Page 30 of Something Like Forever
Ben pressed against Tim sohe could be held. Then, after a smooch, he put on a brave face andheaded for the door. “I’m just going to singallmy lines,” he said. “I don’t careif anyone else does.”
“They’ll fall in love withyou!” Tim called after him. “Just don’t forget who got therefirst!”
* * * * *
Ben stepped out of thegallery and squinted against the afternoon sun. Once his vision hadadjusted, he walked to his car. The parking space next to his wasoccupied, the vehicle’s trunk open as Kelly stowed his equipmentinside. Ben felt a pang of guilt, just like he often did when theycrossed paths. He supposed he always would if he didn’t dosomething about it.
“Hey!” Ben said,approaching him. “Do you have a second?”
“Naturally,” Kelly said,closing the trunk. “What can I do for you?”
Now how to broach thesubject? “I owe you an apology,” Ben said.
Kelly smiled and shook his head, like itcouldn’t be true. “For what?”
“This is going back a fewyears,” Ben said, exhaling. “When you and William were stilltogether. I was encouraging Jason to do whatever it took toum…”
“Steal William away?”Kelly said. His arms were crossed over his chest, but hisexpression was amiable. “Sounds like not much has changed. Fromwhat I hear, you’re still trying to get them together.”
“Oh. You and Jason stilltalk.”
“On occasion,” Kelly said,dropping his arms. “It’s fine. I know you want what’s best for him.As for William, we weren’t meant to be. That relationship shouldhave ended long before it did, so if you helped usher that bookmarkin somehow, I certainly have no hard feelings. Had we not brokenup, I wouldn’t have met—” Kelly smiled, held up his left hand, andwiggled the ring finger, which had a gold band aroundit.
“That’s gorgeous!” Benenthused.
“Thank you,” Kelly said.“For the apology too, but you needn’t bother. All the bad thingsI’ve been through have led me here, right where I want to be. Iwish it worked that way for everyone—that after surviving eachhardship life throws at us, we would end up stronger and happierthan before.”
“That would be nice,” Bensaid. “I think it’s a testament to your strength that you’ve comethrough it all so well adjusted.”
“Well adjusted?” Kellysaid, shooting him a wink. “I’m not sure everyone would agree withyou on that, but I appreciate it. How is Jason doing?”
“Good!” Nothing hadchanged, but Ben had tried to restrain himself the last couple ofmonths. They saw each other regularly, including when theycelebrated Jason’s birthday, and they generally got along well aslong as the subject of William didn’t come up. “At least I thinkhe’s good. Has he told you anything different?”
“Just go easy on him,”Kelly said diplomatically. “I know Jason can come across as thisunstoppable force, but he also has a vulnerable side. I never wouldhave believed that when I first met him, but he does.”
“Definitely,” Ben said.“I’ll try my best to take care of him.” Their topics ofconversation exhausted, he opened his arms. “You take care ofyourself too.”
“That’s never been myforte,” Kelly said, “but these days I have someone who keeps me inline while spoiling me at the same time.”
They hugged and Ben stoodby his car to wave goodbye as Kelly pulled out of the parking lot.Then he looked back at the gallery, wishing for more spoiling andless keeping in line, but Tim’s pep talk had worked. Ben got intohis car and began the drive to the theater, determined to make oneof them proud.
* * * * *
Rainbows. Hugging andcrying and cheerful celebrations. Ben stared slack-jawed at thetelevision, occasionally mustering the strength to pull his mouthtogether for a stunned smile. Then his jaw would drop again,because he simply couldn’t believe it. Marriage equality, not justfor certain states or a select few, but everyone. Everyone!Including two gay guys who had barely left the bedtoday.
That was intentional, evenbefore the news broke. He and Tim had an entire day to themselves.No shift at the hospital or performance at the theater for Ben. Nogallery openings or studio time for Tim. Just an entire day towaste in any manner they saw fit. So far it had been good. Tim hadrisen, put on his robe, and gone downstairs, returning withcaffeine and two bowls of cereal. They had talked and flirted whileeating, Ben switching on the bedroom television afterwards. Theydidn’t use it often. More so when Jason still lived there and theycouldn’t agree on what to watch, but it was nice sometimes tohunker down and make staying beneath the sheets the onlypriority.
“Un-fucking-believable,”Tim said, equally awed by what the news channels were reporting.The Supreme Court had ruled that marriage was a fundamental rightof all people regardless of sexual orientation. “Do you think thiswill stick? They can’t overturn it with another Prop 8, canthey?”
“I hope not,” Ben said. “Ithink this is different. The Supreme Court is… supreme.”
Tim laughed and reachedover to take his hand. They watched a little longer, the sameinformation being repeated over and over again, but the news was sogood that Ben didn’t think they would ever tire of hearing it. Timwas the first to grab the remote and turn off the television. WhenBen looked at him questioningly, he saw a Cheshire grin. Tim rolledover on top of him, arms straight so he could hold himself up whilestaring down at Ben, the grin not abating. He had lost the robeafter returning from the kitchen, meaning they were bothnaked.
“In the mood tocelebrate?” Ben asked, certain of his intentions. Or so hethought.
“I want to marry you,” Timsaid. “Today.”
Ben laughed. “We’re already married!”
