Page 43 of Something Like Forever
“I’ll go!” Ben said,hopping to his feet. “I left my phone in the caranyway.”
“Okay,” Tim said, tossinghim the keys.
Ben fumbled, glared before picking them up,and left the apartment.
“Married life,” Tim said.“You sure you’re ready for this?”
“Yup!” William answered.“I know you’re crazy about each other. Don’t pretend.”
“It’s true. Ben’s just alittle on edge right now. How are things?”
“Great!” William said, buthe was sensitive enough to understand what Tim really wanted toknow. “Jason is really happy here. He misses you guys, but this hasbeen a fresh start for us. He’s not competing with Kelly like whenwe first met, and I don’t have to worry about Caesar, like when wefirst got back together.”
“Ex-boyfriends are such a pain,” Tim agreed, not admittingthat he had previously been one ofthebiggest pains. “Things soundreally positive!”
William nodded. “Yeah! Wedon’t have to worry about the Coast Guard keeping me away now thatwe’re here together. I had my first three-day shift this week.Jason did great. He’s keeping himself busy. Only one thing stillbothers him, but I think this visit will help with that.” Hereached for his phone. “He should be here soon.”
“How’s Daisydoing?”
“Oh my gosh!” Williamsaid, beaming proudly even though his attention was still on hisphone. “She’s getting so big! She can walk now, and talk. Not much.It’s mostly gibberish. She calls me poo-poo instead of papa. We’reworking on it.”
“I still call my dadpoo-poo,” Tim said. “But only behind his back.”
William didn’t hear hisjoke. He stared at the phone intently and then looked up. “Jason ishere! This thing isn’t always right, but it says he’s right outfront!”
After a sliver ofhesitation, they both leapt to their feet, not wanting to miss theshow. They hurried outside and looked over the railing. Jason waswalking through the parking lot, outstretched arms carrying a largeflat donut box. He seemed to be daydreaming, unaware that not faraway, someone was getting out of his old car, equally oblivious tothe reunion that was about to transpire.
* * * * *
Ben prided himself on hisability to multitask. He had a grip on Chinchilla’s leash and wasbacking out of the car, butt first, while texting his mom to lether know they had arrived safely. He managed to send the messageand stand, quickly navigating to the most recent texts he hadexchanged with Jason.
Doing a lot ofsightseeing?Ben had written, when reallyhe wanted to ask if Jason liked Astoria, but he worried thatquestion might cause Jason to compare it to Austin, get homesick,and come back.
Yeah, Jason had texted back.It’s notvery big. I feel like I’ve seen it all already.
Ben hadn’t responded,feeling the answer was already teetering on the brink of Jasonsaying he was over Astoria and wanted to come home. Which, if Benwas honest, he wouldn’t mind, but only emotionally. Logically, heknew that Jason was where he needed to be. Then again, that motel…Ben turned to look at it, and a few things happened at once.Chinchilla finished sniffing a tire and shook her leash, causing itto jangle. Elsewhere in the parking lot came the dull thud ofsomething hitting the pavement. Ben was orientating on the soundwhen he saw a rainbow sprinkle donut rolling toward him. Thisbumped against his foot, and when he looked up to find out where ithad come from, he saw his heart’s desire.
Scarcely more than a monthhad gone by, but it was still long enough that Ben cried outJason’s name. His son reacted, leaping over a flat white box andrunning straight to him. Ben opened his arms, choking back tears ofjoy as they embraced. Chinchilla leapt around their legs, at leastuntil she discovered an unattended donut and was distracted byanother of her favorite things.
Ben let her eat, figuringshe deserved a reward for enduring the grueling car ride. Thisallowed him to turn his full attention on Jason. Ben looked himover and took in every detail, just to assess if he was doing well.He looked great! His skin had sun and his smile was bright, like hehad gotten a lot of practice recently.
“What are you doing here?”Jason mumbled, wiping at his eyes.
“We thought you might wantyour—” Ben started to gesture at the car, then he decided to barehis soul. “I was dying to see you,” he said. “That’s why we’rehere. Me especially. I miss you. And I love you!”
Ben held his breath,awaiting a response, because he understood Jason’s fear now. Afterhaving messed up, no matter how good his intentions, he couldn’thelp wondering if Jason was happier without him. Ben had gone togreat lengths to reassure Jason that his love would never waver,but now he found himself asking the same question. What if Jasonstopped loving him back?
He got his answer whenJason hugged him again, squeezing so tight that it hurt, which wasbetter than the pain Ben had lived with during the pastmonth.
“I love you too,” Jasonmurmured. “It’s so good to see you. And you,” he said, letting goof Ben to squat and pet the dog.
It was a testament to howmuch Chinchilla loved him that she briefly abandoned the donut towag her butt and receive kisses on her head. Then it was back toher rainbow sprinkle affair.
Jason stood, looking alittle sheepish and uncertain. Ben remembered how much harder ithad been at that age to feel comfortable in his own skin. He wassure they could get past this. They simply needed to spend moretime together.
“We just got here,” hesaid. “I haven’t really seen the apartment. Want to give me atour?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “Letme just…” He hurried to pick up the box he had dropped. Then helooked back, as if needing reassurance that this was reallyhappening. After another insecure grin, he led the way upstairs andinto the apartment. More hugs from Tim followed, and another roundfrom William for them all, before they were seated at a smallsquare table near the kitchenette.
