Worth the fight

as we talk.  I’ve always been a sleep after sex person, preferring to avoid the lingering intimacy that comes after two people share their bodies.  But it’s different with Nico, I like the quiet time getting to know each other almost as much as the physical time.  Both settle me, leave me feeling replete. 
    “I set a date for a fight.”
    Mindlessly, I trace the beautifully woven ink patterns on his thick chest, following the circular design lightly with my nail.  “It’s your first fight since...”  My voice drops off, I don’t know how to finish the sentence.
    “Yeah.”  Nico’s vo ice is low and contemplative, but it doesn’t sound like I’ve upset him with my thoughtless question.
    “How long’s it been?”
    “Too long.”  He pauses.  “Since May 1 st last year, a little over 13 months.”
    His answer tells me the day is etched in his mind.  I bet he can recite the number of days and hours and seconds since it happened.  It’s always there, in the back of your mind, even when you aren’t thinking about it.  It never goes away.  I should know.
    “What made you decide it was time?”
    A long moment passes as Nico contempla tes his answer.  “I don’t really know…I’m just ready to move on.”  His arm pulls me closer and he kisses the top of my head.  The gesture is so small, yet so big.

Chapter 25
    Elle
    “Good morning , Regina.”  I hand my friend a tall caramel latte as I walk in even later than my usual late.
    “Looks like you had a good night.”  Regina raises one eyebrow with a knowing smirk.
    I look down at myself, wondering if something is out of place.  Is my shirt on backwards? How could she know?  “Are you joking?  Is it that obvious?”
    “Well you don’t usually speak in s ingsong.”  She winks at me as I walk around her desk and lean against her file cabinet.
    “Nico came over last night.”  I sigh , thinking back to the sight of him in my kitchen making me breakfast this morning wearing nothing but sweats that hung low on his waist in a sinfully delicious place. 
    “I guessed that by the j ust-fucked smile on your face.” 
    “I thought it was my sin gsongy voice that gave me away?”
    “That, and the flowers that came fifteen minutes before you walked in.” 
    ***
    My day goes by in a rush of calls and work I hadn’t planned on doing.   But Leonard is due back soon and I want to make his first few days back easy, so I neglect my own files and spend more time with his. 
    I call Nico in the afternoon and thank him for the flowers.  I love that he sent me wildflowers instead of something more common like roses.  They’re beautiful and colorful and befitting of the sender.  
    Regina and I both stay late and we order in dinner at the office.  It’s almost nine and our dinners are cold before we finally sit down in the conference room to take our first bites.
    “Does he know?”  Regina’s usually direct and sarcastic voice is gentle and apprehensive.  She knows what bringing up the past can do to me, so she steadies for my response.
    “No.”
    Regina looks at me concerned.  “Don’t you think he’ll understand...with what happened to him?”
    I do.  I really do think he’ll understand for some reason.  But I’m just not ready to say the words out loud yet.  “Don’t start, Regina.  It’s new and I’m not avoiding it, it just hasn’t come up.”
    “It will never come up, unless you bring it up. How many years did you spend with William and it never came up?”
    I sigh heavily, I know she’s right, but I’m not ready for Nico to look at me differently.  He’ll see someone different once he knows.  Or worse, he’ll look at me with pity.  The way he looks at me makes my heart skip a beat, something I’m only just learning to enjoy.  Too many years of my life went by with me flatlining, trying to evade all emotions. It’s the first time I want to feel in a long time.  Feel the highs and the lows and all that’s in between.
    “I’m just not ready yet.” 
    Regina knows what I’ve been through, so she doesn’t push.  But I know this isn’t the last that I’ll hear about it from her.
     

Chapter 26
    Nico
    “The chick the other night had some rack, hey Lady Killer?”  Frank Lawson is a complete asshole. Always has been.  I didn’t even notice he was in the gym the other night when Elle and I walked through. 
    “She’s not some chick and keep your eyes off her when she’s in here, or