Page 46 of When Ben Loved Jace
I’m a lot more somber in my response. “You fell in love with someone?"
Tim’s brow furrows up. “It’s complicated.” His eyes search out mine. “How much time do we have? I mean… Is this it? Because if so, I’d rather talk about you.”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “But I have a lot of questions for you too.”
“Like what?”
I lick dry lips, the subject difficult to broach. “I’ve heard things, Tim. Rumors.”
“Oh yeah?” His fists clench on the swing chains before he pulls himself up into a standing position. He walks a few paces before turning to face me, his face twisted up. “Fine. Let’s hear them.”
“Never mind.”
Tim gestures, like he’s challenging someone to a fight. “Come on! Don’t be shy. I’ve heard it all before.”
I swallow. “Who’s the old guy that you live with?”
He shakes his head in disgust. “My sugar daddy. What else could it be, right? I don’t give adamnwhat anyone thinks about me—”
That’s new.
“—but when they talk bad about Eric…” Tim grimaces, his anger giving way to a very different emotion as he walks toward me, expression pleading with me to understand. “He doesn’t deserve to be reduced to that. Eric is a good guy. Nobody has helped me more than him. Except for you. And for the record, if Eric wanted that sort of thing from me, he sure as hell wouldn’t need to pay. I’d give it to him for free.”
“So you aren’t…” I hesitate, not wanting to upset him. “Involved in any way?”
“I wouldn’t be ashamed of it if I was. But no. He’s just my friend. Except it’s not so simple, because he means a lot more to me than that. I don’t know.” Tim swallows. “Sometimes I think he’s the dad I wished I’d had when growing up. And in a way,he reminds me of you. Like, who you’ll be when we’re that age.” His face lights up suddenly. “Hey! I bet you’d like each other. You’ve gotta meet him!”
“Sure,” I say without considering the consequences.
“Cool! You can come over tomorrow. I’ll make dinner for you guys.”
“Is that really a good— Wait, you actually know how to cook now?”
“Yeah! Eric taught me. It’s kind of our thing.” He studies me with a curious smile. “A lot has changed, Benjamin.”
Obviously.
He gestures with his head, like he wants to keep walking, which is reassuringly familiar. Tim never could sit still for long.
“So tell me about the new guy,” he says. “A flight attendant, huh? Is he hotter than me?”
His tones are playful, making me laugh.
“He’s hot,” I admit. “Do you want to see a photo?”
“Yeah. Let’s take a look at the competition.”
I pull out my phone and show him a few of my favorite pictures of Jace, studying Tim’s face more than the screen while doing so.
He’s quiet until saying, almost reluctantly, “He’s a good-looking dude.”
“Thanks.”
“Does he treat you well?”
“Yeah. He’s really sweet.”
“All the time though?”
