Page 40 of Something Like Forever

Tim shook his head. “He said he’s stillfiguring it out, but I don’t think he’s coming back. He sounded toohappy. Eat.”

“I should call to tell himI’m proud. And that I’m sorry.” Ben thought about it for a moment.“Or maybe we should stay away? The less he thinks of us right now,the better.”

Tim peered at him, thenwalked over to press the back of his hand to Ben’sforehead.

“What?” Ben asked, pullingaway.

“You’re still a littlewarm.”

“So?”

“I’m trying to figure outif you have a fever, because our son finally worked up the courageto leave despite fearing that we’ll stop loving him, and you thinkit’s a good idea to break off contact. What kind of message willthat send?”

“That one of his dads isan idiot.”

“Close enough,” Tim said,expression vulnerable. “Would you please eat? I need you to getbetter.”

Because even though theirroles had seemingly reversed, Tim wasn’t the best at remainingstrong in emotional situations. Ben was usually the one to comforthim during trying times, and this was one of them. The two mostimportant men in Tim’s life had argued, one flew the coop, and Timwas left playing nurse to the other while no doubt fighting offworries of his own.

Ben picked up the spoonand took his first bite in days, determined to regain his strength.He would need it to rebuild bridges that, he hoped, hadn’t yetcompletely burned.

Chapter Six

Tim gripped the steeringwheel tighter, pretending he was driving a Porsche 918 Spyderinstead of a geriatric Toyota Corolla. He even hunkered down, eyesnarrowed in concentration. The curve ahead was tight, but if hetook it just right, he could pull ahead of the competition and winthis race! When a minivan overtook him to switch into his lane, hesat upright again and abandoned the fantasy.

“Are you sure this is agood idea?” Ben asked.

“Absolutely not,” Timsaid, refusing to answer the question seriously. The first fewtimes had been fine, but they had crossed the state line intoOregon already. This was their third day of driving! Way too latefor second-guessing. They had paced themselves, doing a little overten hours a day and trying to choose interesting towns to overnightin. “What we should have done is flown up there to buy him a newcar. I’m not sure I want Jason driving this hunk ofjunk.”

“It’s a good car!” Bensaid, patting the dashboard affectionately. The vehicle hadbelonged to him before they had given it to Jason. Even back then,it had been antiquated. In Tim’s opinion, anyway. He alwayspreferred the latest and greatest. “And you know that’s not what Imean. What if Jason isn’t happy to see us?”

“The guy who chose two oldfarts over his hot rescue swimmer boyfriend?”

Ben laughed. “When you put it likethat…”

“He’ll be happy to seeus,” Tim said. “You could always text him and let him know. Or areyou still not talking?”

“We’re talking,” Bensaid.

“Just a text now andagain, right?”

Ben nodded.

“Because, after an entiremonth, you’re still trying to give him his space.”

“Yes,” Benconfirmed.

“Then this is definitely agood idea. You’re both being idiots.”

“I’m trying to do what’sright for him!”

“Screw that,” Tim saidwith a chuckle. “I bug him every single day!”

“Really?”

“Hell yeah! I don’t careif he wants to hear from me. I love him too much.” He shot Ben anapologetic expression. “I’m not saying you don’t. It’s justthat—”

“I get it,” Ben said.“Somehow I let it get awkward between me and him. Seeing each otherwill help. I hope.”