She finally got it on the third attempt, her door keys clamped between her teeth, her fingers reddening from dragging all six carrier bags up the stairs. Somewhere inside the apartment, the buzzer sounded. A few seconds later there was the sound of a chair creaking across wood and then, Sven's face, startled.
"Mimi. Oh, you should have called; I would have come down and helped you. Here, give me them."
"Thgnghs." Mimi pulled her hand forward and let the twisted plastic drop over her boyfriend's outstretched hand. Her keys fell into her palm and she picked up the rest of the shopping. "Ugh. I saw the lift was out of order and it was freezing outside so I just came up. Don't worry. Job's done."
"Well, next time, I'll go, okay? You should have said, I would have come and helped."
"I knew you were working and I parked in the basement. I wasn't about to schlep around the front with all this. Blowing a gale out there." Mimi heaved the last of the bags onto the dining table, sending oranges rolling across the scarred wood. "How's it going?"
"Good." Sven pulled open a cupboard, nodding, lining up the cans so they all faced the same way. " I mean, there's only so much you can do with advertising bleach, isn't there?
Mimi smiled. "I suppose. You're doing the tin thing again." She pulled open the fridge, offloading the armful of groceries into it.
Sven pouted, looking up at his handiwork, "Just being neat. Don't you think they look better? That way you can see what you're eating."
Mimi shook her head, manoeuvring yoghurt pots and butter, "You're crazy, you know that? Oh, I bought you that beer you like, it's in the bag, for the hockey this weekend."
"Ah, great. What about this?" Sven picked up a smaller, blue bag his face questioning.
"Just some tape. Well actually, a lot of tape. I know you've been thinking about it, so..." Mimi flew across the kitchen and plucked a roll of the silver tape from the bag. "That's for later." She kissed him on the cheek and pinched his waist playfully.
"Internet history." Sven sighed leaning back against the counter, the blood rising in his cheeks.
"Yup." Mimi closed the fridge with her hip, grinning, "And we talked about it ages ago. I mean, only if you want, you know that. Converting fantasy to reality is a big thing -- pass me that rice -- and you know, sticky."
"Yep." The man nodded, handing Mimi the final blue box from a bag. "Cute that you thought about it." He shrugged. "Feel kind of bad about the porn now, though." He winced, "Like I should have said something."
Mimi laughed, "Calm down. We all have our fantasies. No big deal, babe. Just...you know...I don't mind. So long as you're not replacing me with it or end up addicted I think you're safe. I know you're not in the throes of some life draining porn addiction." Her fingers curled around his shoulder, squeezing, reassuring him. "Though, I'd like to be included sometimes." Her mouth pressed against his cheek again and she smiled, sinking back down onto the flats of her feet.
"Oh, now you see, that's just made it worse and now I feel like a twat." He curled his arms around her. "You're so good to me."
"Well," Mimi looked up at him and shrugged, a sigh coming from her long and steady, her palms flattening over his arms. "I know."
"Ha ha." Sven's laugh was louder than he'd intended, spurred on by relief and, if he was honest, a fear of just how normal she made him feel. "I have work to do."
Mimi watched him, "And you're still horribly embarrassed about your heavy bondage kink. I'm just trying to pull it out of you." She raised an eyebrow.
"I know and I like that. I like that you are, that I'm becoming better the longer I'm with you. I like myself at last."
"Good!" Mimi laughed, kissing him again, "I don't think you're so bad either."
"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow and pulled her against him, laughing.
"You have work to do." Mimi said, trying to be serious and failing.
"I do." Sven said, "Ugh, I do. On a Saturday too, but I really need to get this done. You busy later, maybe we could go out? I hear that new Italian place is pretty good."
Mimi nodded. "If you like. I'm just going to be here, reading. Do you want coffee? I'm making tea."
"No, I'm fine." He said, "Here. You sit down; I'll make you this. You've been out all morning and you didn't get home 'til nearly twelve last night. You need to sit, kitten."
"Thank you." Mimi squeezed his shoulder and trotted over to the sofa, pulling a thick, turquoise book from the table. "Honestly, I think it's worse when I work more; I can never sleep. That launch yesterday was pretty dry. You didn't miss anything. I was just running about trying to make sure the journos were being nice. I think people will like it, though." She said, sinking into the cushions, "You'd read a book about crossing Africa on a motorbike, wouldn't you?"
"Ha. If I had the time I would." Sven planted the steaming cup on the coffee table and turned back toward his desk. "Hell, if I had the time, I'd do it." He grinned.
Mimi laughed, "Well maybe it's best that you don't then. Might get ideas."
"Just might." He slid into his chair and picked up some earphones. "I think I should be done by seven."
Mimi nodded, "Great."