Love By Design

Bridging The Gap

As they continued their path through the garden, the warm sunlight casting a gentle glow on their faces, Asher finally broke the silence. "Julien, can I ask you something else?" he said, his voice low and curious.

"Of course, Asher. Although you seem to be too full of questions today." Julien teased cheekily.

Asher's gaze held Julien's, his expression thoughtful. "What do you think about this marriage? I mean, really think about it."

Julien's eyes dropped and he took a deep breath before responding. "Do you want an honest answer, Asher?"

Asher nodded, his eyes never leaving Julien's face. "I do. I want to know what you're really thinking."

Julien's voice was barely above a whisper. "I've always thought of marriage as something that happens after falling in love. Seeing you is different than the idea of this marriage."

Asher's expression softened and he took a step closer to Julien. "Go on," he encouraged.

Julien's eyes met Asher's and he continued. "As of now, I have no idea about this but I've loved your family. They're much like mine and maybe that's why I've felt a sense of peace and calm and not turned into my usual, blubbering mess."

Asher's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'm glad you've felt comfortable around us, Julien. That means a lot to me."

Julien's cheeks flushed and he looked away, feeling a sense of vulnerability. Asher's gentle touch on his arm brought his gaze back to his.

"Hey, it's okay," Asher said, his voice soothing. "I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from."

Julien's eyes searched Asher's face and he found the same kindness and genuine interest. "I appreciate that, Asher. I really do."

The two of them stood there, the air filled with a sense of understanding and connection. Asher's eyes held Julien's and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the world around them melting away.

But Julien's curiosity got the better of him and he asked Asher, "Can I ask you something now?" His voice was laced with a mix of gratitude and confusion.

Asher nodded, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Of course, Julien. What's on your mind?"

Julien took a deep breath before posing his question. "Why did you agree to this marriage? You're...well, you're you. I'm sure you have a lot of people who would love to be with you. People who might be more...capable than me."

Asher's expression softened and he leaned in slightly. "What makes you think that?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Julien's eyes dropped, and he shrugged. "I don't know. You're just so...put together. And you're extremely handsome and cute." He felt his cheeks flush as he spoke. "And you have friends in your circle, people who might understand your schedule better than me. Our professions are so different and we're both busy. So, why me?"

Asher's face lit up with a warm smile. "That's a lot of questions, Julien," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "But I'll try to answer them all."

Asher's eyes sparkled with warmth as he began to explain. "To be honest, Julien, my parents have always been on my case about settling down. They want me to find someone who's genuine, kind, and caring. And when they told me about you...I have to admit, I was curious."

Julien's eyes widened, intrigued. "Curious? About me?"

Asher nodded. "Yeah. My parents said you were different, that you had a good heart and a strong sense of self. And from what I've seen so far, they were right. You're not like anyone I've met before. You're refreshing and you have this spark in your eyes that I find captivating."

Julien's cheeks flushed and he looked away, feeling a sense of shyness. "Asher, you're making me blush," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Asher chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm sorry, Julien. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. But I want you to know that I'm really glad we're doing this. I'm excited to get to know you better."

Julien's eyes met Asher's, and he felt a sense of connection. "I'm glad too, Asher. I have to admit, I'm a little nervous, though. But I hope to be myself around you."

Asher's face lit up with a warm smile. "That's exactly what I want, Julien. I want you to be yourself around me. No pretenses, no expectations. Just be you."

As they reached the car, Julien's parents and Asher's mom, Rachel, looked at them with an expectant gaze, their faces filled with a mix of curiosity and hope. Julien felt a slight blush rise to his cheeks as he realized they were waiting to see if he and Asher had hit it off.

Asher, seeming to sense the attention, smiled warmly and turned to Julien's parents. "Thank you for coming over for lunch, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton. It was lovely meeting you both."

Julien's parents smiled and returned the sentiment, and Asher turned to Julien. "I'll walk you to your car," he said, his eyes sparkling with warmth.

As they walked, the air was filled with a sense of ease and comfort. They said their goodbyes and just as they were about to part ways, Asher turned to Julien and asked, "Can I get your number? I'd love to stay in touch and maybe grab coffee or something sometime?"

Julien's heart skipped a beat as he smiled and nodded, feeling a sense of excitement at the prospect of staying in touch with Asher. "Yeah, sure," he said, pulling out his phone to exchange numbers.

For a moment, Asher looked almost shy, a side of him Julien never expected to see before. "Give me your hand" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Julien's heart skipped a beat at the question. He was taken aback by Asher's sudden vulnerability but he couldn't deny the flutter in his chest. He nodded, his voice caught in his throat.

Asher's face lit up with a soft smile as he gently took Julien's hand in his. He brought it to his lips, his touch sending shivers down Julien's spine. He placed gentle kisses on his knuckles, Asher's eyes never leaving his.

Julien felt like he was melting into his touch, his heart racing with excitement. He had never felt this way before and he couldn't believe how natural it felt.

As Asher gently let go of his hand, he looked up at Julien, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Goodnight, Jules," he said, his voice low and husky.

Julien was left standing , his hand still tingling from Asher's touch. He watched as Asher turned and walked away, a cheeky smile still plastered on his face.

Julien couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of wonder and excitement. He had never expected Asher to be so charming and affectionate. And se couldn't wait to see what other surprises Asher had in store for him.