Page 92 of Something Like Summer
First he had to get throughthe graduation ceremony. Allison agreed to leave after both theirnames were called. Thankfully Wyman would be one of the last namescalled, so Tim couldn’t follow them out if he wanted to stay forhis diploma. Tim’s calls were coming less frequently, so maybe hehad taken the hint.
Ben’s dour mood fadedduring the ceremony. The stadium overflowed with the energy of newgraduates who were both eager and reluctant to start new chaptersof their lives. Ben was nervous when his name was called, proudwhen he took the diploma, and nostalgic on his way down the steps.He cheered when Allison’s name was called, and as soon as shereceived her diploma and left the stage, together they ran for theparking lot.
He saw Jace by theentrance, looking for him, but the exit was far enough away thatthey could escape without him noticing.
“Jace!” Allisonshouted.
Ben stared in disbelief ofher betrayal.
“It’s for your own good,”she said and smiled. “I’m going back to party.”
She left him there as Jacestrutted over, looking sharp in his well-cut suit and holding abouquet of roses. Ben wanted to say something meaningful, toapologize or simply say his name, but instead he started tocry.
Jace kissed him, and Benkissed back, even though he knew he had no right. He blubberedembarrassingly until he finally managed to ask Jace to take himhome.
“I thought I’d take youout to eat?” Jace suggested.
Ben shook his head asanother wave of tears hit him. “I want to go home,” hesaid.
Jace made small talk in thecar, and Ben did his best to respond, but it was hard. He wanted tobe selfish and pretend that he hadn’t done what he had, but hecouldn’t. Jace deserved to know the truth, even though it wouldmean the end of everything.
“I meant my home,” Bensaid as they pulled in Jace’s apartment complex.
“I know what you meant,”Jace replied gently.
Ben felt as if he wassaying good-bye to everything as he entered the apartment. He knewwhen he stroked Samson, it would be for the last time, and hecouldn’t bear to think of all the other things he was about tolose. He had to tell Jace now while he still had thecourage.
“I was with Tim. We slepttogether.”
Jace’s face was strained.“I figured. Got it all out of your system now?”
Ben nodded.
“Good.” Jace slipped outof his shoes and started working on his tie. Wasn’t he going totake Ben home? Or maybe he was expected to walk back.
“Don’t you want to get outof that doofy robe?” Jace asked.
“I don’tunderstand.”
Jace sighed. “My love foryou doesn’t stop just because you make a stupid mistake. Anextremely stupid mistake, I might add. I love you, and if youpromise to trust my word in the future, then I’ll trust you again,too.”
The strange combination oflaughter and tears and relief overtook Ben. Jace helped him out ofhis robe, took off his own jacket, and led him to the bedroom. Bencrawled into bed and Jace got in behind him, spooning himselfagainst Ben’s back. They lay there for hours, taking turns holdingeach other while Samson purred contentedly at theirfeet.
__________
Part Three:
Austin, 2003
__________
Chapter 26
Falling in love is a subtle process, a connectionsparked byattraction, tested by compatibility, and forged by memory. In thissame manner, Austin had became a part of Ben and Jace’s life. Theyhad dined in Austin’s restaurants, danced in its clubs, and lazedaway more than one afternoon in its parks. Austin had everythingthey needed, and moving would mean leaving behind the backdrop toboth good and bad times. Ben and Jace had fallen in love withAustin, and found, quite by surprise, that they were alreadyhome.
Allison was staying, too.She plunged into her career, not even taking a summer break. Shegot a job at a local shelter for teenage runaways, apprenticing ata mental health hospital in her spare time. There she met the manshe would marry. Brian was a struggling alcoholic, and proving howstrange love could be, Allison found everything she was looking forin him.
Ben didn’t have suchinstant success. He took most of the summer off, travellingoccasionally with Jace and seeing brief glimpses of the country. Hespent one month at his parents’ house, the first proper visit withhis family since he left for college. When he returned to Austin,he worked as a temp for a year, still uncertain of what he wantedto do.
