Page 48 of Something Like Forever
Ben looked up. “Say that again.”
“The theater work,” Timrepeated. “You could take a break from it.”
Ben moved the catalog asideto consider the script, spotting another lyric from one of thesongs.You can stick a fork in me, but I’mnot done. Let’s eat lots of sugar, and have tons of fun!He looked at the front of the scriptincredulously. “Who wrote this thing, a Care Bear?”
“Sorry,” Tim said,standing again. “I interrupted you. Just think about it, okay?There are only three days left to enroll.”
Ben wanted to agree, justto get away from the script, but he held back. Thirty thousanddollars for the chance at a better future? He needed to considerthis carefully because Tim was right. Three decades was a longtime. Four was even longer. He could spend those years beingsubservient to Wanda during the day and representing the lollipopguild or whatever at night. Or he could write a new script for hislife, one that ended with his dreams coming true.
* * * * *
Tim strolled into StudioMaltese, bringing the optimism of a blue-skied day into the murkygray hallway. He loved visiting here. To him it felt like a secondworkplace, having all the benefits and none of the drawbacks. Timnever had to worry about clocking in or getting projects done ontime. He just had to show up, say hello to Dave the security guard(who always waved him through), and ride the elevator up to theexecutive office on the third floor.
The ride didn’t last aslong as usual. The doors opened to reveal a broad-shouldered guywith a permanent scowl. Nathaniel was handsome in his own way andhad been a major temptation during Tim’s only date with him. Thatall seemed like ancient history now. Tension between them, be itsexual or otherwise, was nonexistent.
Nathaniel glanced up, surprise easing thegrumpy expression into something more friendly. “You’re early,” hesaid.
“Better than late,” Timsaid, grabbing the door so it wouldn’t shut.
Nathaniel stepped into the elevator,offering his hand. “Did he convince you to go?”
Tim shook Nathaniel’shand, then his own head. “Huh?”
“Marcello. Did he—” Now itwas Nathaniel who grabbed the door. “Are you going up ordown?”
“Up.”
Nathaniel flicked his arm so the suit jacketpulled away from his wrist. After consulting his watch, he sighed.“Sorry. It’s been a long day. I thought you had finishedearly.”
As opposed to arrivingearly, which meant he knew what this meeting was about. Tim hadthought it was just a friendly invitation, a chance to catch upwith his closest friend. Instead, it sounded like Marcello plannedto convince him of something.
“Got a second?” Tim asked,blocking the other side of the elevator door. Electronic beepingprotested this behavior. Or maybe Marcello was up in his office,monitoring them and trying to prevent them from talking.
Nathaniel looked from him to a camera in onecorner, then nodded and stepped off the elevator again.
Tim followed. “How’s married life treatingyou?” he asked once the doors closed.
“Good,” Nathaniel said,his smile making a rare appearance. “Really good. Kelly is…amazing. I can’t believe I almost lost him. I still wake up in acold sweat sometimes and have to make sure he’s reallythere.”
“I know the feeling,” Timsaid. “Sometimes I think we’ve got it better than most people.There’s that saying about not knowing what you’ve got until it’sgone. Well, both you and I know exactly what we’ve got while stillgetting to have it. Does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense,” Nathanielsaid. “We’ve been to the brink and back again. Plus, now that I’vealready screwed up once, I’m confident I won’t be so dumbagain.”
“Speak for yourself,” Timsaid with a chuckle. “I’ve still got tons of stupid mistakes leftin me. Hey, I’m mad that I didn’t get a wedding invite!”
“It wasn’t exactlytraditional,” Nathaniel said. “Our families weren’t even there. Howabout dinner sometime?”
“Just you and me?” Timsaid with a wink. “Back to the taco trucks?”
Nathaniel laughed. “Not achance. Kelly would kill us both. I’m serious about dinner. Youcould bring Chinchilla. Zero isn’t the best host, but we’re workingon it.”
“Sounds great!” Tim said.“She would love that. I would too!”
They both reached fortheir phones, like cowboys drawing their guns for a duel. Theyalways did this. “Dog photos?” Tim asked.
“Yeah,” Nathaniel saidwith a nod. “Check this one out. During the summer, I had thegroomers buzz Zero down. Huskies don’t do so well in the heat. Iasked them to leave a strip of hair like—”
“A mohawk!” Tim declaredgleefully. “You’re so lucky. Chinchilla’s hair doesn’t get longenough to do anything fun.”
