Page 33 of Tempting Sebastian

He came up and pulled the tissue paper out of the bag. He grabbed the card first and read it out loud. “Jackson, I’m sorry I’ve been an asshole. Sonnet seventeen is what you mean to me. – Sebastian”

He then pulled the book out as I watched his eyes light up. “Sebastian, I love this. So funny because I was looking at this about a month or so ago in a bookstore.”

It was time to come clean. “I know. I saw you.”

He looked confused. “You saw me?”

“Um, yeah. When you wouldn’t tell me where you were going or let me give you a ride, I followed you.”

“Sebastian! Do you know how fucking crazy that sounds?” He looked at me half grinning and half serious.

“Yes…yes, I know. You made me lose my mind though when I thought you were seeing someone. Then I thought you were seeing that cashier in the bookstore.”

He laughed out loud. “Whaaat? That guy was a fucking douche. Sebastian… you’re too much. Just think, if you’d just told me how you were feeling, we could’ve avoided all that stupid shit.”

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. “I know. I’m an idiot. But I’m your idiot and I love you.” I kissed him. And then I recited a part of the poem, “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where…”

He smiled and his eyes became glossy. “I love you, too.”

Kissing him again, I was reminded just how thankful I was that he was standing in front of me, in our kitchen, in our house, mine. He was mine.

Epilogue

Sebastian

Five Years Later

My phone went off with a text message. It was time. I turned around to gently wake Jackson. “Jackson, wake up. It’s time.” I tried to shake him awake. He was a heavy sleeper so whenever I woke him, it was a shock to his system, and he would enter fight or flight mode. I understood it, so I just tried to be as gentle as possible.

“What?” He mumbled.

“It’s time, babe. You have to get up.” I leaned in and kissed his neck gently.

“It’s time for what…” That’s when it hit him, and he popped up. “It’s time? It’s time time?”

I laughed. “Yeah, sleepy head. Come on.”

Jackson hopped out of bed like he wasn’t just in the deepest sleep of his life. “It’s time. It’s time. Do I have time to brush my teeth? I have to brush my teeth.”

I smiled, watching him run around. “Get dressed. Brush your teeth and then meet me downstairs. I’m going to let the dog out.”

Jackson had been bugging me for a good year to get a dog. It was right after we got married. I always said no. Then he showed me the face of this miniature Dachshund and how small they stayed even as adults and I just couldn’t tell him no anymore.

“Come on, Sunny.” I tapped my leg. We named him Sunny as a nod to sunflowers because this dog was the happiest dog in the world, just like the man who wanted him.

Jackson came downstairs looking wonderful and happy as always. “Sunny, we’ll see you when we get back!” Sunny snuggled into Jackson before taking off to his bed. The dog was practically human.

“You ready, Jacky?” I looked at him, hopeful.

“I’m ready! Let’s go.”

*

Wearing out the tile below me, I was pacing hard as I went back and forth in the same spot over and over.

“Knock, knock.” I looked up to see Quinn and my mom walk in.

“Hey Quinny. Hey mom.” I hugged them and then they went to Jackson and hugged him.

---