Page 5 of When Ben Loved Jace
I nod and happily comply, eternally in her debt.
— — —
I call Jace that night. Before doing so, I set the mood by lowering the lights and putting on music in the background, wanting to take the tension out of any lengthy silences. It doesn’t matter that he won’t hear or see any of this. I need it for me. Of course these efforts will all be for naught if he doesn’t answer. I dial his number after taking a swig of water, my mouth drying out regardless. But I like the way my heart beats in excitement, as if eager to come out of retirement.
One ring. Then another. And…
“Hello?”
“Hey!” I say breathlessly into the phone. “It’s me. Ben. The um… yoghurt boy.”
“Hello, Yoghurt Boy. I’m glad you called.”
I can’t help but smile. “Really?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t sure if you would. I’ve spoken to three different telemarketers today.”
“Oh! Sorry. I should have given you my number as well.”
“That’s all right. Thanks to you, I’ll be saving twenty percent by bundling my internet, cable, and phone services together.”
I laugh. “You’re welcome. So um… How should we do this?”
“What?”
“Get to know each other.”
“Hmm…”
I love the sound of his voice. It’s deeper than my own and soothing. If he’s nervous, I can’t tell. Me? I’m squirming on my bed.
“I suppose we should start with the basics,” he says. “Are you a full-time yoghurt boy?”
“No. I’m still in college. For the next five months anyway. Then I graduate and become a yoghurt man.”
He chuckles, sending goosebumps racing across my skin.
“What about you?” I ask. “Are you a pilot?”
“No. I’m a flight attendant.”
“Oh.”
“Does that disappoint you?”
I imagine him pushing a cart down an aisle while making sure everyone is buckled up and has something to drink, which sounds nurturing. “Either way is fine with me. I just like the uniform.”
“That was Greg’s idea,” Jace says. “When he picked me up from the airport, he said it was the perfect time to try.”
Meaning that he’d told his friend about me previously. I’m positively dizzy with this revelation. Although when I imagine this scenario playing out to completion, I do have questions. “How come he took your arm? You know, when you both came into the store.”
Jace sighs. “For the same reason he used to wear a wedding ring as soon as we were old enough to go to bars. He thinks being taken makes someone more desirable.”
As if Greg needs any help in that department! This raises another concern, one borne out of insecurity. “He’s very handsome.”
There’s a pause before Jace responds. “Are you interested in him? Because it’s okay if you are.”
“No! I’ve had my fill of muscles, believe me.”
