Page 68 of Ben

“And I bet Claire will be there,” Ford scoffs and then narrows his gaze at me. “You know what? Fuck that. If you go, I go. Keep that bitch away from you.”

My chest tightens. “I can manage just fine.”

“No, I’m going,” Ford says, sitting up a little straighter. “You’re mine now, Cash. Ours.”

Ben blinks up at me. “Yeah, yeah you are.”

I sigh and quickly respond to my mom that I’ll be attending, and then a minute later she asks if I am bringing anyone.

I glance at Ford and then Ben, not sure what the fuck to do.

“I can go too, if you want,” Ben says softly, his cheeks flushing as he says it. He probably thinks I’m going to reject him. Like I’d ever.

I roll my lips between my teeth. I don’t want to go alone.

“Fuck it.”

I type back that I have two guests I’m bringing and then turn my phone off. My mom can sit with that all she wants. She always makes judgments about me no matter what I do. Showing up with Ford and Ben won’t change anything on her end.

“We’re gonna give her something to gawk at that isn’t you,” Ford says loudly, and then pulls Ben into him and kisses him deeply.

I watch their mouths move and feel my heart rate slow.

Yeah, I’ve never been good enough for my parents, and even at forty-two, it still stings, but knowing that I have these two makes me feel a little better.

I can probably withstand the scathing comments and looks with them there.

“Come to bed with me,” Ben says as Ford kisses his way down his neck. I stand and help him up before following them to the bedroom, peeling my clothes off as I go.

Ben and Ford fall to the mattress, and I crawl in after them.

Yeah, this.

This feels right.

Nothing else matters.

* * *

“When do we go to get fitted for our suits?” Ford asks me the next day as we’re working on a 1962 Roadster for some shady dude. I’m pretty sure he’s a mobster. Anthony Costello. I’m totally extrapolating and making inferences, but the way he looks, the way he speaks, and that bodyguard he brings around with him only confirm my suspicions.

He just looks dangerous, but Dean took the job anyways. I told him if we ended up in the river with no fingers I’d be pissed.

I happen to like my life right now. I have shit to live for.

I have two people to live for.

“After work. I got us all an appointment,” I say.

“Awesome,” Ford says and then bites his lip, his eyes flicking to my mouth. I can see his pupils dilating and my cock chubs up in my coveralls.

“Stop it,” I grumble. “Not here.”

“Yeah, well you’re both here, and I’m getting all kinds of ideas.” He leans in a little closer to me. “Can you imagine what he’ll look like in a suit and tie? I’m gonna wanna strip him naked and suck his dick.”

“Suck whose dick?” Dean asks, and I drop my wrench onto the ground with a curse. Damn Ford and his big mouth. He can’t keep it shut.

“Don’t mind me, Dean. Just running my mouth,” Ford stammers.

---