Kellan
I am sitting at the hotel bar with a scotch. I know I shouldn’t have stormed off or gotten mad at Elsie because she had done nothing wrong. All of this was on me. I have been neglecting her since we arrived here, and I hated myself for it. I didn’t mean to stay at work late. I should have texted her. I hated fighting with her.
I down my scotch, paid for it and decided to return to our room. I wanted to be with my girl, not sit alone at a bar. If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed single. I will be glad when I am done with work, and I can concentrate on Elsie. I am happy she is with me, but I don’t know if she knows that since I barely have been around.

I stop by the reception.
“Hello, sir. How can I help you tonight?” the receptionist smiles.
“Good evening. Could I get a few things sent to my room, please? We are in room 309.” I ask.
“Sure, what can we get you?”
“Champagne. Strawberries, chocolate sauce and two cheeseburgers with side salads. Oh, and some sparking water. I think that is everything.” I smile.
I know Elsie will be hungry because she wouldn’t have eaten since we were supposed to go out for dinner.

“Okay, sir. It will be delivered to your room soon.” She smiles.
I thank her and head off. I don’t know if Elsie will still be in bed or up. I haven’t been away that long. I arrive outside our room and take a couple of deep breaths before using my key card to open the door.
The first thing I see is Elsie still in bed, her back to the door. She might have fallen asleep. I sigh and head over, going around to the side of the bed she is in. I kneel down in front of her. Elsie has her closed, but it doesn’t mean she is sleeping. There is a chance she is ignoring me.
I reach in and gently stroke her face.

“Go away, Kellan,” she snaps and turns her back to me.
She is still mad at me. I don’t blame her.
“Elsie, please, sweetheart. I am sorry. I didn’t purposely miss our date night,” I whisper and stroke her back.
She whimpers and moves further away from me, “But you did miss it! And then you stormed out, Kellan.”
I didn’t expect her to become as upset with me. I climb onto the bed and lay behind her.
“Elsie, I fucked up, I know, but I am truly sorry. Please stop being mad at me. I don’t like fighting with you or seeing you upset. I know this trip hasn’t been great for you this far, but I promise to make it up to you when we are in Paris. You and me, beautiful. No work. Nobody else. Just us spending quality time together.”
I stroke her arm and kiss her shoulders. Elsie slowly rolls over to face me. Her eyes are red from crying.
“No, so far, the trip for me hasn’t been great. Yes, I knew you would be working, but if I knew I would spend nearly all my time alone, I wouldn’t have come. I would have flown out tomorrow once you were done.”
The sadness in her voice breaks my heart. I hate that she wished she hadn’t come. That is the last thing I wanted. It is the truth, though. I am out most of the day and night working. By the time I am back, I am stressed and tired, not in the mood to do anything. It has been unfair to her.
“I hate you feel like that, Elsie. I know I haven’t been around, but I liked coming back here after night to you. I didn’t expect to be away as much.” I whisper and caress her cheek.
“I know. I am sorry too for acting selfish and needy.” She whimpers.
“Hey now, angel, you have nothing to be sorry for. I am the selfish one. And I like you are needy. It shows me you care and miss me when I am not here.”
I close the gap between us and kiss her softly. A part of me expects her to pull back, but she doesn’t. She kisses back. It only lasts a moment.
“What can I do to make it up to you, sweetheart? Anything!” I ask.
“You don’t have to do anything; just be more present, Kellan. That is all I ask.” She answers honestly.
“I can do that. I swear in Paris, I will be so present you will want to run away and hide from me for an hour.” I laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.
It seems to work because she snickers and shakes her head at me.
“I will hold you to that,” she grins and prods my nose.
I give her my best puppy dog eyes, “Does this mean I am forgiven?”
“Hmm, I am still deciding.” She shrugs.
I wasn’t sure if she was serious or joking.
“What if I told you I had ordered champagne, burgers, strawberries and chocolate? Would that help in any way?”
I hope it does.
“Maybe…” she giggles.
I don’t believe she is going to say yes just yet. She will make me wait, which I am okay with. I will do whatever it takes to make it up to her.
I chuckle and capture her lips. I rest my hand on her hip, bring her closer and hold her body to mine as we kiss. She smiles into my lips, resting her hand on my chest.
I pull back from the kiss, “I love you, Elsie, so much, and it probably hasn’t seemed like it recently, but I do.” I promise.
“Kellan, I never doubted your love for me, not even for a second. I love you too, handsome.” She coos.
“Good, please don’t even doubt my love for you. I will sometimes mess up and act like an ass, but none of that will mean I love you any less.” I needed to make sure she knew that.
“I won’t. I promise, my love.” She smiles.
I hug her to my chest. We were silent, but nothing had to be said in the moment. I could stay like this for hours with her. I am happy she isn’t angry with me now. I need to make sure I don’t mess up again because she doesn’t deserve that.
I told her weeks ago she would be prioritised above work. And I had been doing that until we came to London. I meant it, and it is still my plan because work isn’t as important as I once thought. Elsie is more important, and I need to make sure she knows that. She always makes time for me, no matter what she is doing, even if it is just a quick text to say hello or tell me she loves me. It is how it should be.
I am still learning, especially since I’ve never felt the way I do for Elsie. I haven’t loved anyone in such a way as I do her.