"Dammit. She always has to work late," he grumbled, slamming the car door irritably and striding over to the elevators. He raked a hand through his dark hair as he waited for a door to admit him.
Stepping inside, he jabbed the button for the floor their apartment was located on with more force than was necessary. Leaning back against the wall, his thoughts churned rebelliously. {Her hours are worse than mine. And she comes home so tired that we hardly talk any more, let alone do anything else}.
By the time he let himself into the empty apartment, he was convinced that he was neglected, unappreciated, and as of late, unloved.
He flung his keys and jacket at a chair near the hallway before trudging up the short flight of stairs to the small kitchen. Pulling a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, he twisted off the cap and flipped the lid on the counter. Taking a long drink from the container, he headed back down the stairs to the living room.
Moving to the couch, he set his beer on the end table while he tugged off his boots and put his stockinged feet up on the coffee table. As he turned on the television set and reclaimed his beer, he heard the front door open.
Kacie closed the door behind herself and shrugged off her coat, hanging it up in the hall closet. She made a face at the sight of Peter's jacket flung carelessly on the chair. {Why can't he at least hang up his coat? I'm getting so tired of picking up after him!}
Peter had already made up his mind to have it out with Kacie about her work hours, and one look at her pinched and drawn face brought sharp words to his lips. "Kacie, this is ridiculous. You can't keep working these kinds of hours!"
She stopped short and stared at him in confusion. "Excuse me? Where did that come from? These are the same hours I've always worked."
"Well, then, why do you look so run over all the time? That place is working you to death, and I don't like it. You're not the only nurse on staff there, are you? I just think you're putting in too many hours."
"Hours? You want to talk about hours? Let's talk about your job, shall we? How about last week, when you never got home before midnight? Who's the one that worked the last two weekends? And I'm willing to bet that you haven't been home all that long tonight, either. Have you?"
He flushed guiltily, but continued to gripe. "I thought you said you were going to be home by six tonight. It's after eight."
"I know how to tell time!" Her voice rose angrily. "One of the procedures ran late. What was I supposed to do? Tell the doctors, 'sorry, gotta go, my husband expects me home'?"
"Well no, but..."
"And another thing," Kacie interrupted. "Did you remember to stop at the cleaners and the market on your way home tonight?"
Peter nearly choked on his beer as his eyes widened in dismay. He looked at her sheepishly. "Aw, Jeez, Kace, I totally spaced it."
She glanced at her wristwatch and spun on her heel, snatching up her purse and jerking her jacket off its hanger. "If I hurry, I can still make both stops before they close. Thanks a lot for your help!"
Peter sat up and grabbed for his boots while he kept his eyes on her retreating back. "Honey, I can --"
"Oh no, oh no, I wouldn't dream of imposing on you at this time of night to run errands." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You look like you've had a hard day and you're tired. You just sit there with your feet up and drink your beer."
She slammed out of the apartment before he could move.
Peter stared at the front door, stunned by Kacie's uncharacteristic display of temper. He hastily shoved his feet back into his boots and started after her.
Just as he reached out his hand for the front door, it opened.
Kacie took one look at him and walked directly into his arms. "This is nuts," she said flatly, resting her forehead against his shoulder. "What is happening to us? Why am I making a federal case out of some clothes and a few groceries, when all I've done all day is miss you?"
"I'm sorry I forgot, Hon." He rested his chin on top of her head as he held her close.
"It's not important." She rubbed her cheek against his collarbone. "All this scares me, Peter." He helped her off with her coat, and hung both of their garments in the closet.
He took her hand and led her over to the couch, where he sat and tugged her down next to him. She crawled into his lap, and he folded his arms around her, running gentle fingers through her hair.
"When did we stop taking time for each other? Why did we?" Kacie settled herself more solidly in his embrace. "And the way I just went off on you." Sighing, she continued, "I love you. Why did I take your head off that way?"
"I started it, Sweetheart. You no more than walked in the door and I jumped all over you." He brought up his hand to caress her cheek, and she kissed his palm before nestling her face in it. "I'm sorry. I've missed you, too. When I saw you weren't home yet, well...I...was just disappointed."
Kacie sighed tiredly and leaned her head back to look into his face. "You're right about one thing, Hon. My hours lately are ridiculous. I'm so beat tonight, I can't even see straight. Your hours are bad enough, but mine aren't any better." She yawned. "So I look run over, do I?"
Peter gave her a quick kiss. "You mad at me for saying that?"
"Nah. It's probably true. I feel run over." She sighed again. "So what are we going to do? I don't want to fight with you; I love you, and I miss you. I miss us."
"I guess that we'll just have to make 'us' a higher priority, Sweetheart. I can start by remembering to do the things I tell you I'm going to do."
"And I can get my supervisor to work on my hours. I doubt that the hospital would kick about paying me less overtime." She ran her fingers through his hair, brushing it back behind his ear. "Maybe we could finally have a night when we're both home and awake at the same time."
"What about tomorrow?" Peter suggested. "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?"
"You mean, like a date?"
"Yeah, why not? Maybe dinner and a movie?"
"Sounds wonderful." She kissed his neck. "Any plans for after that?"
"Could be." He started nuzzling her ear. "What about plans for tonight?"
She yawned hugely in his face, and dissolved into giggles at his crestfallen expression. "Oh, Honey, I'm sorry. I'm just too tired tonight. Do you mind very much?"
Peter took in the dark circles under her eyes and the lines of fatigue around her mouth. Kissing the tip of her nose, he tried not to sound too disappointed. "I suppose I'll get over it. You want me to get you something to eat?"
"No, thanks, Sweetheart. I'm too tired to eat. I just want to take a hot bath and go to bed. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, though." She guided his lips to hers and kissed him thoroughly. "I promise I'll make things up to you then."
"I hope you know that I'm going to hold you to that."
"Holding is only going to be part of the deal, Hon."