Page 10 of Something Like Forever

They made their wayupstairs. Sure enough, when Allison set Davis on the carpet infront of the mirror, he was instantly mesmerized.

“Thank god,” Allison said,sitting on the edge of the mattress. “It’s a testament to the powerof love that I would lay down my life for this little beast. Infact, I’m pretty sure he’ll be what kills me. And soon.”

Ben plopped down next toher. “You’ll be fine,” he said warmly. “Admit it, you love everysecond you get to spend with him.”

“True,” Allison saidinstantly. “Twisted, but definitely true. So anyway, tell meeverything about the honeymoon!”

He did, even pulling outhis phone to show her photos and videos, and while she wasinterested, she seemed to be expecting more. He soon found outwhy.

“So everything isokay?”

He nodded happily. “Yup!”

“Are you sure?”

Ben shrugged. “Yeah.”

“No problems you need todiscuss with me? You’re not struggling with being married tosomeone other than Jace? You’re not second-guessing yourself, orputting Tim through unfair comparisons?”

“Nope. I’ve got it allunder control.”

Allison narrowed her eyes. “Where is my bestfriend and what have you done with him?”

Ben laughed. “He’s righthere. You’re not my therapist!”

“Could have fooled me,”Allison said. “I don’t like this. You’re supposed to be thetroubled and tortured one, not me.”

“Are there problems youneed to tell me about?” Ben inquired. “Go on, pretend this bed isone of those therapy couches.”

Allison grinned, kickedoff her sandals, and scooted back on the bed so she could recline.“I like this! Let’s see. What sort of troubles do Ihave?”

Ben sat on the edge of themattress and angled himself so he could still see her. “What aboutyour son?”

“He’s perfect,” Allisonsaid dismissively.

Ben nodded, pretending hispalm was a notebook that he was writing in. “Patient is in denial.”When she looked like she wanted to pounce, he quickly added,“Because nobody is perfect, although Davis is reallyreallyclose.” Thispacified her enough that he could continue. “Let’s talk about yourrelationship.”

“Brian?” Allison asked.“Yes! We’re overdue a bitching session about our spouses. Okay,let’s see…” Her tongue was sticking out of the corner of her mouthas she tried to dredge up something bad about one of the nicestguys in the world. “I know! You won’t believe what he said to methe other day. We were getting busy for the first time in weeks,and he comes at me with the following line.” She held up her hands.“Brace yourself. He said, ‘We don’t have to have sex, honey. We cancuddle instead.’”

Ben scribbled furiously in his imaginarynotebook. “Was he having performance issues?”

“No! He never does. Wewere both riled up and ready to go, so what the hell?” Her eyesshot over to where Davis was smearing the mirror with clammy hands.“Heck! What the heck.”

“Tim said the same thingto me once,” Ben admitted. “The timing was strange too because hewas practically humping my leg.”

“Practically?”

“Okay, literally, but I’msure he meant well. I think our guys are just trying to tell usthat—even though they love bedroom time—what they feel for us goesbeyond the sexual. You know? Like they would still want us evenwithout the sex. For most guys, I think that’s a bigdeal.”

“Thatmight be true,” Allison retorted, “but IwantBrian to want me. I want him togo crazy and beg if I’m holding back the cookie jar. Not that Iever would.”

“Cookie jar?” Ben repeatedwith a grimace.

“Oh stop. How many of yourweird terms have I had to hear over the years? Especially with Tim.What did you call it? He’s on the metric system?”

“The European standard,”Ben said with an embarrassed chuckle. “And I didn’t make that oneup.”

“You sure liked repeatingit.”