Page 51 of Stand By Me

Mario's nostrils flared as his own anger woke up somewhere deep inside.

"It's new, yes, but it's not a one-night stand, either. It's different."

"It's different. Oh, God." Ben flopped on the chair by the other side of the couch. "You always say it, you know. It's always 'this time's going to be different' with you."

That hit harder than Mario expected it to. He was bracing himself for the attacks on Clay and for anger over the secrecy, but Ben went right to where it hurt.

Mario swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.

"Maybe I always say it, but it doesn't change the situation right now." He fought to keep his voice even. "We both want to give this relationship a real shot."

Ben stared at him. "A—A relationship? Forget keeping it a secret. You went and started a relationship with my damn brother of all people, and what? I'm supposed to be happy for you?" He snorted again. "To hell with everything else, huh?"

"It would be nice if you were happy for me, but I knew—we both knew—that you wouldn't be a fan of the idea. Hopefully," Mario added before Ben could say anything else, "you'll change your mind one day."

"Yeah, don't hold your breath." Ben sprang from his seat and started pacing again. "I can't believe this. I can't believe you."

Mario tangled his fingers in his lap.

"I like him," he admitted quietly before looking up to catch Ben's gaze again. "I like him a lot. I know you and him have your issues, and I'm not—"

"He's an asshole. Why do you always go for the assholes?"

Mario tightened the grip on his hands. "Clay's not an asshole."

"Oh, here we go." Ben waved his hands. "Revisionist history starts now."

"Listen, I'm not saying he's some perfect guy, okay? I'm not saying you can't be upset with him about stuff. I'm only saying he's not an asshole."

"To you, maybe," Ben said, and it sounded like an accusation.

Mario nodded. "To me, yes, but also to your mother, and you, and—"

"Are you out of your mind? Is he that good of a lay that the last decade and a half went puff, and disappeared from your memory?" Ben huffed. "Unbelievable."

He's hurt, Mario told himself.He's hurt and he's lashing out, and you knew it was going to happen.

"I didn't forget," he said out loud. "We just saw it differently—"

"Apparently!"

"—and you know this," Mario went on despite the interruption. "At least you knew it, back then, because you seem to have forgotten it over the years."

"What, you mean you defending him when we were teenagers? I thought that was your crush talking! You were basically building shrines for the guy back then!"

Mario could feel his face heat, but he couldn't deny that part.

"Yeah, maybe, but that doesn't mean I was completely clueless." He lifted his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Again, you don't need to like him, or want to hang out with him, or whatever. I hope you may want to, one day, but probably not anytime soon. As far as I'm concerned, though, I met the guy that I really like and we seem to fit well together. And yes, it's your brother, but that doesn't change—"

"If you tell me it doesn't change things, I swear to God…" Ben curled his hands into fists.

"It doesn't change how I feel about him, andit doesn't change how I feel about you and me," Mario said. "You've been my best friend most of my life, and it's not going to change. Ever."

Ben would never admit out loud he had abandonment issues, but Mario hadn't exaggerated a thing about their long history, which meant he knew how scared of being left behind Ben really was.

Luckily, Mario had no intention of going anywhere.

And yet his words, designed to reassure Ben, seemed to have an opposite effect.

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