If you don't agree with guys being in love with guys, then you
need to find someplace else to spend time.
Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or
dead persons.
I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this
story.
Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at:
cbabraham23@gmail.com
Copyright 2008 -2022
Jason and Shaun
Chapter 34
Part 1
So Busy
Despite
having friends here in Utah, their lives just seem so busy; it's as if there is
no balance in their lives. They have been so busy with work and home that
socially, things are just not happening. They don't have time to be social. It
would be nice to be able to visit with friends. Shaun and Jason are working for
the next 5 days straight with very little time to do anything other than eat
and sleep. Right now, the guys are at work. They're both wishing that they were
home, so they could relax. Shaun would like to relax by reading the book that
he's been reading. Jason wants to spend time with the animals at his house. The
last pay period was great, but this pay period has them feeling a tad bit
crazy. Hopefully, the week will go fast
for them. This pay period has been moving very slowly.
***
Sometimes,
it feels like their jobs are keeping them apart. They rarely see each other,
and it sucks. Their relationship has come down to kisses as they pass each
other as they leave for work. The guys would love to have just 1 hour that
belongs to them each day, that they can cuddle on the couch, or 2 hours that
they can spend cooking together and eating a meal together. The schedule this
week just sucks. All they can do is simply wait it out. Oh well, they just have
to find a way to make it work.
***
One morning
Jason decided to leave a little note for Shaun, which started a new tradition
in their relationship. The following day after Jason's message, Jason managed
to drop a note in Shaun's lunch, and Shaun also dropped one in Jason's lunch.
At Shaun's lunch, he pulled out Jason's note.
"Hey Babe, I
love you! See you when I get home."
Shaun
immediately grabs his phone and texts his husband.
"I love you
too."
Sending
notes and texts back and forth makes them feel like they are dating. On Jason's
lunch, he pulls out Shaun's note.
"I guess you
started something yesterday. I can't wait to see you tonight. Think we could
steal a few minutes to cuddle tonight? I want more than one kiss. Love you!"
Jason smiles
as he checks his phone. He sees Shaun's text, and he smiles. He quickly
responds to his husband.
"I would
love to steal some minutes from our day if it means I can snuggle up against
you. See you tonight! Here is a little kiss for you."
Jason hopes
that Shaun can feel that kiss and love in his text. All week long, they write
notes to each other and continue sending texts back and forth.
***
Finally,
they have some extra time to themselves, so they decide to write Eric and Steve
separately. Jason and Shaun sit down with a pencil to write them. Jason's
letter to Eric reads.
"Dear Eric,
How are you doing? I hope you are doing well. Shaun and I are
doing okay. Wish I could say that I like my job, but I don't. I love my job,
but I would rather be with Mr. Bowman. I hope you are all okay? How is your
summer going? Is it weird being out of school? We met a couple living down the
street from us, from Indiana. Grant and Jeff help make this place a little bit
nicer. Remember, we are here for you and Steve.
Yours truly,
Jason"
Jason
carefully folds the letter, sticks it into an envelope, sets it down, and gets
another piece of paper. Next, he starts with Steve's letter.
"Dear Steve,
Hey Steve, I
hope you are doing okay? We decided to sit down and write to both of you. I
just finished Eric's letter, and now I will write you. How are you doing? Shaun
and I are doing okay. Sometimes, we feel like we're struggling, but overall,
things are good. Hope your summer is going good? We
met another gay couple. Their names are Jeff and Grant, two really nice guys. I
am not making this a super long letter, so I will end it here. We just wanted
to let you guys know that we are here for you and Eric if you need us.
Your's
truly,
Jason"
Jason folds
this note up and sticks it in the envelope. He seals each envelope and then
addresses each envelope. Now we'll go back to Shaun as he writes his letters.
"Dear Steve,
Hey, I hope
you are doing okay? I know Jason is writing you, so I don't want to talk about
something he has already mentioned, so I won't tell you about our awesome
neighbors. However, let me just say that work really sucks lately. I feel like
all I do is eat, work, eat work, and sleep every day. I'm lucky to get a kiss
from Jason when I leave for work or vice versa. I will send photos of the cats
to you and Eric. We figured we would write to you guys to let you know that we are
alive and thinking about the two of you. We love you. I will talk to you later!
Sincerely
Shaun"
Now Shaun
writes Eric.
"Hey Eric,
what's up?" I hope things are good. How
are things with the family? Doing okay for the most part. I just want a chance
to breathe a little. How goes your summer so far? I hope the photos of the cats
put a smile on your face. By the way, I am not going to talk about anything
that Jason already talked to you about, so this letter is kind of short. Love
you, dude! Talk to you later!"
Shaun folds
up his letters, stuffs his envelopes, and then seals them. He also makes sure
to address both letters. Jason hands his letters to Shaun so they can be
stamped since Shaun is sitting at the desk. Shaun takes care of that, walks to
the mailbox, and puts the envelopes into the box.
***
After the
letters are put in the mailbox, Shaun decides he will squeeze whatever time is
left of today with his husband. He walks into the house, and then the guys warm
up leftovers and have their dinner. After eating dinner, they brush their
teeth. Shaun leads Jason to the couch, where they snuggle and exchange a couple
of quick kisses.
"I know we
could be doing something else, but I needed to be next to you. Do you want to
watch something or listen to music?"
Shaun asks
his husband.
"How about
music? We can do watch television another night."
Jason
answers his husband. Shaun turns on the Bluetooth speakers and then plays his
"With You" playlist. It has songs from their wedding and new songs that they
think are special. They aren't on the couch too long when the cats discover
them. It may have only lasted an hour, but it feels good to be with each other.
***
It's the
next day, and Jason has come home ahead of Shaun, so he decides to walk around
the block. It feels good to get some air into his lungs. As he gets close to
Grant's and Jeff's house, he decides to just visit for a few minutes, at least
until Shaun gets home. Jason is feeling kind of low at the moment. He feels
disconnected from the world. Maybe, it is just the wear and tear of the day
showing through. No, he's been feeling this way for a while now. Being around
friends might help to get him out of the funk. Jason knocks on the door. Grant
opens the door and invites Jason into the house.
"What's up,
Jason?"
Grant says
as Jason sits down on the couch.
"I don't
know about you and Jeff, but we've been going nuts. It's like our bosses' got together and planned our schedules for the past
week so that we wouldn't have five extra minutes to spare in our day. Yesterday,
Shaun sat me on the couch and we cuddled for an hour instead of doing something
that needed to be done. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining at all. In fact,
I'm glad that he decided to do that because I needed some time with him."
Grant
remembers those days; sometimes, they still have days like that, where everything seems to be aimed at
their relationship.
"We've been,
and I'm sure every couple out there has felt this. It's like the world is
aiming everything it has at you, and there is no end in sight, and then it's
like the clouds depart, and things go back to normal."
The friend
tells Jason hoping something will help him.
"It never
felt like this back in Indiana. Maybe, it's just a normal part of life, and it
will pass, but everything seems to be spinning out of control lately."
You can see
that Grant is worried.
"Maybe what
you're feeling is just a mix of things. It could be home-sickness mixed with
the stress of a crazy work schedule. You could still be adjusting to life here
in Utah. It's a different sort of lifestyle out here."
Jason agrees
with him, especially when he said that Utah is a different sort of lifestyle.
Maybe it will take time for them to adjust to life here in a new state.
"When we
first moved here, life was pretty crazy. It took time for us to adjust. Granted,
it's beautiful here, but we took things slowly. Was it stressful in Indiana?"
Jason
chuckles a bit.
"Yeah, but
it was different somehow. Back home, I woke up in the morning, went to school
or work, depending on the day, and then came home to my husband. I literally
loved school, and I loved my job. I was working at a roadside zoo and rescue. I
went to school for zoology. At the old job, I had animals that I knew. I could
read their body language and worked with them daily. I feed them every day. One
animal, in particular, was this Salmon-Crested Cockatoo. He was my baby. We had
a special bond, a trust between us. My boss, the owner, told me that he
responded to me in ways that the other keepers couldn't get from him. The other
keepers have been here longer than I have, and the animals are new. They
haven't had time to build that trust with me. I haven't found my place with
them yet, and it sucks. Shaun is new at this job too, and he gets all kinds of
crazy deadlines."
He sighs and
then looks at the door as he contemplates leaving his friends' house. Grants
gets up to give his friend a hug. Jason is happy to accept the hug because he
needed it. It did lift the mood a little.
"I'm going
to head out and get home before Shaun gets home. Maybe I can get dinner started
before he gets home."
Jason tells
his friend.
"Jason, I
hope things get better for Shaun and you."
Grant tells
Jason as his friend stands near the doorway. Jason smiles at his friend.
"Thanks! Bye,
Grant."
Grant opens
the door, and then Jason leaves to head home. True to his word, Jason goes home
to start dinner. He is making General Tso's chicken, brown rice, and something
to drink. He's making a larger recipe than he usually would, so there are
leftovers for lunches tomorrow. When he gets home, the house already smells
great. It usually does when Jason cooks. Hearing Shuan
enter the house, Jason speaks up from the kitchen.
"Dinner
isn't quite ready. Can you see if the cats need to be fed?"
Shaun sets
his backpack on the couch and then goes to do what his husband asked of him.
"I'm on it,
Babe."
Shaun says
so that Jason knows that he heard the request. After filling the cats' dishes,
he gets the laundry gathered up and started. They have to take advantage of
every minute in their day; sometimes, that means not having that break right
after work and helping out with chores you normally don't do.
***
Today, it's
Shaun's turn to feel like the world is out to get him. Shaun gets home and
calls his dad to talk. If this continues, he may have to find a counselor.
"Shaun, what
is going on, my son?"
Shaun wants
to cry but swallows it back a little, so he can speak to his dad without
breaking down on the phone. Something has to give in their lives.
"Dad, I
don't know what is going on with us this past week and a half. We just feel
like we are working twenty-four-seven lately. Our schedules clash, our time at
home seems filled with chores, and we haven't had any intimate moments in a
week, which isn't like us at all. I don't know if we can handle another week
like this one."
His dad
frowns a bit because he feels bad that his son and son-in are suffering.
"I'm sorry,
Shaun. Life sometimes throws punches, and when it does, you have to fight back
and find a way to smile. Would life be easier someplace else?"
Shaun thinks
about what his dad just asked him. Honestly, he has no clue if Indiana would be
a better fit for them or not, but he knows it is where Jason would like to be,
and if he is honest with himself, he too would like to be back in Indiana.
"Dad, I
don't know if Indiana would be easier than Utah, but I think it's where we need
to be. I don't want to put Mom and you out; you've helped us so much. I know
Jason is hurting inside, and I don't know what to do. I know Jason is hurting
inside, and I have felt a pull tugging me back to Indiana."
His dad
smiles at him.
"Shaun, if
you feel a pull to go back to Indiana, then maybe it's time. You'll be wise to
give work a two-week notice before heading to Indiana. You've got this, Shaun;
you've got this."
Since they
arrived in Utah, this craziness inside of him kept whispering, "Go home!" but
Shaun didn't listen to the voice and now look at where he is. They are going
crazy here, and his dad knows it.
"Okay, Dad!"
His dad did
give him a lot to think about, and he needs time to consider what steps to
take. He may need to discuss this conversation with his husband at some point.
***
Jason is at
home when Shaun's dad makes a surprise visit.
"I had a
conversation with Shaun today, and I wanted to give something to Shaun in case
he decides to act on it. Don't open it! Sandy and I want to talk to both of you
as you open it."
Jason is
curious about what exactly is in the envelope. He's also wondering exactly what
was discussed in that conversation between his husband and Shaun's dad.
"Okay, Dad,
I will make sure that Shaun gets it."
Shaun's dad
hands the envelope to his son-in-law.
"Jason, I
want to ask you a question, and I want you to answer it honestly. How are you
doing? Is everything good between you and Shaun?"
The last
question has Jason wondering if Shaun is having doubts about their
relationship.
`He would
tell me if something was wrong with us?'
He realizes
that this isn't something that one sends in a text. It will have to wait till
he gets home.
"Jason, are
you there, Son?"
Asks Shaun's
dad.
"Sorry, I
was just trying to remember if I turned off the stove."
Jason walks
into the kitchen and takes a deep breath to hold back the anxiety and the
tears. After wiping his eyes, he goes back to the living room.
"I did turn
I off; all is good. Now, what did you ask me?"
Jason asks
his father-in-law.
"I asked you
if you were okay and if everything was good between Shaun and you."
Jason isn't
sure he'll make it through this okay.
"The past
week and a half have been really hard on me. I've felt like I just don't get
enough sleep, enough time with Shaun, and enough time with my thoughts. Yeah,
Shaun and I are fine."
Jason feels
like he is lying to his father-in-law.
`Why
would he ask if we were okay?'
Jason can't
think of anything he has done that might have upset Shaun.
`Is Shaun
cheating on me?'
Shaun's dad
is convinced that something is wrong, but Jason isn't speaking, so he decides
it's best to just let it go and head home.
"Jason, I am
going to head out. Call me if you need me!"
Jason knows
that the last sentence is heartfelt.
"I will."
Shaun's dad
turns to leave.
"Bye, Jason!
Don't forget to give that item to Shaun."
Jason nods
his head.
"I won't
forget."
As Jason
watches the man walk out of the house, he quickly writes a note to himself, and
then he plans on calling his mom. He needs to hear some wisdom. As he walks to
grab his phone off the dining room table, he decides to call Sarah instead.
***
Sarah will
tell him exactly what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear. Sarah picks
up right away.
"Jason,
what's up?"
Sarah asks.
"I...I...need
to...to talk to you. Shaun's dad...came over and gave me something to give to
Shaun. Then he asked me if I...was okay. Then he asked me if Shaun and I were
good. Why...why would he ask that unless something was wrong? Unless...unless Shaun
said something to him. I can't...I can't..."
Hearing Jason
crying is hurting her. She knows Shaun wouldn't do anything to hurt him.
"Jason,
you're breaking my heart. We both know that Shaun wouldn't do anything to hurt
you. I've seen how he looks at you, and I know he loves you."
She decides
to cheat and write a note to give to Mark while she talks with Jason.
"Mark, text
Shaun! Tell him that Jason is on the phone crying. Something about there being
something wrong between Jason and him. I'm not sure what is going on, but I
think Shaun needs to be there."
Mark quickly
heads to the bathroom and calls Shaun.
"Luckily,
Shaun is sitting in his car in a parking lot and can answer his phone.
"Shaun,
what's up, man?"
"Mark
doesn't know what to say to Shaun exactly, but he needs to tell him what Sarah
said to him.
"Hey, Big
Guy, I was told to text you, but I thought it best to call you. Jason called
Sarah, and they are still on the phone together. Apparently, Jason is at home
crying..."
Instantly
Shaun starts the car. He puts the phone on speaker mode and then turns on the
car's Bluetooth mode.
"Jason is
crying?"
Shaun asks,
hoping he didn't hear what Mark said about Jason.
"Yes, he is
crying. Sarah said that there was something wrong between Jason and you. Hold
on, a note just got slipped under the door. It seems your dad over at the house
and asked if everything was good between Jason and you."
Shaun needs
to be home.
"Mark, I
need to call my dad. I'm going to let you go."
Shaun wants
to make good use of his drive home.
"Bye, Shaun,
good luck, man!"
Mark ends
the call.
***
Shaun is
ready to call his dad.
"Call Dad."
The phone
dials his dad's number, and it isn't long before his dad picks up the phone.
"Hey, Son,
are you home?"
Shaun is sick
with concern over his husband.
"No, but I
am on my way home. Was Jason upset when you were there?"
Shaun asks,
hoping his dad can provide additional information that Mark couldn't provide.
"He was fine
when I first got there; I asked him "How he was doing?" and when I first asked
him "If everything was good Shaun and you?", he got a little emotional. He
seemed like he was lost in thought. Is everything okay? Just before I left, he
went into the kitchen to check the oven to ensure it was off. When he returned,
it looked like he might have been crying."
Shaun isn't
sure what to think. Then it hits Shaun; he knows why his husband is upset; well,
sort of anyway.
"Dad, you
asked him if anything was wrong between us?"
Shaun's dad
has a wave of guilt come over him.
"Shaun, I
didn't mean to upset him. I was just concerned with all the stuff going on in
your lives that maybe there might be some strains in your relationship."
Shaun's dad
might have spawned the emotion that sits in Jason's heart, but Shaun doesn't
want his Dad feeling bad about it.
"It's okay,
Dad. I got this; after all, I am Jason's husband and his best friend. I'm on my
way home now."
His dad is
glad to hear that Shaun isn't mad at him and, more importantly, that he's on
his way home to calm his husband.
"Son, go
save your husband."
As his dad
finishes talking, Shaun's house comes into view.
"Dad, I can
see the house. I'm going to let you go."
His father manages
to tell him goodbye as the phone call ends. Shaun chooses to park on the street
to head straight for the front door. He does just that and walks right up to
the front door. After unlocking the door, he opens the door and heads into the
living room, unsure of what he found.
***
He walks
into the house using the front door. Shaun doesn't see Jason in the living room,
so he heads to their bedroom. He doesn't know what shape his husband will be in
when he finds him. Jason isn't usually emotional, so Shaun is hoping that the
tears have ceased. The door to the room is open, but before he steps into the
bedroom, he pauses to look at his husband. What he sees breaks his heart; Jason
is in the fetal position on top of the bedsheet and the blanket. He can hear
soft sobs coming from his sweetheart. Shaun sits beside his husband and gently
lays down next to Jason's still form. Jason doesn't seem to respond to Shaun's
joining him on the bed. Shaun places his hands over Jason's heart.
"Jason, I
don't know what thoughts are running through your head right now, but I'm
sorry. My dad was worried about us with everything that we've been going
through this week., He
didn't realize how stressed we are right now."
Jason didn't
flinch, but he was listening.
"Shaun-do-do-you
love me?"
Maybe it was
the fact that Jason was crying, or perhaps it was being asked if he loved him,
but Shaun's eyes grew wet.
"Jason, I
loved you from day one, I loved you when we started dating, I loved you when we
got married, I loved when we moved here, and I'll love you when we get back to
Indiana, and I'll love you forever. Now, do you want a kiss?"
Jason doesn't
want a kiss. There is still one question on Jason's mind that needs to be
answered.
"Shaun,
do-do-do you have another...guy?"
Shaun's
heart drops.
"Jason, I am
hardly worthy of you. How could I do that to the man that I love? I only have
space for one guy in my heart. Now, can I steal a kiss?"
Jason
stretches out his legs and then turns his body to see Shaun. Shaun wipes away
his husband's tears.
"You can
have your kiss now, Babe."
Jason tells
Shaun. Shaun places a kiss on his husband's lips. This wasn't just any kiss;
this is the type of kiss that sends electricity all the way down to the toes.
"I love you,
Jason. I love every inch of you with all the fiber of my heart."
Jason knows
what he wants and gets up to close the bedroom door. As he moves back to the
bed, he drops a piece of clothing until he reaches the bed, and then everything
else is history, and nothing else matters. You can use your imagination about
what's going on behind closed doors.
***
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