Page 30 of Becoming Ben

“No, he looked sad.” I frown, picturing how he looked in the driveway. “He looked heartbroken.”

“Tell me what he said, Ben,” Sherri prompts.

I tell her word-for-word, and she sighs. “He’s playing hero a little. He thinks he’s bad for you, and he’s afraid he’ll ruin your life,” Sherri says.

“I don’t want a hero. I want him,” I say.

“Then go get him. He didn’t want to go. Go show him that it takes more than a bigot to scare you away from the man you’ve been waiting for your entire life.”

I am shocked by her wording for a second, and then I know that Sherri is right. He didn’t leave because I wasn’t giving him something he fundamentally needed. He left because he was trying to protect me.

Well, dammit, I’m forty-six years old. I can take care of myself.

“Thank you, Sherri. I appreciate it.”

“Go get your man, Ben. Drag him home and show him that you love him.” Sherri says. Leave it to her to say the quiet part out loud.

“I will,” I say quietly.

I end the call with resolve solidifying in me. I know what I have to do. I scroll down and call Mandy. She’ll know how to win Trey back.

“Hi, Daddy,” Mandy says when she picks up. “How are you doing?”

“Not great. Mandy, baby, is Trey there?” I ask.

“No, he’s not here, why? Isn’t he supposed to be home by now?”

“He was, but he left. There was a little bit of a misunderstanding, and he took off. I thought he would have gone to see you,” I say.

“No, I haven’t talked to him in a few days. What kind of misunderstanding?”

I sigh and lay out everything that happened, including what Sherri and I had talked about.

“Holy shit, Daddy. That’s a lot.” Mandy sounds sympathetic.

“Kinda, yeah,” I concede. “I need to find him and get him to come home. I have no idea where he is if he isn’t with you, though. Not even a text from him?” I ask her.

“No, nothing. I’ll find him, though, I promise. What do you want me to do when I find him?”

I open my mouth but realize I don’t have an answer for that. “Uh. Maybe ask if he would come back so we can talk?”

“I can do that, Daddy. So… I was right, though?” Mandy’s voice goes up with her question, a pleased lilt. “I knew it! He was drooling over you at the wedding, and I’ve never seen you look at anybody else like you looked at him.” She gave a short, if maniacal laugh. “I love being right! I’ll find him for you and drag him home to you.” She made a kissing noise through the phone and hung up.

***

Mandy

I squint at my phone for a minute after I hang up from talking to my dad. Trey didn’t call me, which tells me he probably thinks that I’ll be mad at him for running out on Daddy.

I might be a little bit, but I also know he thinks he’s protecting him, and the intent is admirable, even if he’s being a complete dumbass. I’m going to tell him that’s what he is doing, actually.

First, though, I have to find him.

I know every friend that Trey has, so I start calling people. I strike out with the first four, and I’m starting to get a little concerned that he either didn’t actually make plans with anybody or that it’s someone I don’t know.

Next on the list is Holden. Trey met him at work at the shelter, and he came out with us once when we went to a trivia night. He’s cool, and I got his number so I could invite him to more things, but I hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

I push thecallbutton and wait while it rings.

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