Page 8 of Something Like Forever
Jason nodded against his shoulder, thensniffed and pulled away. “I’ll try.”
“That’s my boy,” Tim said,ruffling his hair. “Send me a text when you guys are ready andwe’ll end this trip with the biggest meal you’ve ever seen. Betterbring a bucket to barf in, because it’s going to beridiculous!”
“And suddenly I’m notfeeling so hungry,” Jason said, shaking his head, but he smiled andlooked as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.Reassured that he would always have a home, hopefully now he wouldfocus on creating one of his own.
Chapter Two
Home again. Ben fumbled forthe right key, already missing the sound of claws on linoleum frombeyond the door. And ifhewas missing Chinchilla, that meant—
“Maybe I should go pickher up real quick.” Tim grabbed the luggage, ready to enter, butlooked with transparent longing toward the drive that led away fromtheir house. “Allison’s got her hands full already with Davis. Shemight have forgotten that we’re home today.”
“She’s stopping by later,”Ben said, opening the door, although only a crack. Force of habit.When he remembered that no over-excited dog was going to make abreak for it, he opened it the rest of the way.
The air that drifted out,despite being a little stale, smelled reassuringly familiar. Forthe previous six years it had been home. Good memories had beenmade here and a few bad ones too, but mostly the house hidden awayon the outskirts of Austin had been his sanctuary, which he neverexpected to find again after—
“Hey,” Tim said before Bencould enter. “Quick question.”
Ben turned to face him. “What’s up?”
Tim’s smile was unusuallybashful. “Is it always going to feel like this?”
Ben shook his head, not understanding. “Whatdo you mean?”
“Being married. Thewedding was way better than I expected. Now I wish we had done itsooner. The honeymoon was awesome—”
“I liked it too!” Ben hadfelt a little worn out at the end, but not in a bad way.
“Yeah. I just didn’t thinkit was possible to love you more than I already did. So are we justriding a high, or is always going to be like this? You’ve beenmarried before. I figured you would know.”
Ben thought about morningsspent at a small kitchen table, the sound of a laugh that he stillmissed, and a hand that always sought out his before they fellasleep at night. “That’s up to us,” he said, a little misty-eyed.“It’s our job now to hold on to this feeling for as long as wecan.”
“I won’t let youdown.”
Ben smiled. “You’re adorable. Hey, do youremember our first day here? How you wanted to carry me across thethreshold?”
“You wouldn’t let me,” Timsaid. Then he perked up. “You said it was marriagestuff.”
“Did I?” Ben saiddemurely.
Tim dropped the luggage.Ben was pretty sure he heard a souvenir breaking, but he didn’tcare. He was already laughing as Tim scooped him up, chest puffedup with pride as he sauntered into the house. Sure he misjudged andbumped Ben’s head against the doorframe, but love hurt sometimes.Tim set him down in the entryway and they kissed, but before itcould turn into anything more, they both pulled away.
“It’s muggy in here,” Timsaid.
Ben nodded. “I’ll turn upthe air.”
Married life! So perfectlydomestic. Tim brought their suitcases inside and shut the door, andwhen Ben was done fiddling with the thermostat, they went togetherto the living room.
He watched as Tim walkedto the sliding glass door and peered out at the backyard. “It’s badenough that Jason doesn’t live here anymore,” he said. “WithoutChinchilla, it doesn’t feel like home.”
“Empty nesters,” Ben said.“I’m sure it won’t be long before someone shows up. Speaking ofwhich, when does Marcello get back in town?”
“I don’t rememberexactly,” Tim admitted. “He could be back already.”
They looked at each otherand grinned.
“Should we check theMarcello detection device?” Ben asked.
Tim nodded and theyhurried to the kitchen. They had spent the last ten days out oftown, so there was no reason that any of their friends should havestopped by, but when they checked the refrigerator, sure enoughsomething had changed.
