Page 88 of Something Like Forever

“Jace,” Tim said. “Youwould only want to make it official with him.”

“No!”Ben said, grabbing Tim’s hands. “It’s not like that! I want to bemarried to you both! I mean, I am already but…” He shook his head.“I’m trying to keep things fair. I’m proud to call you my husband,and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It’sjust—”

Tim pulled his hands freeand held one up. “Let me ask you a question.”

Ben nodded.“Okay.”

“Ifmarriage equality existed back when you and Jace got married, wouldyou have done it officially?”

“Yes.”

Tim’s expression becamestrained. “And if everything else had played out the same—if youand I still ended up together like we are now, would you havemarried me officially?”

“Yes!” Ben said withouthesitation. “Absolutely!”

“Okay,” Tim said, hisfeatures relaxing. “That makes sense.”

“It does?” Ben asked.“Because it sounds crazy to my own ears.”

“No, Iget it.” Tim sat on the bed. “You want things to stay equal betweenme and Jace.”

“I guessI do.” Ben sat next to him. “It doesn’t mean I love you less thanhim—”

Tim shook his head. “Ipromised myself to never ask that. It doesn’t matter who you lovemore. That you love me at all is enough. Now that I know whereyou’re coming from, I’m okay with the way things are. We’remarried. We’re together. That’s all I need.” Except his foreheadwas crinkled, his eyes darting around the carpet beneath his feetas he tried to reconcile his feelings with what he probably feltwas the right thing to say.

“I don’tdeserve you,” Ben said. “It’s funny when I look back at everythingI had to put up with from you. Now it’s all reversed, isn’t it? I’mthe one who’s hard to pin down.”

“Butterflies aren’t meant to be pinned down,” Timsaid.

Ben over looked at him,recognizing his own foolishness. Of course he wanted to marry Timand make it official! He just wasn’t sure if he could live with theguilt. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Don’tbe. I’ve already got so much. Anything more is justgreedy.”

“It’snot,” Ben said. He flopped backwards into the bed, head turnedtoward Tim. “You know, some butterflies like to be pinned down.Just temporarily, mind you. And not with pins.”

Tim shuffled sideways likehe was leaving the bed. “I’ll go get the glue.”

“Is that code for lube?”Ben asked.

“Nope!”Tim said, still scooting away. “I’m getting the superglue. Then I’mgoing to sniff it to get high, because you’ve driven me toit.”

“No!”Ben cried, relieved by the humorous tone. “Stay here. If you reallywant to go down on one knee, I’ll let you. Just make it both kneesinstead.”

Tim shook his head but hewas smiling. “I should probably go check on the boys. Maybe I cantalk them out of getting married before it’s too late.”

“Or maybe I can talk youinto staying,” Ben said, grabbing his arm and pulling.

Tim let himself be draggedinto bed. He was smiling now, and that was good, but Ben wanted tomake sure he really understood. He climbed on top of Tim, handspressing down on his chest. “I love you,” he said. “With all myheart. You probably think that there’s a part of me you’ll neverhave, but that’s not true. I can’t explain how it works. All I knowis that all of me, every single atom and molecule, loves you.Okay?”

Tim’s silver eyes wereemotional as they stared into Ben’s own. Then he nodded.“Okay.”

* * * * *

William surprised no oneby saying yes. Or to be more accurate, he had asked again, and thistime Jason gave an answer both clear and concise. They were gettingmarried! This meant there was much to plan.

Ben sat down with thenewly engaged lovebirds the next day, to figure out the details.Weddings weren’t a piece of cake, despite involving one. The guestlist was a good starting point. Jason and William agreed that theywanted a small and intimate ceremony. People often said that, andyet, when they started tallying the guests… William had his parentsand his two brothers, each person mostly likely wanting to bring adate. Eight people. He wanted Lily and Daisy there, and two of hisclosest friends from the Coast Guard, bringing it to an even dozen.Jason’s side of the family wasn’t any smaller. Aside from Tim andhimself, Ben also pointed out that Michelle and Greg should bethere, since they were his aunt and uncle. Allison played a similarrole. Ben’s own parents would want to attend, and they wereobligated to invite the Wymans, in case they wanted to see theirgrandson get married. Ben wasn’t sure how that would be received.Mrs. Wyman seemed to become more accepting as the years went bywhile her husband only grew worse. Emma would be there too, andWilliam wanted to invite Kelly, who would no doubt bring Nathaniel…So two dozen easily.

“Is it too late to elope?”Jason asked at one point.