Page 60 of Something Like Forever

Tim grinned. “I was nervous about this trip,but you’re making it easy.”

“I’m not usually thishelpful.”

“No?”

“Uh-uh. Only my sister’sex-boyfriends get the star treatment.”

They laughed, Tim paid thebill, and they said their goodbyes. He was in his room and had justkicked off his shoes when he remembered Ben. They had forgotten tofix his phone during the big reunion, but Tim wasn’t about to go tosleep without sending him a message somehow. Even if it meantrunning out into the street and begging anyone he saw to use theirphone. Oh. Right. He turned and saw the old-fashioned kind next tothe bed. After some trial and error, he managed to get a call to gothrough.

“Hello?” Ben said,sounding a little frantic.

Tim felt like melting into the receiver.“Hey, Benjamin.”

He heard a sigh of relief.“Was your flight delayed? I looked online and it said— Are youokay?”

“I’m in my room,” Timsaid, flopping onto the bed. “I’m safe, I’m exhausted, and I loveyou.”

“I love you too,” Bensaid. “So what do you think? Is everything crazy overthere?”

“It’s surprisinglynormal,” Tim said. “And it’s also really weird. Just not in the wayI expected. The translator they hired for me is from Kansas. I usedto date his sister.”

“Is he cute?” Ben asked,instantly suspicious.

“Yes. And he’s happilymarried. So am I, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“I haven’t,” Ben said,tone softer.

“Could you do me afavor?”

“What?”

“Hold on while I take offmy clothes and crawl into bed. Then I want you to keep talking so Ican fall asleep to the sound of your voice.”

“Are you saying I’mboring?”

“I’m saying I miss youalready.”

“In that case,” Ben said.“How about a lullaby?”

Tim breathed outblissfully. He had expected his first night in Japan to be scaryand lonely. Instead he felt happy. He would rather have Ben therewith him, but for now, this was the next best thing. He hurried toget into bed, placed the phone next to his pillow, and fell asleepwhile feeling he was already in the midst of a beautifuldream.

* * * * *

Tim’s body decided heneeded to be wide awake at five in the morning. That was fine.After brewing a coffee in the tiny machine his room provided, hewent for a morning jog. This didn’t work so well. Even at the earlyhour, he had to dodge pedestrians and was forced to limit his routeto a small radius around his hotel. He didn’t want to get lost. Ifhis phone was working, he could have navigated to the nearest parkand back. After showering and going downstairs to stuff himself atthe hotel breakfast buffet, he still had plenty of time beforeCorey was due to arrive. He spent this getting unpacked. Tim ironeda charcoal gray dress shirt and slacks a shade darker to wear, butdecided against a suit. He would be the client today. He wasn’t theone who needed to make an impression.

When Corey arrived in thelobby, Tim had one thing to say.

“Fix this thing!” he said,thrusting out his phone.

Corey laughed and happilycomplied, Tim sizing him up while he worked. He was wearing thesame suit as yesterday, the white shirt swapped for one that wasburgundy, the tie still black. His sister had been a real beauty,so it wasn’t a complete surprise that Corey was also attractive.Too bad Tim had been a closet-case back then. Instead of a meangirlfriend, he could have had a kickass boyfriend. Then again, theage difference really had seemed like a big deal.

“Here you go, Wyman-sama,”Corey said, handing back the phone. “I hope my diligence in thistask has exceeded your expectations.”

“None of that formal stufftoday,” Tim said, grinning wryly. When he saw that his phone wasfunctioning normally again, he nearly hugged his guide. “It works!I’m connected to the world again! It’s ridiculous how dependentwe’ve become on these.”

“No kidding,” Corey said.“I put my number in there, just in case you need any help. Or ifyou want to drunk-text me funny cat photos in the middle of thenight.”

“I’ll do both,” hepromised. “So, where to first?”