Page 36 of Something Like Forever

“So how’s everythinggoing?” he tried, sitting on the couch.

Jason was next to him,hunched over the coffee table as he ate. “Fine. Work is boring.Volunteering at the shelter is way cooler. That’s my speechtherapy, you know? I would do that full-time if I could, but theydon’t have any money.”

“That’s a shame,” Bensaid, poking at his salad with a plastic fork. “How about yourpersonal life?”

“Fine.I’ve been hanging out with Caesar a lot lately. We have sadbachelor nights over here. Pizza, booze, and telly. Hey, do youever watchDoctorWho?”

“Caesar?” Ben asked,ignoring the question. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? And you’renot a bachelor. Are you?”

Jason chewed andswallowed, eyes amused. “We just call it that. And don’t worry,Caesar and I are just friends. He’s got a girlfriend, although healways gives these totally inappropriate hugs. He does it onpurpose, just to get a rise out of me.”

“A rise?”

“Not likethat!”

“Just be careful,” Bensaid. “Especially if you’re drinking together.” He thought aboutleaving it there, but he was too curious not to probe further.“Does William know?”

“About me hanging out withCaesar? Yeah.”

“And?”

Jason shrugged, expression unhappy.

“Everything okay betweenyou two?”

Jason shrugged again,concentrating on his fries. That he hadn’t ordered a milkshake todip them in implied that he was watching his figure too. But forwhich guy?

“You can tell me,” Bensaid. “I know I wasn’t very patient before, but it’s only because Icare so much about you. If there’s anything you need to talk about,please don’t hesitate.”

Jason nodded. Then heleaned away from his food. “I don’t think he’s comingback.”

“William?”

Jason nodded again. “It’sbeen almost a year. I know he has time off. Sometimes three days ina row. It’s enough for a quick visit, but—” His chin trembled andhe looked away.

Ben abandoned his salad,too distracted to eat. “You know what I’m going to say.”

“That I need to go there,but what’s the point if he doesn’t want to see me? Maybe he…” Jasonshook his head, like it didn’t make sense, but he pressed onanyway. “Maybe he met someone new.”

Ben sighed. “He lovesyou.”

“I know,” Jason said. “Butthat doesn’t mean he can’t love someone else. I don’t see why elsehe hasn’t come back. It’s the only thing that makessense.”

“That’s not why he hasn’tcome back.”

“Then what?” Jason said,tone frustrated. “I can’t figure it out and it’s driving mecrazy!”

Ben swallowed. He couldn’tkeep Jason in the dark any longer. It wouldn’t be right and hadn’tbeen from the very beginning. His scheme wasn’t working anyway.“He’s not coming back because I told him not to.”

“What?”

“I thought it wouldencourage you to finally go to Oregon and…” His voice faltered, thehurt expression on Jason’s face causing him to feel just as muchpain. “I’m sorry. It was stupid. I was only—”

“You told him not to seeme,” Jason said, his voice squeaking.

“Yes, butonly—”

“Why would he even listento you?” Jason was clenching his jaw, the sorrow shifting toanger.