Page 100 of Something Like Forever

“Do you have to worktoday, or can you just relax?”

“Officially?” Nathanielasked. “I’m off duty, but those two waiters over there looking attheir phones instead of refilling their trays are going to besorry.”

“Yell atthem in a second,” Tim said, noticing where Kelly sat. He wasn’talone. Next to him was Caesar, who was a shameless flirt. Hopefullythat wouldn’t be an issue. Marcello had told him that Nathanielsometimes struggled with jealousy.

“What’sgoing on here?” Nathaniel said as they approached. “You came earlyto take photos, not associate with… whoever thisis.”

“Oh verynice,” Caesar said, grinning at him. “Sorry, but you guys can’t sitin this section.”

“That’sright,” Kelly said. “It’s reserved solely for ex-boyfriends of thegrooms. Although… Tim, you used to date Jason. I was there.Bonnie’s recital?”

“That wasn’t a date!” heprotested.

“No,”Kelly said. “It was a double date! Come to think of it, you alsowent on a date with Nathaniel once, didn’t you?”

Caesar tsked and shook hishead. “And people accuse me of getting around!”

Nathaniel crossed his armsover his chest. “You’ve left through more windows thanSuperman!”

“Superman is hot,” Caesar said. “Does anyone have hisnumber?”

“No,”Kelly said, “but you’ve given me the perfect costume idea forNathaniel this Halloween.”

“In thatcase,” Nathaniel retorted, “how about you do your job, Jimmy Olsen,and start taking photos?”

Caesar sighed wistfully.“He used to boss me around in the same way. So hot.”

“It is,”Kelly agreed, standing and adjusting the camera strap around hisneck. “I already got some nice shots of Jason. Any idea whereWilliam is hiding?”

“Probably still upstairs,” Tim said.

“Can you show mewhere?”

He looked to Nathaniel,who nodded that they should go on without him. That decision mightbe regretted, because Caesar patted the empty seat next to him.Nathaniel looked with hope to where the slacking waiters had been,but now they were mingling and offering drinks, just as they shouldbe. Left without an excuse, he grudgingly sat next toCaesar.

“They used to date,right?” Tim asked when they were a respectable distanceaway.

“Ages ago,” Kelly said,not sounding concerned.

“I wish I was as secure as you! You leftyour husband alone with his ex, and you’re about toseeyourex get married. That’s not weird for you?”

Kelly shrugged as theyentered the house. “I love William. I want to see him happy.Nathaniel loves Caesar too. Somewhere deep down, anyway. I’m hopinghe’ll let go of any residual anger. There’s no point in holding onto it. Otherwise part of you is still tied up in that relationship,which can’t feel good.”

“Verymature of you,” Tim said.

“Thanks,” Kelly replied. “Of course, I’m also eager to takephotos of William while he’s stressed out before the ceremony. If Iknow him, he’s a hot mess right now, and I do plan on enjoyingthat. Just a little bit. Please don’t tell him I saidso.”

Tim laughed. “Your secretis safe with me.”

“Good.I’ll atone for my sins by reminding him what a catch he is, whichis true. Jason is too. They’re both amazing men, aren’tthey?”

Tim nodded, his chestswelling with affection. “Yeah. They are.”

* * * * *

“Do I click here? Oops!The window is gone. Does that mean we need to start over? Don’ttell me! I know what to do. Oh. That’s not right!”

Ben watched his motherclick icons on the laptop screen, seemingly at random, and wonderedwhen the carnage would end. So far she had managed to create threenew shortcuts (all leading to the recycle bin) and had agreed to anupdate of iTunes before losing patience and cancelling it halfwaythrough. Now she had opened the file explorer and would probablymanage to format the hard drive before somehow causing the machineto burst into flames.