Page 18 of Something Like Forever

“Which is why we booked itfor two months from now,” Tim said.

They had anticipated thisresponse. Jason always used his work as an excuse.

“February fourteenth?”Jason said incredulously. “Valentine’s Day?”

“That’s the day younormally spend with the person you love,” Ben said, “although mostpeople look happier about the prospect.”

Jason was sittingcross-legged, the tip of one foot thumping the floor nervously ashe nibbled his lip and stared at the airline ticket. The words musthave finally sunk in because he looked up and laughed. “I’mridiculous, aren’t I?”

“Just a little,” Ben saidwarmly. “I know it’s a surprise, but I hope you like theidea.”

“I love it,” Jason said,seeming determined now to be positive. “Thanks! I love youguys!”

“We love you too,” Bensaid.

“Yup,” Tim agreed, eyes onthe tree. “Sooo…”

“I think there’s one thingfor you here,” Ben said, reaching for a card.

It wasn’t anythingspecial, or even store-bought. Much like Jason’s present, Ben hadcreated it on the computer and printed it out. Tim looked excitedwhen he saw the image on the front. A black muscle car. A DodgeCamaro, to be precise.

“A Dodge Challenger!” Timenthused.

Close enough. They haddiscussed the vehicle earlier in the year, Tim saying he wanted itfor Christmas. Ben didn’t have that kind of money. Sure they shareda bank account and everything else they owned, but they both knewthat Ben’s paycheck wasn’t enough to pay for most cars, especiallya new one. Tim had countered by saying he only wanted permission,so that’s what Ben had decided to give him. The card contained asingle word inside.Permission.

The thing was, Tim hadn’t waited forpermission. He had already bought the car in secrecy. That didn’tbother Ben in the slightest, but he still wanted to have somefun.

Tim hopped to his feet. “I’ve got anothersurprise for you guys!”

“Really?” Ben asked,pretending to be confused. “What?”

“Get your jackets on andI’ll show you!”

Ben exchanged a covert glance with Jason,who looked equally amused. Then they resumed their act. They wentto the entryway, got bundled up, and followed Tim outside.

“Where are we going?” Benasked. “Tell me you didn’t buy that dancing Santa!”

“Nope!” Tim led themaround the house, keeping outside the privacy fence and followingit to where the woods began. They didn’t have to travel deep tofind a tarp on the ground, obscured by pine needles and driedleaves, and too flat to hide anything but the earth beneath it. Timrushed toward this, picking up one corner and spinning around.“Where did it go? Oh man. Oh fuck!”

“What’s wrong?” Benasked.

“The new car! I bought itlast week and hid it out here so—” He noticed Ben’s expression anddropped the tarp. “You knew.”

“I heard you park it backhere,” Ben said. “I was in the yard with Chinchilla. I thoughtsomeone was hunting on our land.”

“Did you take it back tothe dealership?” Tim looked crestfallen. “I only bought it earlybecause I knew you would let me. I wanted to have it today. Hey…Where’s Jason?”

Ben spun around. Their sonwas nowhere in sight. He was starting to wonder if the flight toOregon had been a grave miscalculation when they heard an enginerevving closer to the house. Jason had decided to reveal thesurprise in a grand fashion!

“It’sout front?” Tim said, looking first gleeful, then concerned. “Noway! He isnotdriving my new car!”

Tim took off in a sprint.Ben laughed and then gave chase. The Dodge Challenger was parkedoutside the house and freshly washed. Jason had made sure of that,taking it to a place to be detailed. Every surface gleamed like ithad just rolled out of the factory. A few other details had changedtoo.

“The plates!” Tim said,noticing them. “How did you get them so soon? Oh mygod.”

He had noticed the vanitylicense plates. Ben was particularly proud of this touch, sincethey looked cool. Unlike the boring white plates with black lettersand numbers, these were much more stylish. The background wasblack, a large white star intruding from the right. As for thepersonalized characters Ben had chosen, he only had six to workwith and had settled on GRDITO.

“Gordito!” Tim declared.His childhood nickname. “I love it!”