This is something wrong with my girlfriend.
There, I don't care if she has trouble realizing that. Or doesn't want to admit it or whatever.
I fucking love this woman, and right now there is something that's bothering her.
“Babe, what the fuck is wrong?” I ask her and she’s about to answer when I realize she’s probably just going to say the same thing she has already. I stop her. “Wait,” I say and take a step toward her.
She looks up at me and there's the briefest flash of hope in her eyes. As if there's some way that maybe I can sort this out for her.
“I don't want to hear what the problem is if you can’t tell me, but know this babe,” I tell her and wrap my arms around her, bringing her close. “I will be with you no matter what the problem is. Hell, if you fucking killed someone I’ll be there with you to bury the fucking body.”
Brittney trembles and I pull back from her so I can look her in the eyes.
“Fuck the world, babe,” I tell her, my eyes piercing into her. “It’s you and me fucking forever,” I say with finality.
Brittney stares at me for a long, long time. Her eyes widen as if she’s realizing something for the first time. She uses her hand to wipe away some tears before they can form.
“Listen, I know you did fucking porn back in Los Angeles, but guess what? We’re a company that sells porn, so it’s fucking okay!” I exclaim and she laughs for a second. Bingo. I’m on the right track.
“I know there was probably some other shit that you’re not telling me, but listen to me, okay?” I say, and Brittney nods as she looks at me.
I take a deep breath. Fuck. Sure, I’ve told her I love her. But I’ve never put it in this way before like I’m about to do.
“I really don't care what the fuck you did, are doing, or will do, as long as you let me be around you,” I tell her and she gasps.
“I know I sound like a fucking pussy for saying that and don’t worry, you won't fucking walk all over me or something, but Brit, whatever it is, I’m always next to you because I fucking love you,” I finish.
Another fucking long pregnant pause.
She takes a step over and gets on her tiptoes. Her mouth comes to mine and she kisses me.
Long and fucking hard.
The kind that sends blood to your cock.
When she pulls back, she’s smiling.
“I love you too, you big romantic bear, you,” she says with a smirk and twinkling eyes.
Fuck. She’s back.
“So no more talk of leaving?” I ask her, trying to hide my smile.
“Uh-uh,” she says shaking her head.
“Good,” I tell her, turning away, trying to not look like a fool. “Then scram. I got work to do.”
Brittney kisses me one last time and turns around to walk away. I go to my desk and unmute the call.
But the line is silent. I wonder if they’re already done? They can’t be. The call was supposed to be for another half hour at least.
“If you’re wondering what happened to the call, I told everyone we’d reconvene when we never heard you answer any of our questions,” Cheryl says from the door to my office.
I turn around. She’s standing there holding her tablet and looking at me.
“When you didn’t answer even me, I decided you had probably jumped off without telling me,” she says as she walks in, her eyes looking around. “Which is a very odd thing to do, even for you, considering the importance of what we’re planning here Ethan,” she finishes with.
She’s looking at me closely and I know what's fucking coming.