Page 79 of Operation Sunshine
“Okay.”
Franco took a couple of deep breaths before speaking. “I got an offer. From Chef Gallo. In Florence. A three-month stage. Which has always been my dream.” The words tumbled out fast, as if they were hot in his mouth. “I don’t expect you’ve ever heard of Chef Gallo, but trust me, he’s big news. And a stage is where you get taught to cook. It’s unpaid, but you get the chance to work with some really great chefs. The thing is, I applied ages ago, before… everything. I didn’t think I’d even hear back, but then—” He broke off, hands flailing uselessly. “Now it’s real.”
For a moment, Ben couldn’t breathe. His chest felt as though it had caved in, as if someone had carved a hollow space under his ribs. His mind did its best to keep up. Florence. Italy. Franco’s dream.
All that came to mind was that the life he’d thought was perfect was about to go off the rails, like every relationship he’d ever had.
Is it me? Am I never going to find someone who stays? Who Iwantto stay?
He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “It has to be your decision,” he said quietly. “Not mine. If you say yes, I’ll… I’ll adjust.”
Franco blinked, as if he’d been waiting for something else, an argument, maybe, or for Ben to throw himself in front of the door and beg him not to go.
“But… I’ve already made my decision. I’m going.” Franco’s voice was low but certain.
Oh fuck.
The words landed like a knife between Ben’s ribs. He let the silence breathe for a moment, steadying himself, making sure the hurt didn’t leak into his voice. Franco deserved more than that.
“I see.” Ben’s words came out even, but inside, something wasshattering. He clenched his jaw, keeping his face still. “That’s… incredible. So you’ve wanted this for a long time?”And how come I didn’t know this?
Because Franco hadn’t told him, that was why. So maybe Ben didn’t know Franco half as well as he thought he did. He swallowed the words he wanted to say.Stay. Choose me. Don’t leave.Because what right did he have to ask that? This wasn’t about him. It was Franco’s life, Franco’s dream.
A dream that didn’t include Ben.
“You’re not even going to try to stop me?”
Ben frowned. “Why would I do that when you’ve already made your mind up? You’ve worked too hard to turn this down. And if you’ve wanted this forever, you can’t let me—or anyone—be the reason you walk away from it.”
Franco blinked, his lips parting as though he wanted to argue, but no words came.
Ben leaned back, forcing his shoulders to loosen. He kept his tone calm, measured. “Besides, three months isn’t forever. And if… if this—” he gestured between them “—is real, then it will still be real when you come back.”
The words were right there.
If you come back.
For a moment they looked at each other, the air thick with all the words Ben couldn’t bring himself to utter. The ache in his chest deepened, but he forced a small smile.
“I’m proud of you,” he said in a low voice. “I hope you know that.”
Franco’s breathing hitched, and he glanced away quickly, as though afraid of what might show on his face.
Ben knew he appeared steady and composed, but inside? Fuck, he was hurting. And what pained him most was the knowledge that sometimes the right choice for someone else was the hardest one for yourself.
Franco’s stomach turned. He’d thought—no, he’d hoped—Ben would argue. That he’d grab his shoulders, shake him, tell him not to leave. That he’d finally admit this thing between them was too big, too real, to throw away.
Instead, Ben just sat there, so steady, so heartbreakingly calm, giving Franco the freedom he wasn’t sure he wanted.
Franco’s throat closed up. He wanted to laugh, to crack a joke, to wave it all off, but the truth clawed at him from the inside. What he’dreallywanted was proof Ben needed him, that Franco wasn’t the only one falling so hard it terrified him.
And it truly did terrify him. Because if he left, he might lose the best thing he’d ever found. But if he stayed—what if it all fell apart anyway?
What if I ruin it, like I’ve ruined everything?
Instead of proof, Ben was giving him something else instead: trust. Respect. A kind of love Franco wasn’t sure he knew what to do with.
He forced a smile, but it wavered at the edges. “You don’t make things easy for a guy, do you?”
