Page 94 of Xander

I wanted to jump up into his arms.

I wanted to wrap him tightly.

Never letting go.

But... would things change?

That... I didn’t know.

I went with my gut the first time.

Trusting it.

And look at what happened.

With that single thought on my mind, I shook my head, and then I watched as the love in his eyes still remained, but a new emotion angled upside by side with it, defeat.

Oh. No. My sweet Xander.

That hurt.

That cut.

That killed.

But I stood firm.

“I need time to think. Will you give me that?” I asked.

And then... that defeat... I stood there as I watched it transform into hope.

Hope.

This tattered, scarred-up man held hope in his gaze.

He swallowed, then he nodded, “Told you. Do anything for you. You just let me know your decision. Okay?”

I nodded.

Then he nodded, and I watched as he breathed in deeply.

Then he asked, “Can I ask for one thing?”

I inhaled my own breath and then found myself nodding.

“Can I have a hug?” he asked.

He asked me for a hug.

I didn’t hesitate.

I moved.

His arms were around me in the next breath, pulling me tight against his chest.

His face was buried in the top of my head.

His scent enveloped me.