Love Past Part 4

Present Day

Jason’s head was bowed, sad, and feeling insufficient. How did he not think of this possibility? How did he not imagine all the possibilities? Now he was there, in his car, with tears streaming down his face even without his permission, at his beloved Xander's company, who no longer wanted him.

Unable to drive, he urgently needed to leave the place where he was. He felt grateful that the parking lot was empty.

“Of course it is, everyone is working at this hour,” he thought.

He wanted to disappear, to not face everything that was weighing on his shoulders—his parents furious with him, even though he had been an adult for a long time, they still felt entitled to control him. At least his ex-wife didn't want to see him even if he were covered in gold.

Jason heard footsteps approaching. He lifted his head, looking for the source of the noise. Clearly, the person was running in an attempt to catch up to him. He looked in all directions searching for the individual, and then he saw the person he least wanted to see at that moment—Xander, with his black suit jacket open, revealing a white dress shirt and a red tie. His hair, unlike when they were dating, was now short, showing his forehead. His eyes showed concern, even from a distance. Jason realized that his beloved still felt something for him. Noticing this, he gave a small smile.

“Xander, I will never give up on you!” Jason concluded in his thoughts.

Xander finally found Jason. He had searched the entire company, floor by floor. He couldn't let him leave like that; they needed to talk, to decide whether they would put an end to this or not.

As he reached Jason's car, Xander noticed that Jason was in tears. He tried to disguise it, but his eyes were red and slightly swollen.

“Something’s up!” Xander thought, leaning against the car window.

“What’s wrong, love?” Xander knew Jason well. If he wanted him to talk, he would have to treat him without contradicting him, with love and affection. It wasn’t difficult for him to do that.

Jason was startled by the sweet and sexy way Xander addressed him at that moment.

“What d-did you say?” Jason asked in a faint voice, cursing himself for stuttering.

“What’s wrong, love?” Xander repeated, continuing, “Why are you crying? Did something happen?” he asked, full of concern.

“Breathe, Xand.” Jason ordered, and Xander obeyed, taking a deep breath. “Nothing happened.”

“Then why were you crying?”

“Because of you, you idiot!” Jason thought, giving a broad smile.

“Now you’re smiling like the Joker,” Xander said, not moistening his lips, which were a bit dry from nervousness. It had been a long time since he had been this close to a man who excited him so much.

“Why did you come after me?” Jason asked, his face turning serious, ready for a serious conversation.

“And why are you here?” Xander retorted.

“Because I love you!” they both said at the same time.

Both Xander and Jason, still incredulous at what they heard, couldn’t believe it. No, it couldn’t be real.

“What will we do? You’re married now,” Xander said, disheartened by the reality knocking at the door without even asking for permission. However, he didn’t understand Jason's reaction. Jason started laughing, which made Xander frown as he stared at his dear future boyfriend.

“Apparently, you haven’t been watching TV or reading gossip,” Jason concluded between laughs.

“I don’t have time for that kind of entertainment,” Xander retorted seriously.

“I divorced Sarah a few months ago.”

Jason was definitely a box of surprises for Xander. He had never imagined that his beloved, soon-to-be boyfriend would have such courage.

“I couldn’t stand being married anymore. It was suffocating me. I didn’t know who I was anymore. Lies upon lies, one after another, until I got tired of all that nonsense and put an end to it…”

Jason stopped talking when Xander's hand wiped a tear that was running down his right cheek.

“I know it was hard, my love, but now I will always be by your side and never let go of your hand,” Xander promised, giving a corner smile that made Jason’s heart race.

“One day this man will kill me. Oh my God!” Jason thought, laughing at himself.

“Get in the car,” Jason said.

“For what, love?” Xander asked.

“Let’s go to my place, I need you,” Jason replied, giving Xander a quick kiss that made him unable to believe what he had just heard. “Hurry up, love…”

Xander walked around the car, sitting in the passenger seat.

“And here we go,” Jason said, reversing out of the parking space.

The end? Maybe?

Epilogue

Five Years Later...

Jason woke up in Xander’s arms. He loved it, his mornings were filled with kisses and caresses. The couple really couldn’t live without each other anymore. Jason, still with his eyes closed, recalled the previous night…

“Xander, I don’t want to go,” Jason complained, trying to pout like a five-year-old child.

“Stop that, you know it’s important. My whole family will be there,” Xander tried to convince him. In the end, the pouting Jason finally agreed.

During the long drive, Xander tirelessly explained the importance of that dinner. What Jason didn’t know was that for the event to be important, he had to be there.

Jason, still sulking, threatened to get out of the car as soon as Xander parked, but he was stopped by his boyfriend who held his face, turning it to look at him.

“Stop pouting,” Xander ordered.

“What pout?” Jason asked, pretending not to know what his boyfriend was talking about.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Jason,” Xander warned, giving him a quick kiss. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” Jason replied, bursting into laughter.

“That’s how I want to see you tonight,” Xander whispered.

“How?” Jason teased, wanting Xander to admit he wanted him to be happy. That filled his heart with love; he had finally found the right person to be by his side.

**

The dinner went well. Xander’s parents accepted Jason very well. Still, Jason was afraid of making an unforgivable mistake, so he remained reserved.

Xander noticed his beloved boyfriend was acting strange.

“What’s wrong?” Xander whispered in Jason’s ear. They were sitting next to each other, which made it easy to interact.

“Why is everyone treating me so well?” Jason asked, incredulous.

Xander looked at him as if he didn’t understand.

“Why would they treat you badly?” he asked, not understanding at all.

With a simple look, Xander understood everything. He stood up, announcing to everyone that they were leaving. Xander wouldn’t force Jason to stay in a place where he didn’t feel comfortable.

“Why are you leaving? Did something happen, my son?” Xander’s father asked.

“Nothing to worry about, Dad,” Xander replied firmly, holding Jason’s hand and leading him out of the restaurant.

“I’m sorry,” Jason said in a faint voice.

Xander looked at him as if he were an alien and not his strong and determined boyfriend.

“You don’t need to apologize. I forced you to come,” Xander said firmly.

“But…”

“No buts, love. It’s okay,” Xander said, interrupting Jason. “Let’s go home.”

“Good morning, love!” Xander said, grabbing his boyfriend by the waist and leaving kisses and bites on his neck, pulling Jason out of his reverie. “What were you thinking about?”

“About what happened yesterday.”

“You naughty boy…” Xander whispered in his ear.

“Not that,” Jason said, his cheeks blushing. “About the dinner that went wrong.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. What needed to happen will happen anyway.”

Jason looked at him strangely.

“Now you’ve made me curious,” Jason said, turning to face Xander. “Come on, tell me, tell me.”

“You’ll find out at the right time, love,” Xander said, getting up to get ready for work and walking towards the closet.

“You’re annoying,” Jason shouted.

“Your annoying,” Xander replied, making Jason blush. He felt like a teenager. Xander had that effect on him.

“I’ll see you at lunch,” Xander said, approaching the bed to give him a goodbye kiss, but Jason held him back, causing him to fall on top of him. “I’m going to be late again, and it’s your fault, Jason.”

***

Jason sat at the restaurant table where he always had lunch with his boyfriend. Xander hadn’t arrived yet, which was strange. He was always the first to arrive. Worried, he decided to send a message.

Jason

Love, are you on your way?

12:45 PM

Xander is typing...

Love, I’m on my way.

12:45 PM

Not even a minute had passed when Xander entered the restaurant, breathless. Jason, worried about his beloved boyfriend, stood up.

“Love, what happened?” Jason said, and at the same time, was startled when Xander knelt in the middle of the restaurant. “Are you okay, love?”

“Will you marry me?” Xander asked, panting from physical exhaustion.

“You son of a good woman,” Jason said, pretending to be angry. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Xander shook his head, unable to speak any further. The anxiety