"I just thought, perhaps, you were having second thoughts about....us." She bit her bottom lip.

He smiled, shaking his head no. "Why on earth would that ever cross your mind, Babe?" He'd have to bring her back, now wouldn't he? He came closer, fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Do you know how much I missed you?" He breathed her sweetness in. Yes, she was the essence of this place, and he'd show her what she meant to him.

Her fingers combed through his hair then, and he closed his eyes. He missed this. This was what he really needed. A woman's touch. It felt like forever since he was comforted by her strength as he gravitated to her core. He'd give her everything she wanted. Maybe more.

Her body swayed. He knew she missed him too. Maybe he'd have her on the kitchen table.