Page 173 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“I don’t. I refuse to give you the pleasure from saying it.”

He shuts up. I consider the advantage I have of being at home while he’s at the office.

“I have a basketball game this afternoon,” he finally says, “and I forgot my gym bag. Would you please bring it to me at the sports center at five?”

I want to say no.

“Fine. Norbert will take it to you.”

“I’d like you to bring it to me.”

How nice, but the viper in me can’t stop.

“I’d like other things, and, look, I’m dealing with it and putting up with it.”

I hear Eric snort.

“I look forward to seeing you, sweetheart.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll bring it to you.”

When I hang up, I realize I didn’t even say goodbye. My God, what an asshole I am!

The truth is my Iceman deserves express entry to heaven. To put up with me when I get unbearable is unbearable. And lately I’m the worst. I call his cell back.

“I love you, grumpy,” I say when he picks up.

I hear him laugh, a laugh I adore.

“And I love you more than my life, sweetheart.”

It’s snowing when we leave home in the afternoon, and it’s very cold. Norbert takes me to the sports center, and I’m happy again. I’m all over the place with my hormones. When we arrive, I see my guy leaning on our car, waiting for me.

God, he’s so handsome!

Once he spots us, Eric comes over to the car and kisses me on the lips.

“Hello, beautiful, how are you?”

“Happy, now that I’m with you.”

We walk to the sports center and go directly to the locker rooms.

“You know where you have to go, right?”

I nod, and, when I think he’s going to let go, he pulls me toward him again, sucks my upper lip, then the lower one, and kisses me after a little nibble.

Oh yeah, oh yeah...

I love that, and I don’t care who sees us.

“I don’t want to argue with you again, understood, sweetheart?”

I nod. It’s clear the Zimmerman Effect knocks me completely out of combat. I smile, and he gives me a sweet little slap on the ass.

“I’ll look for you in the bleachers. Wait for me,” he says.

With a silly little smile on my face, I climb the stands. I see none of our friends are here yet, and I miss Frida. I look around and notice people have started coming in. My spirits sink when I see Björn’s constipated poodle.

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