Chapter's song: Wait by Maroon 5 (because they're awesome and each song they make, I end up loving!)

Kate's message comes as I'm paying for the flower bouquet. I know how important this is for her, and we're celebrating it all the way.

Something happened. I'm not in the mood to celebrate, sorry. Rain check?

What the hell? I frown before I resume paying. With the flowers in my hand, I make my way to my car, but not before calling her.

"I'm sorry, I'm really not in the mood for anything, Mark." Her voice sounds heavy and... sad. My stomach tightens.

"What happened?"

She sighs. "I quit."

I freeze on my spot, completely taken aback. How do you go from a promotion to resignation?

"Well, I feel like we should still celebrate. It was a crappy job, anyway."

"But at least it paid for my place. And my computer, which you broke, by the way. Oh, God! What if I have to go back to my mother's house and I end up serving beer for the rest of my days?" Kate starts to panic and even though I'm concerned, she sounds too cute.

"I wouldn't mind if you served me a beer for the rest of my life, Kate."

She snorts. "Of course you wouldn't, pickle." I roll my eyes. At least she's in the mood to tease me.

"You're lucky I'm too nice and I'm letting that nickname slip off." She chuckles softly. Too softly. I know she's actually concerned. Damn it. "Okay. Sorry, but I'm on my way and I already bought dinner, so it would be a waste if we don't eat it."

"Mark, seriously, I feel like crap, I probably look like crap, and I think it would be better if I had the night on my own. Please."

I close the door to my car with a bang. I turn on the bluetooth in the car so we can speak, and I type an order for takeout as I say, "First of all, there's no way you'd ever look like crap. If you would, then I'm like a fly, completely drawn to you. Second, I'm your boyfriend, cabbage. I'm here for you, like it or not. Third, what on earth did I do to your computer? I haven't even seen it. How did I break it? And fourth, I'm already on my way, and I'm not sorry. Suck it up. I need to see you, too."

Kate stays silent for a moment. "That fly comment is so weird..."

Laughing, I start the car. "Yeah, I need to step up my charming phrases, it's all I could come up with in such short notice."

"Honestly, you're not that bad."

I smile. "Of course I'm not. I'm awesome."

"And, there's the Mark I know."

Slightly, I shake my head. "You still haven't told me how I broke your computer."

"It's a long, boring story."

"I feel like you're not being honest, Kate. And don't worry, we'll have time." 

I wasn't kidding when I said I looked like crap. 

My hair was in a messy ponytail, and not in that sexy-bed hair kind of way, as in I just grabbed an elastic and made it without even looking at the mirror. My mascara is smudged since I cried from anger when I got home. But truth be told, I want to see him too. And I desperately need a hug.

Knowing that he's not joking and is probably around the corner, I get up and walk to the bathroom to at least remove the mascara and comb my hair. As I'm finishing, my doorbell rings. Having him there makes me feel warm already.

When I open the door, I find him smiling at me, with a bouquet of white flowers in one hand and a bunch of bags on the other.

"Hey you," he says before taking a step closer and handing me the flowers. I take them as he leans over and kisses me softly. "You seriously can't look like crap, Kate."

"I did comb my hair and washed my face," I comment as I feel my cheeks warm up.

He enters and walks to the small kitchen table to leave the bags. "I kept thinking about what you said on the phone, cabbage." I press my lips and he flashes me a smile before taking out several plastic containers with all kinds of desserts. "And we do need to celebrate. Let's be honest, your job sucked."

My eyes are studying all the food laid in front of me. There's chocolate cake, cheesecake topped with berries, brownies and chocolate chip cookies. And a bottle of champagne. Despite all the sweets, my heart feels tight as Mark opens the bottle.

"Yeah, but at least it paid the lease of my apartment," I say with a heavy heart as I take out two flute glasses.

Mark pours the champagne into the glasses. He hands me one and he tips his. Before he takes a sip, he stares at me. "You can always marry me, you know?"

My lips curve up. I take a long sip of champagne and enjoy the little bubbling sensation before a chuckle leaves my lips. "Yeah, right. Don't take this the wrong way, I admire what Emily does and how devoted she is to all her Royal endeavours, but I'm not her. I couldn't do half of what she does."

Bloody hell, where did that come from?

I fake a laugh. I'm utterly shocked at what I just blurted out. "I'm in dire need of something sugary since I'm speaking nonsense."

Kate smiles at me. She leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips. "Thank you for being here, and for all this."

"Cheering you up is on my boyfriend's duties, Kate."

Her eyes lit up, and she pecks me one more time before grabbing a spoonful of the berries cheesecake I brought.

I keep my eyes on her, studying her every move, how she closes her eyes as she savours the dessert on her mouth, letting all the stress of the day fade in that instant. And the truth is, that even though I blurted out the first thing on my mind, I can't help but feel quite disappointed as well. I guess her reaction was the last thing I expected it to be.

To lighten up the mood, my mood actually, I prod once more, "so how did I break your computer?"

I know it's short, but it seems important :)

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