Chapter 28

When Jon and Kim entered the apartment, they were greeted immediately by barking dogs. Jon had never seen them so anxious before. They were standing in front off the huge patio doors…not willing to move an inch from them.

“Oh, babies….I’m sorry.” Kim hurried over to the doors and opened them. In the next second the dogs were outside, but they didn’t start to run around as Jon expect but lifted their legs and watered the small bushes at the patio.

“I should have called Ed after work and asked him to let them out.” Kim felt terrible she forgot them.

“Kim, they are fine.” He tried to calm her, while stepping out on the patio as well.

“I asked you the next time when you had to hold it for nearly 20 hours!!” Kim replied a little pissed.

Jon turned and looked at her surprised. “Why are you mad at me now?”

“Because you were the one who distracted me!” She answered and walked over to the kitchen to refill the bowls of her dogs with fresh water.

“I asked you whether you can stay! I didn’t drag up to my bedroom without permission!” his voice raised a bit. Why was she mad at him?

“And you think a woman can think clearly when you kiss her stupid, huh?” her voice was also gaining on volume.

The dogs came back in and watched the scene confused. When Jon saw them he was sure they would growl at him, but to his surprise they just watched him. It seemed they didn’t see him as a potential danger for their mistress anymore.

He turned back to Kim. “Are you saying you regret what happened last night?” God, this could turn into a real nightmare now.

“I didn’t say that, Jon.”

“Then what the fuck do you mean?” he was clearly frustrated now.

She sighed and crossed her arms in front of her breast.

“I don’t know…maybe that I’m always very organized and aware what I will do next. I’ve never been really spontaneous, Jon….I plan anything and everything. Me... staying with you last night was definitely not planned.”

Jon watched her for a second. “Kim, I like to be in control of my life either, but with us being so damn busy in the last couple weeks, I think we need to take it as it comes. If we try to plan everything, it will not work.”

He took a step forward and tried to take her hand, but she didn’t let him. She wouldn’t be able to resist him let alone think clearly when he would touch her.

“Kimi, please believe me, I know what kinda schedule is waiting for me in the next few months. If you expect me to tell you a day or two prior that I wanna spend time with you… it will not work.”

He watched her a little worried. If he couldn’t make her see it, he was pretty sure they could end whatever they had right here and now. And that idea made him feel sick. He didn’t wanna loose her.

Kim bit her bottom lip nervously. Was he right? Fran always told her to be more spontaneous. But could she do it? Dammit, I can’t think with him staring at me!

Without saying a word she turned and walked upstairs.

“Kim? …Kimi, what are you…?” he asked irritated. She couldn’t just end it like this, right?

“Just a second, Jon.”

He had no idea what to think about it. He turned to the dogs. “She is worse than me. Do you know that?”

Kidd came closer and rubbed his head against his hand. Jon smiled. Those dogs really have a sense for bad moods. Sambo just watched him with his dark brown eyes.

A few minutes later Kim came back, wearing a sports outfit. “I’m going down to the gym. Make yourself a home, play with the dogs when you want. I’m back in a bit.”

And with that she was gone.

“Uhm…” dumbfolded he watched her closing the door behind her. Something like that never happened before. What should he do now?

**************

Fran and Richie had spent the better part of the day with Jason skating in Central Park, when both their mobiles rang.

“It’s Kim.”

“It’s Jon.”

They looked at each other for a second. “Oh, Oh.” Richie said and answered his phone.

“Hey man, what’s up?”

Fran walked a couple meters to a bench from which she could watch Jason still skating around close to her and answered her phone as well. “Hi Kim. How are you?”

“I think I fucked it up, Fran.” Her best friend answered completely down.

“What happened?” Fran asked concerned.

“So, you two had a fight?” Rich asked Jon.

“Yeah, I think you could say that…I’m not sure though. She’s down at the gym now.” Yeah, right, Richie thought. He could see Fran talking on the phone.

“What happened, man?”

“Kim, you know I already told you that you should be more spontaneous. Jon sure didn’t want you to neglect the dogs. He had no idea that they were alone.”

“You know Rich, I had no idea that the dogs couldn’t get outside. They mean everything to her, are like her babies…I sure don’t want her to neglect or forget them.”

“I had the feeling he wasn’t really getting, it, Fran…”

“Maybe she thinks you weren’t concerned enough about her dogs, Jon?”

“Is this really about the dogs, Kim? Or more about you no longer being in control of everything in your life?”

“I think she is used to being in control of everything in her life…even more than me…and that it freaks her out that I could get her to stay last night.”

“I AM in control of my life, Fran!”

“Well, you were probably worse than her at her age…you drove us really crazy, I remember that.”

“Kim, if you are in a relationship you are emotionally bound to the other person. These emotions can make it very difficult sometimes…you wanted to stay with Jon last night, but this morning you feel guilty, because over your emotions you forgot your babies…you wanted to stay with him, right sweetheart?”

“Yeah, but I never regretted following my emotions…shit, man. What should I do? I tried to explain to her that we have to take it how it comes with our busy schedules? Do you think I scared her with that?”

“Of course I wanted to stay with him, Fran. And it was great. He was really sweet. And he didn’t seem to mind that we didn’t go all the way…you know what I mean…”

“Yes, I know…sweetheart.”

“I think it takes a lot more to scare her away than telling her about your business, Jon.”

“I’m not sure I like the idea of being…dependent on someone…even emotionally….”

“What should I do now, man. Give her more time?”

“Kim, if you can’t handle depending on someone, you will never be able to be in a relationship! I thought you like Jon?”

“Give her time to get used to it. I know it’s not easy for you, Jon, but if you don’t wanna loose her, you should not push. And don’t plan things without telling her. You know how much it freaks you out when someone else id doing it!”

“I think I love him Fran.”

“Does that include my birthday surprise?”

“Oh, sweetheart…do yourself a favor and follow your heart.”

“In this stadium of your relationship it also includes birthday surprise I would say. When you are still together in a couple years and she got used to the control freak in you, you can do it without asking.”

“You think I should?”

“Hmpf…we will be still together in a couple years…I love her.”

“Yes, sweetheart I think you should. He’s a great guy and nothing but sweet with you…You should really try this.”

“Wow! Did you already tell her?”

“Nah.”

“Ok, thanks Fran and sorry I interrupted your day with Richie.”

“Maybe you should.”

“I will think about it. Thanks for listening to my shit, man.”

“No problem, sweetheart. You can always call me. Love you. Bye.”

“No, problem brother. See you later.”

After he ended the call with Jon, Rich walked over to Fran. When he saw her finishing her call as well, he sat down next to her, grimacing lightly. He would have a hell of muscle soreness tomorrow, because of the skating. But he had to admit he liked it.

“She ok?” he asked worried.

“Yeah, she’s simply not used to being in a relationship. She needs time.” Fran moved closer to him. Rich nodded agreeing and put his arm around her shoulder.

“You think they will tell each other how much they love the other one soon?” Fran looked at him surprised.

“He does?”

“Yeah, head over heels for her.” Rich said. Fran chuckled.

“Kim as well…I really hope they get this worked out.”

“I hope that too…where is Jason?” Richie scanned the area. “Ah, there he is.” He got up from the bench.

“JASON! Come on over. Let’s get some ice cream.”

The boy turned immediately and rushed over to them. Fran shook her head laughing. Rich opened his arms and her son skated right into his embrace. She nearly started to cry. Richie really liked her baby and Jason couldn’t be happier either. Maybe we can be a real family…