Page 58 of Something Like Forever
Tim could barely wait for her to leavebecause he had more questions. “Why didn’t you say somethingsooner?”
“You don’t think thatwould have been creepy?” Corey offered his hand, like they had justmet. “Hi, I’m your ex-girlfriend’s little brother. I shouldn’t evenremember you, and you probably don’t remember me, but I made sureto get this assignment just to see you again.”
Tim laughed. “Of course Iremember you! You really took this assignment onpurpose?”
“God yes,” Corey saidshamelessly. “Mrs. Hashimoto is fine, by the way. No familyemergency. She always double-checks with me about how to pronounceWestern names. When she asked me about yours, I couldn’t believeit. I searched online, and when I saw a photo…” He shook his head.“Those eyes aren’t easy to forget!”
“Neither are yours,” Timsaid.
“Thanks. I really didn’tthink you would remember, but when you kept looking at me funny, Ifigured I might remind you of Carla.”
“How’s she doing?” Timasked. Solely out of politeness.
Corey sucked in throughhis teeth. “She’s… still the same.”
The same kind of personwho would lie and tell people that he had raped her, when in truth,all Tim had done was break up with her. “She’s not in Japan, isshe?”
Corey laughed. “No. You’re safe, don’tworry.”
Thank goodness for that!“So tell me about this man of yours.”
“Kioshi! He’s reallysweet. He was an exchange student at KU when we met.”
“Go Jayhawks,” Tim saidwith a grin. “So you followed him back here to Japan?”
“I was studying Japanesealready, which is good, because his English was terrible. It stillis. I was one of the few people he could talk to comfortably whilehe was in Kansas, so I always say that sheer desperation made himfall in love with me.”
“Got a photo withyou?”
“Of course!” Corey pulledout his phone and didn’t take long to pull up an image.
Tim leaned forward to seeit better. Kioshi’s hair was dark and long enough to cover his earsand run down the back of his neck. Light scruff shaded a kind face.Definitely a good-looking guy. “Handsome couple,” he said. “Too badyou guys can’t make babies.”
“Thanks,” Corey said witha laugh. “It’s especially funny because lots of people assume I’mJapanese anyway. Our kid would fit right in here.”
“Is it legal for two guysto get married in Japan?”
“Notyet. We flew home the same week it was legalized in the States. Wehad talked about going to New York or wherever before, but Inever—never—thought it would be legal in Kansas.”
“Same with Texas,” Timsaid. “I still can’t believe it.”
“I noticed your weddingring,” Corey said. “Who’s the lucky gal?”
Tim snorted and got hisphone out. “I’ll show you.”
Corey’s face broke out intoa gleeful smile when he saw the photo of Ben. “Iknewit! I even arguedabout it with my sister once. I told her you were… intoguys.”
“I’m gay,” Tim said. “Moreor less. Kinsey scale and all that.”
“You have no idea howhappy this makes me,” Corey said. “Wait until I tellher.”
“You already did once,”Tim said, not looking quite as pleased. “I think you knew before Idid.”
“Sorry,” Corey said. “I’vealways been too direct.”
Tim nodded, putting on an exasperatedexpression. “I know.”
Corey winced. “Youremember all of it, don’t you? When I made my big move and tried tosteal you away from my sister.”
