The Not So Perfect Love Story

30|| Donuts, bets and karaoke

And I'd choose you;

in a hundred lifetimes,

in a hundred worlds,

in any version of reality,

I'd find you and

I'd choose you.

- The Chaos of Stars

30|| Donuts, bets and karaoke

Sebastian's chauffer looked thoroughly amused when we slid into the backseat of the car, dripping wet because of the rain. He silently drove towards my place and when he stopped both me and Bash got off and sent the chauffer away. Once inside the living room chandelier seemed to shine brighter, the wine tasted sweeter and the house more and more like a home.

"So, I really want to pursue a relationship with you Ari. A serious, all or nothing kind of a relationship. I want to take you out on dates, show the world that you chose me to give your love to. I want you and I want this life with you. What do you say?" He said after we'd showered and changed into comfortable and dry clothes, sitting on the couch with a flute of wine.

"I'd like that too Ebby. I'd really like that. But I want to know why you went through the trouble of all that big story thing? You were never one to beat around the bush" I ask to which he gives a sheepish look.

"I did say I was nervous and scared. I was worried that with James back and all, whether you'd realized you loved him still and wanted to get back with him. And while I understand James is a part of who you are because of all the years of friendship and he will always have a special place in your heart, it was difficult to imagine you with him now. And that made me hesitate, give you time to process everything, but also scared, so very scared of losing you. Why else do you think I made sure to be with you all the time?" He asked and I could sense all the fear his voice.

He was still scared of where exactly I stood with James.

"Ebby, I won't say you're wrong and that I don't love him anymore. I don't know how to stop loving someone, and I don't think I ever want to learn how to. But that being said, I have fallen out of love with him; I've made peace with the fact that I don't want to spend my small piece of eternity with him. Maybe if one day we manage to become friends, we can, but that's a different story." I said slowly with enough firmness behind the words to drive it into his mind, hoping to wash away his doubts.

Ebby smiled and hugged me close tucking my head under his chin. We spent the rest of the night cuddling and talking, eventually falling asleep in my bedroom.

The next morning I woke up to an empty bed with the slightest indents of a person having occupied the space beside me. That relieved me ensuring that all the memories of the kisses and the talking and cuddling were real and not a dream.

I freshened up and made my way down the stairs to see Ebby in the kitchen in his sweatpants holding a spatula in his hand and flipping pancakes. When he heard me walk in he looked up and smiled at me and I swear my heart fluttered deliciously. I walked into the kitchen and wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his back.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Slept well?" He asked as he took my hand and placed a kiss to it.

"Yeah, I did. Did you?" I asked back and he turned around pulling me into his chest placing a kiss to my forehead before whispering a yes.

The two of us then settled down on the island to eat the pancakes before we rushed to get ready. Since he sleeps over often, one of the guest rooms was actually his, and so he had clothes in there. When we were ready he offered to drive me to office when I refused and told him I wanted to drive him for a change.

He loved the development to say the least.

Halfway to his office he got a call saying he needed to go over to my office because of the joint project we were working on and it was important. A couple minutes later I got a call from Finn to inform me of it when he understood I already knew when Ebby answered the call. As usual I stopped to buy Finn and myself our usual coffees before deciding to a bunch of donuts for the entire task team that, as I found out last night, had a bet going on as to when we'll start dating.

What better way to give them the news than with donuts?

While everyone on the team was ecstatic and relieved that they no longer have to feel the sexual tension between us, many were sad on having lost their bet. Finn had been smart enough to say that it would happen right as Ebby managed to take me on the first date, and said date will be around the time they came up with the perfect recipe for the product we wanted to launch.

And that was how they gave us the news that they had the product ready. It was a dip with some south Asian herbs and spices in it, and with the process of making it being novel and non obvious, we can have it patented under our company.

The news was absolutely amazing and we wanted to celebrate so we decided on going for a team dinner that evening. After this decision, everybody got to work with much enthusiasm. After attending meeting for various other ongoing projects, I was relieved when it was finally time for us to leave for the team dinner.

Ebby's secretary, Kiera, had booked a private room at a karaoke restaurant. It had a good bar, a great menu for meals as well as snacks, and a karaoke set up. It was the best way to let off some steam and we all had a great time together; eating, drinking and singing our tiredness away.

Ebby and I again ended up falling asleep at my place and the last thought before I passed out had me praying to the heavens above. For a future where this would be a normal, everyday occurrence for us to be falling asleep in each other's arms.