Casual Sabotage

Chapter Thirty

Six weeks later, life had turned back to how it had been five years ago with Brian. We were happy, we were in love and there was nothing that could get in our way. Brian's comedy troupe was gradually building in popularity and success, while I had remained in contact with Caleb. He had just recently moved back to Idaho like he had planned, and already Brian and I were putting together a trip away to see him.

There will be two things that I will be forever grateful for. The first is that Caleb didn't hold a grudge and that we have been able to continue to remain friends even after everything that we went through together. He was very forgiving and I couldn't fault the man on how he reacted to our break up.

The second is that Brian wasn't letting his jealousy get the better of him. He was happy for me to remain in contact with Caleb and supported him just as much as I did. He puts his trust in me and knows that I am devoted to him. Even after everything that happened between Brian and myself, we have been able to put our differences aside and focus on us and our relationship. I have never felt happier in my life. It took a lot of heartache, pain, guilt and remorse to get to this point, but I realise now that I needed to go through all of it to reach the end goal.

"You know...I've been thinking." Brian announced casually one night, while we were laid together in bed and wrapped up beneath the covers.

"What have you been thinking about?" I asked, turning to the man.

Brian pulled me tighter into his chest and lowered his gaze so that his chocolate eyes fell onto mine. A small, simpered smile etched across his face and I knew that what he was about to say would either be a random joke or something meaningful. I was hoping for the latter.

"About us...about our future." He explained simply.

"Oh yeah," I wondered. "What sort of future do you hope for?"

"One full of love." Brian shrugged. "I know I have that with you now, Sal, but I hope that it stays that way."

"It will, Brian." I reassured. "I know that we've been through a lot over the years, but I think now we're old enough to be open and honest with each other. You know, to avoid all the stupid mind games and messing with feelings bullshit that we've experienced before."

"Can you imagine how things would have turned out if this had all been for nothing?" He threw the question out, but his words really got me thinking.

I couldn't imagine a future without Brian involved somehow. It felt like he was attached to me like superglue and no matter how hard I tried to shake him, he came back with an even stronger force than before. It took me almost losing the man twice for me to realise that there was no point trying to deny our bond any longer. He was mine and I was his. That's just how our paths in life were written out; there was no changing that.

"Life really wouldn't have been worth living." I admitted with full honesty.

My response gained a comforting squeeze from Brian, before he moved a hand to my face and let his fingertips caress gently against my cheek. He leaned closer and brought his mouth to connect to mine, catching me in a loving kiss.

"To think," He chuckled after pulling away. "We first kissed on the floor of my bathroom at my parents' house all of those years ago."

"It's a kiss that I'll never forget." I reminisced.

"You were so drunk that night." Brian laughed harder. "I remember you heaving your guts up into a bucket the whole night."

"Right, great...thanks for that, Brian." I rolled my eyes. "Way to ruin the moment."

"It's what I do." He grinned playfully.

"Thank you for looking after me that night." I appreciated. "I never would have made it home alive otherwise."