Humans logo

Autumn/Winter Romance - Part 3

A Romantic Story with Asexual Undertones

By Colleen SweeneyPublished 6 years ago 9 min read
Like

By the time, we had pulled apart, his arm was around my waist, and we had basically become one person. He pulled back slowly, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. My eyes remained closed for a few more seconds, before slowly re-opening.

“Well, that was worth waiting for,” he said with a wide smile. He then pressed another quick kiss to my lips, and a snowflake fell onto my nose. Robert pulled back, and sighed. “Well, if that doesn’t beat all.”

I laughed, and said, “Well, you were lamenting those ‘cheesy Hallmark movies’ last night, and now you’re living one. We’d better get out of here before a blizzard blows in and we’re stranded.”

Robert dropped me off at my mom’s. I managed to get into my room without incident, since my mom had already gone to bed. As I sat thinking about the kiss, I realized that it answered the looming question in my head about Robert. He wasn’t aromantic, he just was probably as unsure about my place on the spectrum as much as I was.

I decided to text him.

I think we need to discuss where on the asexual spectrum we are, so we don’t have any more miscommunications.

I totally agree.

But not through texting or a phone call. Can we meet up tomorrow at the park, or are you going home?

No, I am here through Saturday. We can meet up tomorrow afternoon, since my mom and I are hitting some stores for Black Friday.

Does 3:30 sound good?

Sounds great! I will see you tomorrow. Good night, Sloane.

Goodnight, Rob.

*********

After shopping with my mom, I headed back to the park to meet up with Robert. I was early, so I decided to take a short walk through the park, passing by the giant pond that is in the center of the park. As I was making my way back around to the front of the park, my nose slightly running from the cold air, I saw Rob parking his car. As he approached me, I took care of my nose with a random tissue I found in my coat pocket.

We greeted with a warm enveloping hug. It wasn’t like the kiss from the night before, but it felt almost as satisfying. We found a park bench, and took a seat.

“So, you wanted to discuss where each of us sits on the spectrum, right?”

I nodded, pressing the tissue to my nose.

“Yes, so that we don’t have any further miscommunications that lead us to taking so long to do something because neither of us wants to be the first to ask,” Just as Robert was about to say something, I spoke up, “And yes, I took the initiative, Robert.” He hid a sly smile, and leaned back against the bench.

“I am your basic asexual, I guess,” Robert said with a sniff to prevent a runny nose. “I like all the romantic stuff: kissing, holding hands, and cuddles; I just don’t have any desire to have sex.”

“It’s the same with me. I love all the romantic aspects of a relationship, I just don’t want or need to have sex. It has always made me feel weird when I thought about it.”

Robert patted my hand reassuringly. “Do your parents know?” Robert nodded, and didn’t say anything further.

“How about you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know how to tell her.”

“You won’t know unless you try, Sloane. Let’s take a walk. Maybe then my nose will stop running.”

I laughed. “I highly doubt that will make it better, Robert.”

*****************************

Robert took me home, and walked me up to the front door.

“We should have gone to dinner. It’s five o’clock,” Robert said, looking down at his watch.

“I’m not really all that hungry,” I said quietly, giving his hand a squeeze. “Thank you for bringing me home. You know I could have walked, since it is only a ten-minute walk away.”

“And have your nose run more than it already has? Never. Listen, if I don’t talk to you, get home safely, okay?” I nodded, smiling at his concern for my well-being.

I looked up at him, pushing aside the bashfulness that came naturally to me when I was in his presence, and noticed his tongue quickly dart out of his mouth to moisten his lips. He slowly bent forward, and gently pressed his lips to mine. Our noses were both quite cold, but I wasn’t aware of how cold my cheeks were until he brought his gloved hands to my face. The kiss deepened when he pulled me closer to him, and wrapped his arm around my waist. The kiss was broken by this loud shriek from inside the house, and my mom throwing open the door.

“Sloane! Is this Robert? Oh, my word, he’s a handsome one! Please, do come in.” A tight knot of fear wound up in my stomach as we both walked through the front door, hand-in-hand.

My mom led us through to the living room, where she had been watching some Hallmark mystery movie, which she promptly shut off.

“How sneaky of you two to have a rendezvous under the guise of going to the park. Sloane, you don’t have to hide from me.”

“Mom, I did it for this exact reason. Unfortunately, you caught us having a moment on the porch. “Speaking of which, why were you looking out the dining room window?”

“I got up to get a drink, and saw you on the porch. I was wondering why you hadn’t come in, so I peeked, and saw the two of you kissing. You know, Robert, you are just how I imagined you.”

“Is that right?” Robert asked, shifting somewhat uncomfortably on the sofa. “And how did you imagine me?”

“Tall, dark, and handsome. I have to say, I don’t normally like facial hair on men, but it suits you well.” I groaned, and slunk down low on the sofa. Robert managed a "thank you" with a hint of discomfort, and I just wanted to find a large boulder and hide beneath it for all eternity.

Soon after, Robert “remembered” he had to meet his mom at Target to help pick a Christmas gift for his dad. I walked him to the door, and he gave me a quick kiss goodbye.

**************

By Christmastime, my mom had calmed down significantly about Robert. He and I had talked about our Christmas plans, and I told him I was going to be at my mom’s from December 23rd until after New Year’s. We decided to be together on Christmas Eve, at my mom’s, who had promised to give us our space.

I wasn’t sure she’d follow through.

Robert appeared at the door, slightly dusted with snow, and in a Christmas sweater. My eyes naturally went down to look at it.

“Sorry, it’s a family tradition to wear Christmas sweaters on Christmas Eve. I forgot I was wearing it.”

“No,” I said with a smile, “I like it. It suits you, which I thought I would never say.” He walked in past me, and pressed a soft kiss to my mouth. By now, his stubble had become a beard, which I adored. I led him to the sofa, where we sat by a roaring fire. My mom had gone to her friend’s house to watch some movie.

Robert and I exchanged small gifts—a book lover’s mug for me, and a beard trimmer for him. We listened to the fire, talked about random things, and stared at the Christmas tree lights. At some point, all this Christmas décor put Robert in a romantic mood, and we were kissing on the sofa. It was at this moment my mom came home, and walked into the living room. Robert and I spread apart to opposite ends of the sofa like two teenagers who had been caught, and awkwardly looked at one another.

“Don’t worry about me, I just wanted to say hello. Merry Christmas, Robert.” He cleared his throat and wished her the same. “And now, I will go upstairs and leave you two to your business,” she said with a smile and a wink.

“Mom, it’s nothing like that.”

She threw up her arms, and just chuckled as she walked out of the room.

“I ought to get going,” Robert said, getting up from the sofa. I stood up, and walked him outside. “Have a good Christmas, Sloane. Don’t let her get to you. I’ll see you New Year’s Eve?”

I nodded. “With bells on. You have a nice Christmas yourself, and text me if you get bored.” He nods, gesturing at me with his eyes to look up. He somehow managed to wrangle a sprig of mistletoe without me knowing. “Cheeky bastard,” I said with a smile as I leaned in to kiss him. He pulled me into his arms, wrapping them tightly around me. I sighed contentedly.

“I had to make that last until New Year’s Eve. ‘Night.” He walked down the steps to his car, with me waving goodnight from inside the doorway.

Christmas and its following days went surprisingly well with my mom. My aunt and uncle came over, and I could tell that my aunt knew something when my mom would talk about Robert, and the difference in my descriptions of our relationship. She never said anything, but I felt like she knew that we weren’t having sex. Robert and I managed to text a few times throughout those seven days we didn’t see each other, which meant that neither one of us was all that bored.

On New Year’s Eve, I got dressed in a casual-dressy dress that I paired with tights and boots. Robert came to pick me up at seven o’clock, and my mom once again told us to take however long we wanted with a slightly suggestive tone. It was moments like these I wanted to tell her, but Robert ushered me out the door.

A little after midnight and the traditional kiss, Robert told me he loved me. I smiled and said I loved him too, which resulted in more kissing. I went home to Forsyte Cove the next day.

************

Two days later, Robert calls and asks if we can go to the beach for our date. I think this is odd, since it is January and ridiculously cold, but I agree.

On the way to the beach, I ask him why we are going there, but he tells me it is a secret, and so I go back to watching the scenery pass by. Once we’re at the beach, he takes my hand and leads me down the beach towards the shoreline. By this point, I am now questioning if he is trying to kill me, until he drops to one knee.

“Oh, my god. Robert, what are you doing?”

“Sloane Hamilton, I know it has only been two months, but when you know, you know. Will you be my wife?” He flips open the box, revealing a ring. I am stunned. Just stunned. For a solid two minutes, I cannot form the words to reply to his question. Once the shock dissipates, I laugh and say yes.

literature
Like

About the Creator

Colleen Sweeney

I've been writing for over twenty years, spurred on by the death of my grandpa and unable to find a way to express myself. I graduated from college with a degree in Creative Writing, and a minor in Psychology.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.