Page 68 of Something Like Summer
“Only to find him smokinga joint with the chef,” Ben finished wryly.
“At least you got us ourfood. How about that guy you punched in the chest after we saw himkick his dog?”
“Fat lot of good it did.His dog turned on me like I was the jerk.”
“It was still brave,” Jaceinsisted.
“Look, I’m not trying togo overboard with humility,” Ben said, “but I think youmisunderstand. Sometimes I get angry and do crazy things withoutthinking. I don’t think that counts as bravery. Recklessness wouldbe a better description.”
“Call it whatever youlike, but there’s something there.” Jace shook a breadstick at him.“Usually you’re adorably sweet and sympathetic, but I’ve seenglimpses of something else. There’s something stronger thantitanium inside of you.”
“Like theTerminator?”
“Exactly like that.” Jacelaughed. “That bravery, recklessness, whatever you want to call it,is one of the many things I love about you.”
They both became silent atthe mention of the “L” word. Funny that they could dive headlonginto sex, a relationship, even a trip across the ocean, but sayingthose three little words was something they still balkedat.
“So what’s next?” Benasked, leaving the question open for interpretation.
“Well, it’s our final dayhere and I’ve saved the best for last.”
Ben didn’t have to waitlong to find out what this meant. A few blocks from the restaurant,in the midst of clothing stores and newspaper kiosks, was anotherset of ruins. Archeologists had dug down so that an entire cityblock was below street level. Jace led Ben by the hand down thecracked and ancient stairs and into the excavated ruins where afamiliar smell greeted their nose.
“Cats?” Ben asked, but ananswer wasn’t necessary as there were already half a dozen insight.
“They’re using this areaas a sanctuary,” Jace said, stooping down to pet a three-legged catthat was rubbing against his leg. “We have to hurry. I think thetour is about to start.”
As it turned out, directaccess to the ruins, known as the Torre Argentina, was onlypossible via one of these guided tours. Otherwise, the land thathad once belonged to Roman gods and their temples was now theexclusive home of felines who behaved as if they were equallydivine. Every site their guide led them to was occupied by a cat,sunbathing on ancient steps or stalking through broken columns insearch of mice.
“And it was here, in 44B.C., that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by his fellowsenators,” their tour guide informed them, causing a frenzy ofpicture taking.
“Et tu, Kitty?” Ben joked. When Jace didn’t respond, he looked backto find his boyfriend some yards behind the tour group. He wassitting in the dirt, two cats on his lap, another on hisshoulders.
Ben had a great respect foranimals. So much so that he usually left them alone, figuring thatthey didn’t care for people constantly trying to pet them. Hisexperiences backed this up, and so he usually kept his distance.Jace was different. He loved cats so much that it flowed out of himand somehow changed the world. Even the most troubled cat willinglygave into his affections. He was like a gay version of Snow Whitewith all the forest creatures flocking around him.
“I love you,” Ben said.He’d meant only to say it to himself, but it felt good to finallysay it aloud. Jace didn’t react, too far away to hear, so he saidit again, this time yelling it. “I love you!”
Jace looked up, surprised,before a wild grin broke out on his face. He stood, sending thepoor cats flying and strode over to Ben. “About time you admittedit,” he said before picking Ben up and kissing him. Behind themcame a few shocked gasps, a couple of titters, and at least oneburst of applause. “I love you, too,” Jace murmured into hisear.
The rest of the tour wasembarrassing; most of the group kept an eye on them, waiting for arepeat performance. Ben was relieved when the tour was over,craving private time with Jace so they could explore this newconfession.
“Hotel?” Ben asked as hestuffed money into the donation box.
“No time,” Jace responded.“I said I saved the best for last.”
“This wasn’tit?”
“No. Well, for me it was.Especially now.” They grinned at each other before remembering theywere in the midst of a conversation. “No, I had something specialin mind for you.”
The exterior of the Teatrodell’Opera couldn’t compete with the rest of the city’sarchitecture, but the interior didn’t disappoint. Opera had neverbeen an interest of Ben’s, but he understood why Jace might thinkhe would enjoy it. Ben felt severely underdressed as they enteredthe theater, but he had felt that way almost the entire trip due tothe fashion-conscious Romans. He felt thankful when he spotted afew other couples in T-shirts and shorts, no doubt his fellowcountrymen.
Once the performancestarted, Ben found himself enthralled by the vocal talents of thesingers. Each voice had so much raw power that he found itdifficult to believe they weren’t boosted electronically. He sat inrapt fascination for the first hour, soaking in as much as hecould. The second hour he began to squirm, eager to leave thetheater so he could attempt to imitate what he washearing.
While the music had won himover completely, the plot left much to be desired. From what hecould understand it was simply a string of rocky relationships,passionate betrayals, and untimely deaths. Perhaps that’s all reallife was, he mused. He’d had his share of dysfunctional love, buthe hoped to avoid betraying anyone he cared for. Death wasinevitable, but he expected it to be a long time coming.
He looked over at Jace, whowas lost in his own thoughts. Ben wondered if they would betogether on that final day. If so, would they go at the same time,or would one of them be left behind to struggle with grief? Thesethoughts were too abstract to be frightening and were quicklyforgotten by Ben, who chose instead to dwell on the warm feelingsof love and desire that always came from being near his boyfriend.The future was always uncertain, but at least now it wouldn’t belonely.
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