I love you.
I'm not sure if you've ever really believed it when I said it, but I do. The first time I said it you looked downright angry. You told me through a fake, tight lipped smile that I was very sweet. What you really wanted to do was call me a liar, though. I could see it in your eyes. You had no doubt in your mind that it was only pretty words, with no real meaning behind them. I think, in that moment, you actually hated me. Hated me for reminding you of something you never thought you could have; love.
I love you.
I didn't listen when everyone told me to stay away from you. I didn't listen when they told me I was crazy to date you. I heard all the things they called you, and I'm sure you did too. Whore. Slut. Easy lay. They told me there wasn't a man on the roster you hadn't been with. They told me you'd get on your knees or spread your legs for anyone. I didn't care.
I love you.
Everyone tried to talk me out of it, even my so-called friends. They told me you weren't good enough for me. They told me I was a fool to date someone as cheap as you when I could have any man on the roster. According to them, I was the most beautiful, desirable man on the roster, and I deserved better.
I love you.
My so-called friends wouldn't even call you by your name. Instead, it was always ‘The Whore' or ‘The Slut'. Maybe you didn't see it, but that hurt me. You didn't deserve to be treated that way, yet you put up with it because you thought you were those things. I asked my ‘friends' to stop, but they never really did. They just tried to explain to me again why I shouldn't be with you.
I love you.
They even called you a whore to you face. Every time we showed up together, they would greet us, "Hey buddy. Hey whore." That hurt me more than anything, and I know it hurt you too. You were good at hiding it, but I could see it in your eyes. I promised you things would change when we got together, and I know there was a part of you that believed it. I know you never wanted to play the slut, and to you I was a chance to escape. Every time they said something cruel to you, though, it crushed a little more of that feeble hope.
I love you.
I couldn't care less what any of them think. I couldn't care less what anyone think about me. The fact of the matter, baby, is that I love you. I love you more than anything in the world, and I love everything about you. I love the way you brush your hair until its perfect, then let me touch it even though it'll mess it up. I love the way you flush just a little bit every time I notice how good you smell. I love how late at night, when we're curled up in bed, you rest your head on my shoulder and your fingers play across my chest. I love all those things.
I love you.
I even love all your annoying little habits, because they're a part of what makes you you. I love how you always leave the toothpaste by the sink with the cap off. I love how you sing along with the car radio without even realizing. I love how you always forget to turn your tshirts inside out before putting them in the wash. I love all those things.
I love you.
All I'm trying to say here, darling, is that I love you. I love every single part of you side, every single side of you, everything about you. I would never want to change a single thing about you. I don't care what anyone else says about you, because they don't know the real you. They don't know the you that kisses me to wake me up every morning. They don't know the you that runs your fingers through the tangles in my hair to get them out. They don't know the you that makes my heart fill with joy just by casting me a beautiful smile. They don't know that you.
I love you.
You're not what they say you are, darling. You're not at all. You are the most beautiful, sweet, wonderful angel I have even been lucky enough to know. You're intelligent, you're incredibly good looking, your sensible, and you're sweet beyond words. I feel blessed every moment I get to be around you, because you light up my life. You are a part of me. You complete me and make me whole. You are the other half that I've searched my entire life for. I won't let you go now, darling. I'll never let you go, because you are a part of my being. My heart. My soul. My life.
I love you.
The thin sheet of paper fell through Jay's fingers, tears streaming down his face. His chest trembled as more tears spilled from his eyes, but he didn't move to wipe them away. He stared at the paper on the floor, which he had found laid neatly across his gym bag.
The door swung open and Adam stepped into the locker room, returning from his match of the night. He swallowed when he saw Jay sitting on the couch, the note at his feet and tears glistening on his cheeks. "Jay?" Adam whispered, softly settling next to his partner. He tentatively put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Baby?"
Jay turned to him, his lips trembling and his eyes moist. He just stared at the other man for a moment, then pulled him into a crushing hug, sobbing on his lover's shoulder. "Oh Adam," he gasped between sobs, "oh baby, I...I...that was...so beautiful. I can't believe you wrote that for me!"
Adam wrapped his arms around the smaller man's shaking form, stroking his back gently. "I had to write it, because I knew I couldn't say it all without crying," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "But I meant every word of it, and I would never say any of those things to another person. I love you, Jay Reso. I love you for everything you are, with all my heart and soul." Adam smiled as he looked down at his lover's blonde head, raising one hand to stroke Jay's golden locks. "You are my heart and soul," he whispered. "And - " he had to swallow before he could continue, "I want you to have something. I know it doesn't mean anything legally, but I still want you to have it." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object.
Jay drew back just enough to get a glimpse of it, still clinging tightly to his lover. He gasped, staring at awe at the beautiful diamond ring in Adam's palm. He looked from the ring to Adam's eyes, then back at the ring, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "I want everyone to see that you're mine," Adam choked out. "I want them to know by this ring on your finger that I love you, and that I'll be with you for the rest of my life. Can I – can I put it on you?"
Jay nodded slightly, his eyes not leaving the ring for a moment. Slowly, Adam gently took hold of Jay's hand, carefully sliding the ring onto his finger. "I, Adam Copeland," he whispered, sniffing back the tears which were welling in his eyes, "take you, Jay Reso, to be my true love, for as long as we both shall live." By the time he had finished, tears were flowing down his cheeks, but he lets them come.
Jay looked up into Adam's eyes, his cheeks adorned by tiny rivers of tears. "I, Jay Reso," he breathed, his gaze locked with his lover's, "take you, Adam Copeland, to be my one true love, for as long as we both shall live." He slim form was trembling as he said the last word, leaning in to capture Adam's lips in a passionate kiss. Their arms wrapped around each other, the union of their lips telling of their love more than any words ever could. They drew back after a moment, just gazing into each others eyes for a moment before Jay lay his head on Adam's shoulder, both still hold the other tightly. They stayed that way for a long time, just holding each other.
THE END