Love Wins

by David C. Dawson

  While she was having her two children, she started writing down the most persistent stories in her head as a way of relieving mommy-related stress symptoms. As it turned out, the stress relief has now become a source of the same, albeit a positive one.

  When she’s not writing, she teaches English at school, enjoys riding and running, spending time with her kids, and dancing with her husband.

  Website: www.xeniamelzer.com

  E-mail: info@xeniamelzer.com

  Taking a Chance

  By Renee Stevens

  Gabe and Toby work for the same company, Gabe in the US and Toby in London. After meeting at a convention, they spend nearly every moment of their time together, but when they both have to return home, their only option is to attempt a long-distance relationship.

  “I LOVE you too.”

  I hung up the phone and glanced around my living room at the scattered boxes. With less than a week before I left, I’d expected to be nervous, but I wasn’t. If anything, I was excited to start a new chapter in my life. Moving all the way to the UK to be with Toby was a huge step, but I was ready—despite what my family thought.

  A steady knock on my front door tore me from my reverie. I went to answer it, grimacing when I opened it to reveal Jason, my older brother, standing on my doorstep.

  “What are you doing here?” Like I didn’t already know. As the only one in my family who had yet to try to talk me out of going, there was little doubt in my mind why he was there. I loved Jason and was closer to him than I was to my younger siblings. Growing up, he had been both my protector and confidant and I had always valued his opinion, but on this, I just didn’t want to hear it.

  “Since when do I need a reason to come visit?” Jason smiled and pulled me into his arms.

  He squeezed me a little tighter than normal, but I wasn’t going to mention it. I was going to miss his hugs. With that in mind, I cuddled a little closer as his cologne assaulted my nose. I would miss his outdoorsy scent.

  “You going to let me in?”

  “Depends.” Not that I would ever actually deny him. I pulled back and looked up at him, then moved aside to let him inside my house. “Are you here to try to talk me out of going too?”

  “No.” Jason shook his head and wrapped his fingers gently around my arm to lead me into the living room filled with boxes. He sat on the couch and pulled me down next to him. “Not exactly.”

  “What does ‘not exactly’ mean?” I sighed and clutched my hands in my lap.

  “Are you really sure about this, Gabe?”

  The earnestness in his voice made me smile. Still being the protective big brother, the same role he had played my entire life. Unlike the rest of my family, who were trying to bully me into staying, Jason was only looking out for me like he had since I was a baby. According to my parents, when I was born prematurely, seven-year-old Jason would sleep next to my crib to watch over me. When I was sick, it was Jason who would sit and read to me. And when I was bullied in school for being smaller and less outgoing than the other kids, it was Jason who taught me to fight back.

  “As sure as I can be.” I gave him what I hoped was my most encouraging smile. “I love him, Jasey.”

  The corners of his mouth tilted up at the use of his nickname. I was the only one who could get away with calling him that. Everyone else either called him Jase or Jason. I knew him well enough though to know he was still anxious.

  “What are you really worried about? Worst-case scenario is that it doesn’t work out and I move back home.” That possibility, as much as I didn’t want to think about it, was the exact reason I was renting out my house instead of selling it. I wasn’t going in thinking it wouldn’t work, but living together was so much different than flying back and forth every couple of months.

  “I don’t want to see you get your heart broken.” Jason held up his hand to forestall my response, as though he knew what I was going to say. “Don’t get me wrong, I like Toby.” Jason had met him on Toby’s first visit after we met at the telecommunications convention. “It’s not that I don’t, but….”

  “But what? If you like him, then what’s the problem?” I wasn’t going to change my mind, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t listen to my brother’s fears and do whatever I could to alleviate them.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his mouth, closed it, and I could see the worry in his eyes. “How can I protect you if you’re not here?”

  The shocked look on his face told me that probably wasn’t what he’d planned to say, but I knew it for the truth it was. My heart constricted at the anguish in his voice. Out of all the scenarios I thought he was going to mention, I hadn’t even thought of that. I should have. I twisted my hands together in my lap and blinked back tears.

  “Jasey, look at me.” I waited until his eyes met mine and shook my head slightly. “I love you for worrying so much about me, but I have to do this. I know you want to protect me and keep me safe, but that can’t be your job forever. It’s time to pass that job on to someone else. Maybe that’s Toby, maybe it’s not, but I’ll never know if I don’t go.”

  Jason shook his head, a lot more pronounced than mine had been, but he was smiling and this time it actually reached his eyes. “You’re my little brother. I don’t give a damn how old you are, it will always be my job to protect you. That’s what being a big brother is all about. I can’t stop you from going, and if this is really what you want to do, then it wouldn’t be right for me to even try. But if he hurts you….” He didn’t need to finish the thought; the threat was implied. “If you ever need me, you damn well better call, and I’ll be on the first flight I can get.”

  I reached up to wipe the tears away before they could fall. My family wasn’t rich by any means, but we had always lived comfortably and I knew my brother spoke the truth. He’d come in a second if I needed him. It just made me love him all the more.

  “And if I don’t hear from you at least once a week, I’ll have to come over there anyway just to make sure he’s taking good care of you.”

  I grinned. “I hope that won’t be the only way you come see me. Once I get settled in, I want you to come visit us. We’ll even help pay for your flight if you need us to.” Toby and I had talked about that very thing. It’s why I wasn’t afraid to go. We could talk about anything, and he understood how important my family was to me, especially Jason.

  “You won’t be able to keep me away.” Jason stood and pulled me off the couch and gave me another hug, then looked around at all the boxes. “Now, what do you need me to do?”

  I SHIFTED in my seat, smiling at how much roomier it was than coach. I had objected when Toby said he was getting me a first-class ticket, but he’d insisted. His argument being that, since I was moving to be with him, the least he could do was ensure I had as comfortable a flight as he could provide.

  I set my book on my lap and looked out the window. Through a break in the clouds, the vast ocean spread out below me. It was gorgeous, and, wanting to remember this moment, I snapped a picture. I tilted my seat back and closed my eyes as I remembered the day we had met over a year ago, when I walked into the hotel’s large conference room and stopped to stare at the dozens of people mingling and talking.

  IT WAS only the first day of the convention and more of a meet-and-greet than anything else.

  Round tables, each seating six, were spread throughout the room and covered with white tablecloths, with enough room between them for people to walk without having to worry about bumping into someone’s chair. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and provided an elegant feel to the room, along with the elaborate centerpieces on each table. I wished the entire convention was being held there, but other than the meet-and-greet, the rest of the event was going to be in the convention center across the parking lot. I still couldn’t believe I was there. It would probably be boring, but at least it was something different and got me out of the office. I had only been with Wenmire International Communications for about
eight months, so when I was offered the opportunity to come to the annual telecommunications convention, I jumped at the chance. My boss had been unable to go at the last minute, and since I worked closely with him and was the only one with a clear schedule, the head of our department asked me to attend in his place.

  It took me a few minutes to locate our company’s section among all the other attendees. However, once I did, I had to force myself not to stare at the guy already sitting there. He stood as I approached, and I tilted my head to look up into some of the bluest eyes I had ever seen.

  “Hi, I’m Tobias Bennet, but call me Toby.”

  The husky timbre sent shivers racing down my spine, and it took me a moment to realize he was holding out a hand. A very large, very masculine hand.

  “Gabe Mason.” I placed my hand in his, trying not to notice how his completely dwarfed mine.

  “Pleased to meet you.” He smiled, revealing a set of perfectly straight, bright white teeth.

  My whole body felt warm from just the touch of our hands, and I drank in the sight of him. He was taller than me, like most people, though I hesitated to guess how tall. All I really knew was that the top of my head barely came to his shoulder. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled, except for one lock that reached down to brush teasingly over his left eye.

  He chuckled, and I realized I had yet to release his hand. Or, since his hand enveloped mine, maybe he was the one who hadn’t. Heat stained my cheeks as he let go and sat back down. I sat, leaving a chair between us, and I’m sure I turned even redder when he moved to take the seat next to mine.

  “Do you mind if I sit here?” Toby’s voice washed over me, and I closed my eyes and tried to regain my equilibrium.

  “N-no, that’s fine.” I cursed that stutter, but he just smiled again, and I surprised myself by smiling back. His knee brushed against my leg under the table, and I questioned whether it was intentional or simply an accident. I knew what I hoped it was, and from the grin he sported, I guessed I was probably right.

  Maybe this convention wouldn’t be as boring as I thought.

  I SIGHED as I thought back to that moment. The convention itself had in fact been very boring, but the company had been beyond compare. We were lucky Wenmire wanted us to focus on certain presentations, so we were able to attend those together. We spent the majority of our time during that week with each other—everything from eating our meals to going out in the evenings and seeing the sights. It was great getting to know him, but I knew it couldn’t go anywhere. He was stationed at one of the company’s UK offices while I was based in the US, but we still enjoyed our time together. I surprised myself when, after three days, we weren’t even spending our nights apart. I learned the first night in his bed that he was a cuddler. Waking up with his body curled around mine—his arm around my waist and the warmth of his chest against my back—had been an experience I never wanted to forget, and I hated that we lived so far apart. I’d only get a single week with him. Less than that, since our stay was already half over. I wanted more but didn’t know how to ask.

  Neither of us wanted the convention to end, but when it did, we rode together to the airport for our flights home. We talked during the drive, and while we both had doubts about trying a long-distance relationship, we wanted to give it a try. The time difference would be problematic, since he was five hours ahead of me, but it was workable, and we could Skype on a regular basis. Since his was an international flight, we had to part ways before I was ready. Just before he broke away, he turned and kissed me. The gentle pressure of his lips on mine made me want to burrow close and never let go, but I had to. He promised he would call me soon, and with one last, quick peck he walked away.

  I waited until he disappeared through the security checkpoint leading to the international gate, and only then did I head to my own gate. I had just sat down for the nearly hour-long wait when my cell phone chirped in my pocket. Pulling it out, I smiled to see his name across the display, and we spent the time until his flight boarded planning for him to come visit in a couple of months.

  After nearly another eight months of flying back and forth, we talked about one of us putting in for a transfer so we could be together. At first he insisted he be the one to move so I didn’t have to leave my family behind. I loved him even more for making the offer, but when comparing our situations, it just didn’t make sense. If he transferred, he would have to take a big demotion, since there was nothing of a similar salary available in the US, while I would have to take a much smaller one. He was more than willing to make the sacrifice, but in the end, we decided I would be the one to move. Which left me emigrating to another country so I could have the chance at being with the man I loved. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I didn’t want to look back and say I missed out on being with him because I was too afraid to take the chance.

  Not wanting to be overtired when my flight landed in London, I decided to try to get some rest, despite my nerves. I closed my eyes, settled in, and within moments I was fast asleep.

  I WOKE up when the flight attendant asked me to return my seat to its upright position. I did so and then turned my attention to the front of the plane. I was scared to death of landing and just couldn’t bring myself to watch the approach. It was one thing to look out the window and see things far below; it was quite another to actually watch the runway get closer and closer. Even on my previous visits, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to look.

  It took forever to land and taxi to the gate. And then I had to wait until we were allowed to deplane. I stretched up on my tiptoes to grab my carry-on from the overhead along with my laptop case, slung one over each shoulder, and followed the other passengers down the corridor to the terminal. As soon as I exited the gangway, I pulled out my phone and turned it on. I always called when I first got off the plane to let him know I’d arrived safely. A niggle of fear skated down my spine when my call went unanswered, but I brushed it off. There were plenty of reasons why he wouldn’t answer. He’d probably just left his phone in the car—or forgotten it at home—and hadn’t wanted to risk not being there when I arrived. I shoved my phone back into my carry-on and kept moving.

  I wished Toby could have met me at the gate, but regulations meant I would have to make my way through the airport alone. I’d done it before, but nothing seemed the same as my previous visits. Though he had promised to meet me right outside the terminal, I just had to get through customs first, which would be easier if the lines didn’t move at a snail’s pace. Actually, a snail would have probably been faster, but I tried to be patient. I kept moving forward, hoping we hadn’t screwed anything up and all my paperwork was as it should be. A weight lifted from my shoulders when I was finally cleared and allowed to continue on to the baggage claim. By the time I exited the terminal, my nerves were about shot, but anticipation was an even stronger feeling. It had been two months since I’d seen him, and all I wanted was to feel his arms around me and be reminded of why I was moving to London. We’d video chatted a lot, but it just wasn’t the same.

  I searched for Toby amid the throng of people. My heart plummeted when I didn’t see him. I’d never had a problem finding him in a crowd before. Even though I was short enough I could easily be hidden from view, I could usually spot the top of his head poking up from among a crowd. I moved farther away from the sea of bodies exiting the terminal and kept looking at the people surrounding me. None of them were Toby.

  My heart pounded in my chest, but I continued to search, just knowing the next face would be his. Toby was there—somewhere—he had to be. He wouldn’t do this to me. The Toby I knew wouldn’t have me come all the way to the UK and then change his mind. He just wasn’t like that. There had to be a reason he wasn’t there, but nothing I could come up with was good. Panic settled in my chest as different scenarios ran rampant through my mind. What if he’d gotten in a wreck? Or something else had happened? Would anyone even think to call me? Maybe he just hadn’t heard his phone the first
time I tried calling him and I should try again.

  I stiffened as arms wrapped around me from behind but instantly relaxed at the sight of the rose held in the strong hands laced together on my stomach—the left hand displaying a ring I recognized. All my worries were forgotten as his warm breath ghosted over the back of my neck.

  “Finally,” Toby whispered in my ear and pressed his lips against my neck.

  I turned in his arms and smiled up at him as his lips lowered to mine. This was why I was here. The entire reason I had moved away from everything I knew. I allowed my bags to slip from my shoulders and stretched to meet his kiss. Soft lips covered my own, and I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck. I relished the feel of being in his arms and the taste of him on my lips. I pulled back and smiled up at him, my heart lighter than it had been in months.

  He grinned back. “Let’s go home.”

  RENEE STEVENS first started writing in her teens but didn’t get serious about being an author until her midtwenties. Since then she’s written a number of contemporary stories, as well as delved into the paranormal. When not writing, or spending time in the outdoors, Renee can be usually be found working on GayAuthors.org in her capacity of admin and Anthology Coordinator.

  Renee resides in Wyoming with her wonderfully supportive husband and a menagerie of four-legged critters. Making the most of the nearly constant negative temperatures and mounds of snow, Renee spends much of the winter months in hibernation with her laptop, the voices in her head keeping her company while her husband works. When she needs a break from writing, Renee takes to the sewing machine to design and make beautiful quilts.